How to Broil Chicken

Take the bland out of chicken breasts — broil them!

Tired of the same old chicken and hearing the same family groans? Broil your chicken breasts with some unique twists -- and listen to the raves! In a short time, you can make juicy and tender chicken breasts full of flavor.

Chicken Breasts with Flair

To get started, you don’t just want to throw the breast in the broiler with a little salt and pepper. Chicken breasts beg for flavor, so there are a few things you can do to add a little flair.

Rubs are great for chicken breasts. Rub mixtures that contain thyme, fennel and fresh ground pepper are simple and work well. Dried onion soup mixes also work nicely — in fact, any dried rub with ingredients like tarragon, onion powder, and a little salt and pepper to taste will spark the flavor of your chicken breasts. 

If rubs aren’t your thing, marinating the chicken prior to broiling adds flavors into the chicken breast, especially if allowed to marinate overnight or even a few hours in the refrigerator. You can choose the simple route by checking out some quick and easy marinades in the barbecue sauce aisle of the grocery store, or you can make your own.

Marinades That Work

Making a great marinade isn’t hard. Rely on your taste buds and include the essentials such as olive oil, white wine, Worcestershire or soy sauce. From there you can throw in green onions, oregano, lemon or lime juice, and even fresh cilantro. Sage is another great spice for broiling chicken breasts. Marinating in barbecue sauce concoctions also brings out the flavor of a bland chicken breast.

Tips for Broiling

The first tip for broiling is to know your broiler! A gas broiler may heat up faster than the electric type, and broiling chicken doesn’t take long — six minutes on each side should be enough. To ensure the chicken breast is cooked through, you can use a meat thermometer and when it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re done.

An important consideration to keep in mind is that chicken, if kept under the broiler too long, will dry out fast and you’ll lose the juice. The first time you broil chicken breasts, watch them closely. Because broilers get hot, make sure to use tongs to turn the breast over so you don’t get burned. For easy clean-up, line the broiler pan with heavy duty aluminum foil.

Broiled Chicken Breast Meals

You can also make an entire meal using the broiler. Sliced potatoes, carrot chunks and green or red pepper broil up nicely and are full of flavor. Some vegetables like carrots or potatoes should go in first as they may take a little longer to cook. Thinner veggies like peppers can go in along with the chicken breasts — even as toppers. Liven up your veggies by sprinkling with your favorite seasoning salts. Or make veggie foil packs with a dab of ranch dressing for a bold flavor.

Skip the boring and the bland when broiling chicken breasts and include spicy, sweet or hot ingredients as rubs or marinades. It's easy to turn chicken breasts into hearty meals that are unique and homemade!