I like making burgers and hot dogs as much as the next person, but for me, this chili garlic chicken has become my favorite reason to light the grill.
Make a Spicy Marinade With Chili Garlic Sauce
The marinade for this chicken uses chili garlic sauce (I like Huy Fong), which you can find in almost any supermarket these days. Look for it near the Asian ingredients or the other condiments. Chili garlic sauce is spicy and flavorful, and a few tablespoons of it goes a long way to season your marinade. The honey in the marinade balances the spiciness, so don’t skip it!
Buying the Best Chicken
I prefer to buy a whole chicken and butcher it into parts, but you can use any mix of chicken pieces for this recipe. Skin-on, bone-in pieces are my preference for the grill. The skin gives the chicken some protection from the high heat of the grill, keeping it juicier. While you can use skinless pieces, there’s more risk of overcooking it. If you do decide to substitute skinless pieces, reduce the cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes and make sure to use a digital thermometer so you will know when the chicken is cooked through.
If You Don’t Have a Grill . . .
If you don’t have access to grill, have no fear. Marinate this chicken and then sear it, skin side down, in a hot cast iron skillet. Transfer it to a 375°F oven to finish roasting (skin side up) until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F. Again, you can substitute skinless pieces with this method, but check them regularly with a thermometer so they don’t dry out.
Serve With Rice!
This chili garlic chicken is great over rice because the rice soaks up the sauce and juices, but you can also serve it on top of salad greens for a lighter option. Enjoy grilling season!
More Grilled Chicken Recipes
Grilled Moroccan Chicken Spatchcocked Grilled Chicken with Orange and Ginger Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Spicy Grilled Chicken Tacos Grilled Chicken with South Carolina-Style BBQ Sauce
Transfer the chicken to the indirect section of the grill (this helps avoid overcooking) and cook the chicken until it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the meat, another 10 to 15 minutes. Exact timing will depend on your type of grill and the temperature, so check the chicken frequently and use your best judgment on when to flip and when the chicken is done.
