Sometimes, the simplest dishes may seem tricky to achieve perfect texture and charcoal grilled chicken is a perfect example. In this recipe, I love how simple marination and proper grilling techniques keeps the chicken pieces tender, juicy and packed with flavour. The smoky aroma from the charcoal makes it even more delicious and irresistible.
Charcoal Grilled Chicken Recipe
Delicious and moist grilled chicken which taste so delicious and it is a fun recipe to try with your friends and family. The chicken is so flavourful and taste so juicy.
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The chicken outside has a nice crust in them from the charcoal and the inside is so juicy. You can enjoy this grilled chicken on its own or serve it with mayonnaise, green chutney for a filling and protein rich meal.
About Charcoal Grilled Chicken
Chicken is one of my favorite proteins because it is tasty, versatile and easy to cook. It works well for many varieties of dishes like curries, stir fries, biryani to grilled recipes.
Chicken easily adapts to different recipes and absorbs flavours, spices beautifully. And make every dish very aromatic, delicious and protein rich.
In this recipe, the chicken pieces are marinated overnight with spices and then grilled over hot charcoal. You have to check my barbecue chicken made in oven. I’ve made this grilled chicken many times in our garden for family weekend nights, parties or get-togethers and it has become a favourite dish in our home.
Similar Recipes
Cooking over charcoal can be a little tricky if you’re not used to it and overcooking can make the chicken dry. You can also use an oven or stovetop to cook the chicken, but the flavour from charcoal is truly unmatchable.
In this recipe, I’ll share simple tips and methods to help you make tender, juicy and flavourful charcoal grilled chicken. Also here is how you light up a charcoal grill easily.
Take few sheets of newspaper. Make small balls of newspaper and place them at the bottom of the grill. Stack charcoal on top of the news paper. Now light up the newspaper. The fire will slowly catch the charcoal. Wait 10-15 minutes until the charcoal becomes grey colour. Nows it is ready to cook.
Ingredients
- Chicken : Chicken is the main ingredient and is one of the good sources of protein. It absorbs the marinated spices well and cook juicy, flavourful when grilled over charcoal.
- Onion : Onion adds natural sweetness and deep flavor to the marination. Use regular onion or shallots of your choice.
- Garlic : Garlic adds a strong, pungent flavor that enhances the chicken taste when grilled.
- Spices : Spices like chilli powder, pepper powder, cumin powder and red chilli flakes are used to give chicken heat and bold flavour.
- Sugar : Sugar added to balance the spicy flavours and make a perfect caramelized juicy chicken when grilled.
- Salt : Salt is an essential seasoning used to balance the chicken flavour and taste.
- Lemon juice or vinegar : Lemon juice or vinegar adds a little sourness and helps to tenderize the chicken.
- Oil : Any neutral oil works. It helps the marination to coat evenly with chicken and keep the chicken moist while grilling.
- Oregano : Oregano is a herb that adds a mild mediterranean aroma to the chicken.
- Cayenne pepper powder : Cayenne powder adds extra heat and spicy flavour to the grilled chicken.
Step by Step Pictures
Prepare Marination
1)This marination is so easy. You add all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend till smooth. First take onions and garlic in a blender. Onions helps makes the chicken juicy and tenderises the meat.
2)Add in red chilli powder and black pepper powder. I used Kashmiri chilli powder, to get red colour. Kashmiri chillies are less spicy but gives more colour.
3)Add in red chilli flakes. This is optional, if you don’t like spicy you can leave it.
4)Add in salt and sugar. Sugar can be skipped, but it helps with the caramelized colour over chicken when grilling.
5)Now pour in vinegar or lemon juice to make this into a paste.
6)Add in dried oregano. At this point you can add any of your favorite herbs like rosemary, basil.
7)This is optional, but I like to add some cayenne powder for heat.
8)Grind this mixture into a paste.
Marinate Chicken
9)Take the paste in a bowl. Add in oil and mix well.
10)Mix this well. At this point taste check the marination for salt and lemon.
11)This is one whole chicken which I cut into 10 to 12 pieces. You have to wash the chicken, pat them dry and make slashes over the meat using a knife so the marination can penetrate into the chicken.
12)Add in chicken pieces into the marination and mix it really well. The marination should coat the chicken really well.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinate in fridge overnight or at least 6 hours.
Cooking Chicken On Charcoal Grill
13)Now set up charcoal grill. Light up the charcoal and once it gets hot and red, spread it evenly on the grill. Now place the grill rack on top of the charcoal.
Arrange chicken on top leaving some space between them. if you have a lid for your barbeque, cover it and cook for 5 minutes, flip the chicken over and cook for another 5 minutes.
14)Brush the chicken with butter or oil and continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes until chicken is cooked. Keep flipping chicken for even cooking. While chicken is cooking, you can grill some sweetcorn as well. Once cooked, serve hot.
Expert Tips
Slit the chicken : Wash and clean the chicken pieces well. Slit the chicken leg and bone in pieces with a knife to help the marination penetrate deeper and it ensures rich flavour.
Marinate enough : For maximum taste and flavour, marinate the chicken at least for 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat the grill : Always heat the charcoal grill thoroughly before cooking. A hot grill gives the beautiful grill marks and cooks the chicken pieces evenly.
Brushing : After grilling, brush the grilled chicken with butter to keep it more moist, tender and flavourful.
Storage : Let the grilled chicken cool completely before storing. Store them in an airtight container and it stays good in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
Freezing : Store the marinated chicken in the freezer and it stays good for 2 weeks to a month. And cook them whenever ready to serve.
Serving : Serve this juicy and delicious charcoal grilled chicken with rice, bread, roti, chapathi, naan alongside with mayonnaise or green chutney for a complete meal. You can also slice the grilled chicken and use it for making wrap, sandwiches and salads.
FAQ
This usually happens if the chicken is overcooked or grilled for too long. Brush the chicken with little oil or butter when grilling to keep it moist and tender.
Absolutely ! You can freeze the marinated chicken and use it later.
Definitely ! If the charcoal is not available, then you can use the oven to bake or grill the chicken. Bake at 200 degree C for 40 to 45 minutes.
If the chicken darkens too quickly, then move the charcoal or reduce the heat to avoid burning.
📖 Get Recipe
Charcoal Grilled Chicken Recipe (Juicy, Coal Cooked)
Sometimes, the simplest dishes may seem tricky to achieve perfect texture and charcoal grilled chicken is a perfect example. In this recipe, I love how simple marination and proper grilling techniques keeps the chicken pieces tender, juicy and packed with flavour. The smoky aroma from the charcoal makes it even more delicious and irresistible.
Ingredients
For Marination (To Blend)
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Charcoal Grilled Chicken Recipe (Juicy, Coal Cooked)
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
