Recipe by Sarah Thomas-Drawbaugh, Recipe Developer and Food Blogger, Healthyish Foods
Prep Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Serves: 6
It’s safe to say summer is upon us and the warm air is here to stay. That’s why you have to try my juicy grilled chicken platter. Loaded with boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken lollipops, and a simple yet delicious salad, this recipe is guaranteed to be your go to platter for cookouts or easy weeknight meals.
The meat is beyond tender and juicy. Your entire family will love how flavorful everything is on this platter. Add the simple, healthy salad and this meal is a total summer win.
Ingredients
Chicken:
1½ pounds Smart Chicken Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 pounds Smart Chicken drumsticks
1-2 tablespoons paprika
Marinade:
1 cup olive oil
½ cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Salad:
1 avocado, peeled and sliced
4 ounces cherry tomatoes sliced
2 ears corn, boiled or grilled, remove kernels
1 ripe lime
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Salad dressing of choice
Directions
Time to Grill: You will need a meat thermometer, grilling tongs, and a clean platter to place the cooked meat on. Make sure you have all of your tools out and ready to go.
Prepare the Chicken: Remove the prepared chicken breasts and drumsticks from the refrigerator. Allow them to rest for 15-20 minutes at room temperature. ** Important Note: See instructions listed above on how to prepare each cut of chicken. **
Dust all of the meat with paprika and thoroughly rub it into the meat. This will add some additional flavor and color. Set the chicken aside.
Prepare the Grill: Add a sheet of aluminum foil to the grill. Heat the gas grill to 450-475°F. You’ll want the grill to be super-hot when you place the meat on it. This is one of my tricks to lock in the juices. Once the grill is ready and the chicken has rested at room temperature, add the drumsticks to the grill FIRST. They need 30-35 minutes to cook through which is longer than the breast meat. You will also want the internal temp to be 180 degrees. This breaks down the tendons and makes the drumsticks juicy and tender vs. stringy. After about 5 minutes, carefully turn the drumsticks using grilling tongs. You will turn the drumsticks frequently (every 5 minutes) to prevent burning. Charring is good, burning is bad. Also be sure to close the lid in between turns. Once the drumsticks have cooked for about 20 minutes, you will add the chicken breasts.
Place the chicken breasts on the hot grill and allow them to cook for 6-7 minutes. After about 6 minutes, reduce the grill heat to 400 degrees and flip the chicken breasts. You will only turn the chicken breasts once, unlike the drumsticks which you will turn about every 5 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the grill once they have an internal temperature of 165°F. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your chicken breasts. However, they will cook more quickly since we’ve butterflied and pounded them. Let the chicken breasts rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Once the drumsticks have an internal temp of 180°F, and the juices are running clear, remove them from the grill. Let them rest for 5-10 minutes before enjoying.
Prepare the Salad: Boil a pot of water. Add corn to the boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
Remove corn from the water and set it aside to cool. Once it is cool, carefully remove the kernels. Slice two avocados and place them in a bowl. Next, add sliced tomatoes and corn kernels. Toss everything together. Then, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice and set aside.
Assemble the Platter: Add the avocado tomato salad to the platter. Next, add the chicken breasts, drumsticks and any juices. Top everything with a pinch of salt and few turns of cracked black pepper. Serve with a side of dressing or your favorite BBQ sauce. Enjoy!
Nutrition
serving: 1 serving, calories: 754kcal, carbohydrates: 5g, protein: 52g, fat: 58g, saturated fat: 10g, polyunsaturated fat: 8g, monounsaturated fat: 36g, trans fat: 1g, cholesterol: 212mg, sodium: 799mg, potassium: 990mg, fiber: 3g, sugar: 1g, vitamin a: 308IU, vitamin c: 12mg, calcium: 43mg, iron: 2mg