The poultry is done when the meat is no longer pink, the juices run clear, and it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F on an instant-read thermometer $15, Target). Our Test Kitchen prefers the texture of thighs, drumsticks, and bone-in breasts at 170°F though they are still safe to eat at 165°F. If desired, brush with a sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
How to Broil Chicken to Juicy Perfection in 3 Easy Steps
Put a new spin on your usual chicken dinner with these tips on how to broil chicken—plus a few of our favorite broiled chicken recipes.
Katlyn Moncada is the associate food editor at BHG.com, sharing food news and tutorials on becoming better home cooks. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital media, photography, and video production.
Updated on July 17, 2023
There’s nothing worse than cutting into your chicken dinner only to find dry, stringy meat. Good news for you, broiling chicken is a fast and easy way to ensure your chicken comes out perfectly moist and tender. Sure, there are plenty of other cooking methods, such as baking or roasting, but broiling your poultry takes less time. Follow our instructions below to learn how to broil chicken for perhaps one of the most delicious chicken dishes you’ll ever taste. You’ll also learn how to broil chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and even kabobs to use this cooking method for virtually any chicken recipe.
What Is Broiled Chicken?
Broiling is a technique that involves cooking food at a measured distance below direct, dry heat. When broiling chicken (and other foods), a broiler pan ($23, Walmart) is used so the surface of the food (not the rack) is a specified distance from the heat source. Use a ruler to measure this distance in a cold oven. For chicken, you’ll want to make sure the meat will sit approximately 5 to 6 inches beneath the broiler.
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
If desired, remove the skin from the poultry; sprinkle with salt, black pepper, or whatever seasonings you’re using. Preheat the broiler for 5 to 10 minutes. Arrange the poultry on the unheated rack of the broiler pan with the bone side up. If desired, brush poultry with cooking oil to help keep it moist.
Must-Have Baby Chick Supplies
- Heat
- Food and water
- Something to live in
Baby chicks are usually sent home in a small box. Our local farm supply stores have a minimum of six chicks per order. The baby chicks will keep each other warm with their body heat during the trip home. Once they get to their new home, they will need some special chick care.
#1: Heat
The most important thing is to keep them warm—really warm. Most baby chicks don’t die from illness, lack of food or dehydration, but are far more likely to die from being cold. A 70° barn, garage or home is too cold for them. They need mama-hen temperature, which is much warmer.
Since you are not a mama hen, you will need a brooder. A brooder is a heated enclosure in which young chicks (or any fowl) are raised. A brooder need not be fancy or expensive. It can be as simple as a metal tub with a heat lamp above the chicks to keep them toasty.
After the heat lamp is installed, observe the chicks. If the chicks are all huddled together directly underneath the heat lamp, they’re too cold. Move the lamp closer to the ground. If they are on the other side of the cage trying to get away from the heat lamp, they’re too hot. Raise the lamp up away from the ground. If they are freely moving about the cage, coop or container, they are comfortable. The heat lamp is in the right spot.
As the chicks grow, they won’t need as much heat. Keep an eye on them. Continue to adjust the heat lamp as they grow and become less dependent on it for warmth.
#2: Food
This is easy—give them food. There are several feeders available that work great. I like to use a feeder that uses a Mason jar because I have hundreds of them. Check out the Harris Farms ® Free Range ® 1 Quart Screw-On Fount Base.
To use a Mason jar feeder, fill the jar with baby chick starter, screw on the bottom and turn it upside down. The food will be gravity fed into the bottom as the chicks eat it.
