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How to grill a whole chicken over charcoal
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5 from 4 votes

How to Grill a Whole Chicken Over Charcoal

Roasting a chicken over a charcoal grill can be one of the most flavorful ways to enjoy the grilling season!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 31kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 whole Roaster Chicken
  • Seasonings as desired
  • 1 tablespoon Oil

Instructions

  • Butterfly the chicken by cutting out the spine.
  • Place a skewer through from one thigh across to the other to keep the bird flat.
  • Dust with your choice of seasonings. (Salt, fresh pepper, and paprika is a good place to start if you don’t have a seasoning recipe ready)
  • Place charcoal on one side of the grill in a pile and light.
  • Once the charcoal is hot, clean and oil the grate with a brush. (The grate can be oiled by applying oil to a paper towel and brushing on with the grate cleaning brush.)
  • Place the chicken on the grate opposite of the hot coals with the legs facing the heat and proceed to cook skin-side-up until you are within ~30 degrees of the serving temperature.
  • Rotate the chicken 180 degrees if necessary if the legs are cooking too fast.
  • Move the chicken directly over the hot coals and place skin-side-down to allow for the skin to crisp.
  • Continue cooking until the chicken reaches 165 degrees and is safe to eat.
  • Let the chicken rest 10 minute prior to slicing to allow juices to settle.

Notes

IF YOU LIKED THIS RECIPE be sure to check my Smoked Chicken Legs recipe too!

Nutrition

Calories: 31kcal | Fat: 3g