Spice Up Your Grill Game with Zesty Old Bay Chicken

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Last updated on April 2nd, 2024 at 04:00 pm

Grilling season is almost over in my neck of the woods, but there’s still a little bit of time to cook outdoors. And if you’ve been looking for a way to liven up your grilling game, then you’ve come to the right place. This Old Bay chicken recipe is a great way to add a little zest to your outdoor cooking. It’s a classic, and it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

After making my own Old Bay seasoning recipe, I had a lot of the spice mix on hand. So of course I had to come up with a recipe highlighting the rub. Though it traditionally goes with seafood, I wanted to branch out with a different protein option.

Old Bay seasoning is a classic spice mix that adds a unique flavor to any dish. It is the perfect addition to any grilled dish and can take your favorite chicken recipe from average to extraordinary. The combination of flavors in the seasoning make it a perfect fit for a lot of grilling recipes. Try my recipe below for the delicious flavor of Old Bay chicken that will take your grilling game to the next level.

Ingredients for Old Bay Chicken

To get that perfect, juicy, flavorful chicken that will have your mouth watering, you have to start with great ingredients.

First and foremost, you’ll need some chicken. You can use whatever cut of chicken you prefer. I went with boneless skinless chicken breast because it is what I had on hand. Chicken thighs are also quite popular and will lend a more robust chicken flavor that will also be less likely to dry out on the grill.

Next, you’ll need some Old Bay seasoning. If you don’t have any in your pantry, you can find it in most grocery stores or buy it online. Using my recipe you can also make your own Old Bay seasoning. We’ll add some brown sugar and paprika in with the Old Bay seasoning to make a simple dry rub.

But the dry rub will stick best if we start with a wet rub.

Some olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and hot sauce mixed together will work. This creates a binder that helps the seasoning mix actually stick to the chicken.

That’s all you need to make some delicious grilled Old Bay chicken. Now let’s move on to the next step and see how to put all these ingredients together.

Coating and Topping the Chicken

Now that you have the perfect ingredients for your Old Bay chicken, it’s time to get the prep work done! When making this recipe you’ll want to preheat the grill just before you start mixing together the wet and dry rubs.

First, we’ll mix the wet ingredients together, and then separately we’ll mix the dry ingredients. In a small bowl combine the olive oil, mustard, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Stir together until well combined.

In another bowl, add the brown sugar, Old Bay seasoning, and paprika. Mix them together until there are no longer any clumps or pockets of separate ingredients.

Coat the chicken with the wet rub first, making sure to cover all sides of the meat. Then sprinkle the dry rub over both sides of the chicken, pressing in to make sure it is held on with the wet rub and won’t just fall right off.

I like to make a little coating station using a baking sheet to have a lot of room for spreading the rubs on the chicken without spilling things everywhere.

The chicken is ready for the grill.

Best Way to Grill Chicken

With the chicken all dressed up, let’s get to grilling! Hopefully, you’ve already fired up the grill to medium-high heat and it is hot and ready to go. Check out my Top 10 Grilling Tips post for more helpful hints when planning to grill.

Once the grill is hot, carefully place the chicken onto the grates and let it cook for about 6 to 9 minutes per side.

I like using tongs to flip the chicken so that you don’t damage the coating we worked so hard for.

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat
2. Marinate and season the chicken
3. Carefully add the chicken to the hot grill
4. Cook about 6-9 minutes per side, turning once
5. Remove the chicken when it reaches 165°F (74°C) internally
6. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving

I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to check internal chicken temperature. It is especially helpful if you aren’t used to grilling chicken. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of things. Here’s the thermometer that I use.

Also, note that any type of grill will work as long as it can cook hot and fast. This isn’t a low-and-slow kind of meat like pulled pork.

What to Serve with Old Bay Chicken

Now for the side dishes.

A dish so flavorful and fragrant deserves equally delicious accompaniments, and the options are endless. From classic sides to unique twists, you can really let your culinary creativity flow when creating the perfect plate.

I would recommend some kind of vegetable and some kind of starch. But it can also go well with any fresh summer fruit – especially watermelon.

For the vegetable try the following:

• Grilled Poblano Corn Salsa
• Garlic Butter and Basil Snow Peas
• Homemade Guacamole

For the starch, you may want to check these out:

• Bacon Chive Potato Salad
• Homemade Comfort Food Mac and Cheese
• Pesto Pizza Pasta Salad
• Pillowy Soft Puffy Pita

No matter what you decide to serve with your Old Bay chicken, one thing’s for sure: you’ll be sure to satisfy your hungry guests.

Ways to Use Leftover Old Bay Chicken

Who said leftover chicken had to be boring? With a few creative ingredients, you can transform leftovers into a delicious meal.

If you have some cooked Old Bay chicken leftovers, try using them to make a tasty soup. A simple chicken noodle soup, a southwest chicken tortilla soup, or a hearty chicken and lentil soup would all be great contenders for leftovers.

This grilled chicken recipe would also be perfect for making chicken salad. My recipe calls for shredded rotisserie chicken, but the flavor this Old Bay chicken would bring is amazing.

Don’t forget about pizza! Try this chicken on my white chicken and bacon pizza.

Grilling with old bay chicken is a surefire way to add a zesty kick to your summer cookouts. The combination of the seasoning’s flavors with the smoky flavors of the grill makes for a culinary delight. With the right ingredients, coating, and grilling technique, you can create a delicious and unique dinner that your friends and family will love.

So, go ahead and spice up your next grill session with some zesty Old Bay chicken.

How did yours turn out?

I’d love to hear when you try out this grilled Old Bay chicken! Take a pic of your food and share your success with me by adding it to your Instagram stories or feed, and tagging me @doyouroux, or by using #doyouroux.

Plus, leave a rating to let me know how you liked the recipe. It helps me out a lot to know how things worked out… or didn’t.

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