9 Tips for Cooking Chicken On a Griddle Like Never Before
Adding chicken cooked on a griddle is a great way to add lean protein to your meals. The high protein content combined with relatively low calories and fat makes it a great option for filling you up. Therefore, it can be great for people attempting to lose weight. Furthermore, it contains lots of vital vitamins and minerals including Vitamin D, Vitamin A and Iron. Therefore, chicken makes a great addition to your diet. So, read on for our handy guide to cooking chicken on a griddle.
Cooking Chicken on a Griddle 101
Cooking Chicken on a griddle
A griddle pan is a great way to cook chicken. This is because the ridges on the pan create those distinctive 'char lines', which both look professional and add to the flavour. You can use a griddle pan to cook entire chicken breasts, chicken drumsticks or smaller strips of chicken.
First, you need to brush or spray the griddle with a little oil. Any domestic cooking oil will do just fine. You'll need to turn the chicken during cooking to ensure it is done evenly.
Improve Your Cooking With a Griddle Upgrade:
Here is a list of our recommendations and buying guides to help you:
Can you cook chicken breast on an electric griddle?
Nowadays, many of us have electric griddle or skillet in our kitchens. So, is this a suitable way to cook chicken? In fact, it may actually be easier to cook a chicken breast on an electric griddle. That's because you can maintain a constant temperature on the griddle. Furthermore, an electric griddle will heat to an even temperature throughout the pan. This means that your chicken will be cooked evenly. On a regular griddle, the pan can continue to get much hotter as you cook, which can lead to a burnt outside and uncooked inside. Therefore, using an electric griddle takes away some of the guesswork.
What temperature to cook chicken on electric griddle?
Often, the temperature of an electric griddle is set to a constant 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If this is the case for your model, don't worry, as this will cook your chicken just fine. However, if you have a griddle where you can select the temperature, then 350 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for cooking chicken. If your griddle isn't electric, then heat the griddle to a medium-high heat before cooking. If you see signs that the chicken is cooking too fast on the outside or there is a lot of spitting from the pan, you may need to reduce the heat a little.
How long do you cook chicken breast on a griddle?
For a whole chicken breast, you will need to allow about 20 minutes overall. Cook it on one side for 10 minutes, then flip with tongs and cook the other side for a further 10 minutes. If you are cooking smaller pieces of chicken, you may need to cook for a little less time. It may be easier just to cook an entire chicken breast and then chop into smaller pieces after cooking.
However long you cook your chicken for, it's important to check that it is properly cooked before eating, otherwise you run the risk of contracting salmonella. The simplest way to do this is with a meat thermometer. Make sure that you plunge the thermometer right into the centre of the chicken breast, as you want to measure the internal temperature. A temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit indicates the chicken is cooked perfectly.
If you don't have a meat thermometer, don't worry! It's still quite easy to check if a chicken breast is cooked. First, try pressing down onto the chicken breast or making a little cut. If the juices that run off appear clear, then this is a good sign that the chicken is cooked through. Also, you can make a cut into the center of the chicken breast. If the meat appears white, then then it is cooked. Remember, even a hint of pink in a chicken breast means it needs to be cooked for longer. You cannot eat chicken rare like you can with a steak. In fact, to do so would be very dangerous.
Best Electric Griddle Chicken Recipes:
If you want to ad variety to your meals, you'll be pleased to know that there are lots of tasty and interesting recipes for chicken cooked on a double burner griddle. Whether you like traditional dinner recipes or a little extra spice, you're sure to find a recipe to suit your tastes. Here are our top picks.
Chicken tenders on electric griddle
Chicken tenders are an ever-popular recipe for kids and adults alike. If your kids are little, they make great finger food when they're still too young to eat with a knife and fork. This is a super-convenient griddle recipe as it can be prepared in well under 20 minutes. Furthermore, there are a variety of delicious dipping sauces that can either be store-bought or homemade, such as BBQ or sweet chilli flavour. These add a little more zing and interest to your chicken tenders. Here is our recipe for the perfect chicken tenders.
Ingredients
- Chicken tenders
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Cooking oil
To add a bit more spice, you may want to use a pre-mixed spice rub as well for adults or kids with more adventurous tastes.
Method
- 1. Dry your chicken tenders and trim off any visible tendons. Many chicken tenders come pre-trimmed from the store, cutting down on preparation time and adding convenience.
- 2. Season your chicken tenders with salt, pepper and a sprinkle of garlic power. Rub into the tenders thoroughly.
- 3. Heat your griddle to a medium-high temperature and brush or drizzle with a small amount of cooking oil. You don't need much, just enough to prevent the chicken from sticking.
- 4. Cook the chicken tenders for about 5 minutes on each side, for a total of 10 minutes. Check that they are cooked through either with a meat thermometer or by making a small incision into one of the tenders. Serve with your favourite dipping sauce.
BBQ chicken on griddle
Everyone loves BBQ sauce, and it's a great way to add a bit more flavour and excitement to chicken cooked on a ceramic electric griddle. For this recipe, you can use any BBQ sauce that you like. Most stores stock pre-made BBQ sauce to save on preparation time. Alternatively, if you have a signature family recipe for BBQ sauce, go ahead and use that instead. This recipe uses chicken breasts, but there's no reason you couldn't use wings, thighs or drumsticks. Just remember to adjust the cooking times accordingly. This recipe will serve 4 hungry adults.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, cut in half along the length
- 3 finely chopped fat cloves of garlic
- Cooking oil
- 2 cups BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup of water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method
- 1. Put a layer of cling film onto your work surface and place the chicken breasts on top. Add the garlic and season with salt and pepper. Using your hands, rub the garlic, salt and pepper into the chicken flesh.
