Published 5/30/2022 • Updated 11/5/2024 Grill a whole chicken with us by brining, spatchcocking, dry rubbing, and grilling it to juicy perfection! Ever think about grilling a whole chicken? You’ve come to the right place becuase we’re teaching you all of our tips and tricks for getting perfectly juicy chicken on the grill! Our secret? Spatchcocking your chicken! By removing the spine and flattening out your chicken, it can cook faster and more evenly on the grill. We have an amazing roasted spatchcock chicken recipe and we’re using similar techniques to that.
What You Need for a Grilled Whole Chicken
4-5 lb. whole chicken Chicken brine Chicken dry rub Olive oil Large pot for brining Kitchen sheers Tongs Gas or charcoal grill
How to Grill a Whole Chicken
Brine Chicken
First, prepare the chicken brine. We have an entire chicken brine post HERE to learn how to do it properly. Then, place in the fridge for 12 hours or overnight.
Why should I brine my chicken?
Brining will not only hold moisture in your chicken to make it extra juicy, but it will also infuse your chicken with amazing flavor and salt.
Do I have to brine my whole chicken in order to grill it?
While you don’t have to brine your whole chicken in order to grill it, it does add amazing flavor!
Prep & Spatchcock the chicken
Remove the chicken from the brine and pat it dry. Now, spatchcock the chicken. Place the chicken breast-side down on a cutting board and use a sharp pair of kitchen shears to remove the spine. Cut along the left and right sides of the spine and discard. Flip the chicken over and use your hands to forcefully flatten the chicken out, so that it’s laying flat on the cutting board.
Season Chicken
Lift the chicken skin, and rub the meat with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Then, combine all of the spices for the dry rub and generously season the entire outside of the bird. Let sit for 15-20 minutes. PS: you can always use our homemade chicken seasoning or chicken dry rub for this!
Grill Whole Chicken
Make sure to grill over indirect heat as the drippings from the bird risk a grease fire (speaking from experience).
Let Rest
Let your chicken rest for at least 5 minutes. This will make the meat super tender and juicy and allow the chicken to come to temperature, raising 5 more degrees. Let rests: Remember that after cooking chicken let it rest for 5 minutes so that the internal temperature can continue to rise around 5ºF.
What to do with Leftover Grilled Chicken
Add to Soups/Salads: shred the chicken and add it to a grilled chicken salad or chicken noodle soup! Make Chicken Broth: use the leftover bones to make our homemade chicken broth recipe! Make Burritos: make our easy shredded chicken burritos and then freeze them! Make Nachos: shredded chicken in baked chicken nachos is so easy and perfect!
Storage
Store leftover grilled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. To reheat: Microwave on high for 60-90 seconds.
How to Grill Your Favorite Meat
Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled Salmon Grilled Pork Chops Grilled Chicken Thighs Grilled Flank Steak Grilled Whole Chicken Grilled Pork Tenderloin Grilled Chicken Legs Grilled Shrimp Grilled Scallops Grilled Ribs
