Universally loved for its tantalizing flavors and soft texture, grilled chicken is a very popular dish whose versatility makes it apt for a quick meal or a small party. This delicious and filling dish is ideal for house parties, and the addition of a few local spices will jazz this dish up like no other. Without too many exotic ingredients, one can easily prepare this dish without much effort and in desired quantities. The following are a few of the best grilled chicken recipes that are ideal for comfort eating:
1. Grilled Lemon Chicken
An ideal grilled chicken recipe for those seeking a little zing in their chicken, this dish needs at least six hours of marinating. Coat chicken breasts in a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme (banajwain in Hindi). Marinate for at least six hours or overnight. Place the chicken and marinade in a zip lock bag before refrigeration. After six hours of overnight marinating, remove the chicken from the marinade and discard any excess marinade. Heat a grill or a grill pan, and cook the chicken for five to ten minutes on each side until just cooked through. Serve warm, chilled, or at room temperature.
Taste: Sour and salty.
Total time: 30 minutes (and minimum six hours of marination).
Prep Time: 10 minutes.
Calories per serving: 253.
2. Spicy Grilled Chicken Thighs
A really low-calorie recipe for the calorie-conscious among us, this dish is easy to prepare and is just the right combination of sweet and spicy. Rub the chicken with a combination of brown sugar, red chili powder, salt, and onion powder. Lightly coat the grill rack with oil using a moistened paper towel. Grill at medium heat for five to seven minutes on each side, until opaque and cooked through or a thermometer reads 80 degrees Celsius. Serve hot with a sauce or dip.
Taste: Sweet and spicy.
Total time: 25 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes.
Calories per serving: 176
3. Greek Salad With Grilled Chicken
Perfect for a summertime lunch, this light, tasty, and delicious dish may be topped with tuna or salmon. Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, black pepper, and oregano (ajwain leaves in Hindi) in a small bowl and set aside. Toss lettuce, tomato, cucumber, bell peppers (capsicum), onions, and olives in a large bowl. Drizzle the mixture or dressing from the small bowl on the contents of the large bowl and toss until everything is well coated in the dressing. Add some cheese and toss again. Top with grilled chicken of your choice and serve on plates or bowls.
Taste: Sour and spicy.
Total time: 20 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes.
Calories per serving: 235.
4. Cilantro Grilled Chicken Breasts
A perfect summer grilling recipe for weight watchers, the use of cilantro marinade adds moisture and flavor to chicken breasts. Put the cilantro, sesame oil, garlic cloves, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, fat-free chicken broth, and reduced soy sauce in a food processor and process until smooth. Pour this marinade mixture on chicken breasts in a large bowl and ensure complete coverage of the chicken breasts with the marinade. Now marinate in a refrigerator for about two to three hours. Cook on a grill at 70 degrees Celsius for ten minutes on each side. Set cooked chicken breasts aside for a few minutes and serve warm with a sauce or dip of one’s choice.
Taste: Sour and spicy.
Total time: 15 minutes (and two to three hours of marination).
Prep Time: 5 minutes.
Calories per serving: 141.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar Grilled Chicken
Combine dried rosemary (gulmehendi in Hindi), dried basil (tulsi in Hindi), dried thyme (banajwain in Hindi), dried marjoram (marva in Hindi), oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Spread this mixture on the chicken pieces and make sure the marinade gets on all of the pieces. Let the marinated chicken pieces marinate in a refrigerator for up to twelve hours, or thirty minutes if in a hurry. When the time for marinating is up, shake the chicken pieces to get rid of any extra marinade and throw away the leftover marinade. On a grill or grill pan, cook the chicken pieces for up to five minutes per side until they lose their pink color. Serve immediately or after cooling.
Taste: Sweet and spicy.
Total time: 75 minutes (including 30 minutes of marinating).
Prep Time: 60 minutes.
Calories per serving: 223.
While the above recipes are delicious on their own, the variations in grilled chicken are numerous, and the above list has only touched the tip of the iceberg called "grilled chicken." A healthy and low-calorie dish because of the minimal use of oils and fats to cook, grilled chicken is a crowd favorite at parties and feels right at home in a gym-goer’s meal prep.