- 2. Place a second layer of cling film over the top. Using a meat tenderiser, pound the chicken until it is around a half-inch in thickness. This reduces the overall cooking time.
- 3. Brush the griddle with oil and heat to medium-high. Cook the chicken for about 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 4 minutes, making 8 minutes in total.
- 4. Add the BBQ sauce and the water. Cook for another couple of minutes, making sure that all of the chicken is coated. Check using a thermometer or cut to ensure the chicken is cooked through, and serve.
Electric grill chicken breasts
This is a great basic recipe for grilled chicken, which you can then use in a variety of dishes. The chicken breasts can be served whole with a sauce, potatoes, rice or vegetables, or can be chopped and added to salads or stir-fries. Allow a whole chicken breast for older children and adults, or share one breast between two younger children.
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast per person
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking oil
Method
- 1. Ensure your chicken breasts are dry and trimmed of any excess skin or tendons. Many stores sell chicken breasts that are pre-trimmed if you're not keen on doing this yourself, or want to save time. Season them with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
- 2. Brush your grill with oil and preheat. If you have a temperature-adjustable grill, around 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.
- 3. Cook one side of the chicken breast for around 10 minutes. Then, flip and cook the other side for a further 10 minutes. Some electric flat top grills allow you to cook both sides at the same time as they clamp down on the chicken breast. In this case, you will only need to cook them for around 10 minutes in total.
- 4. Check the chicken is cooked through either by making a cut and checking the colour, or by using a meat thermometer. Serve immediately.
Electric skillet chicken wings
If you love hot wings, then the great news is that these are extremely easy to cook on an electric skillet or griddle. Any kind of hot sauce works perfectly in this recipe, and you will want to choose depending on how hot you want your wings to be. This recipe makes 20 chicken wings, but you could adjust the quantities up or down depending on how many people you are feeding.
Ingredients
- 20 chicken wings
- Cooking oil
- 3/4 cup of butter, cut into chunks
- 1/4 cup of hot sauce of your preference
- 3/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Method
- 1. Cut the wing tips off the wings and throw away. Brush your griddle or skillet with oil and preheat. Select 350 degrees Fahrenheit if you have an adjustable griddle.
- 2. Cook the wings for around 4 minutes on each side, and check to make sure they are cooked right through. Set aside.
- 3. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the hot sauce, pepper, salt, garlic and onion powder. Mix thoroughly to combine.
- 4. Coat the chicken wings thoroughly in the sauce and serve.
Chicken fajitas on a griddle
Chicken tenders work really well in this recipe as they can bee cooked nice and quickly. Alternatively, you could use chicken breast cut into strips. This recipe explains how to cook fajita-spiced chicken. To make a complete meal, add rice and veggies such as onions and bell peppers cooked on the griddle. These can be served in a tortilla wrap to make a delicious and nutritious lunch or dinner. Great idea for your outdoor griddle.
Ingredients
- Chicken tenders or chopped chicken breast- allow 4/5 tenders or a chicken breast per adult
- 1/4 cup lime juice- fresh or bottled will both work fine
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped vegetables: Red onions and green bell peppers are ideal options
Method
- 1. Mix all ingredients except the vegetables in a large sealable food bag. Place in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for a couple of hours. In a pinch, 1 hour will do the trick, although 2 hours is ideal.
- 2. Brush the griddle with oil and preheat. Either 350 degrees Fahrenheit or your griddle's pre-set temperature will work perfectly.
- 3. Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side, checking it is cooked through.
- 4. Add any vegetables you are using and cook for a further 2 minutes, or until the veggies are cooked but maintain a bit of crunch.
- 5. Build your fajitas with your favourite toppings. Salsa, chopped cilantro and fresh chillies are all great options.
Chicken quesadillas on a griddle
If you are a big fan of quesadillas, you're not alone. Quesadillas cooked on a griddle are a fantastic way to make a quick lunch or speedy evening meal. Our quick version uses cheese and chopped chicken, but you can add any number of extras to add a bit of variety. Fried onions, mushrooms or bell peppers make delicious and healthy additions. This recipe is for one quesadilla, which will serve 2 for lunch or 1 for dinner. Simply adjust up or down depending on how many you are serving.
Ingredients
- 2 flour tortillas per quesadilla
- 1/2 cup grated cheese such as cheddar, mozzarella, or a mixture of cheeses
- 1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- Cooking oil
Method
- 1. Preheat the griddle to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray or brush with a little oil.
- 2. Place the cheese and chicken on one of the tortillas, allowing a little gap around the edge to avoid an oozing situation. Any other toppings can be added at this stage. Add the other tortilla on top to create a sandwich.
- 3. Place the quesadilla on the griddle and cook for about 3 minutes. Check regularly to ensure the bottom isn't burning. Flip using a spatula and cook the other side for a further 3 minutes.
- 4. Allow to cool slightly, then cut into triangular slices like a pizza and serve. You could add a dip of salsa or guacamole for a more complete meal.
The Bottom Line
Cooking chicken on a griddle is a quick, easy and healthy way to prepare a wide variety of chicken dishes. Hopefully our quick recipes have given you plenty of inspiration for incorporating chicken cooked on a griddle into your lunches and dinners. Happy grilling!
Improve Your Cooking With a Griddle Upgrade:
Here is a list of our recommendations and buying guides to help you:
