Garlic and Onion Grilled Chicken
Garlic and Onion Grilled Chicken is the perfect meal prep recipe. It’s easy to cook 3 whole chickens all at once to make 6 budget friendly meals plus homemade broth.
Our How to Brine and Smoke a Whole Chicken recipe is one of our most requested recipes. To save time this week, we are skipping the brine and grilling whole chickens on the grill with our favorite dry rub that will make 6 or more family favorite meals.
Garlic and Onion Grilled Chicken ~ Meal Prep Recipe
Meal Prep Chicken is one of the best money and time savers for busy families. We love to grill whole chickens over the weekend and use them for delicious meals throughout the week. It’s the best way to get dinner on the table when you don’t have a lot of time.
Everyone is trying to stretch their grocery budget these days and we are here to help. Whole chickens have been half of the price of cut up chicken pieces and whole chickens have unlimited possibilities to make delicious meals. Cooking a whole chicken is extremely simple on the grill or to roast in the oven.
Ingredients Needed
- 3 Whole Chickens ~ We chose 3- 4 pound chickens. Larger chickens work just as well but we find the smaller chickens to be more tender and flavorful.
- Salted Butter
- Granulated Garlic
- Kosher Salt
- Olive Oil
- Sweet Garlic and Onion Rub ~ This is a simple homemade dry rub made with garlic, onion and brown sugar. It’s great for seasoning chicken, pork beef and vegetables.
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How to Grill Garlic and Onion Chicken
- Prepare a grill fire to 325° using pecan or hickory for smoke flavor.
- In a small bowl, combine softened butter with granulated garlic and kosher salt.
- Remove chicken from the packaging, and removing the neck and organs if they are inside, which can be saved for broth.
- Pat the chickens dry with paper towels and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Carefully run your fingers under the skin to loosen it from the meat.
- Place spoonfuls of butter mixture under the skin and press to spread it across the chicken breasts.
- Use butcher twine to truss the chickens.
- Coat the outside of the chickens with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with Sweet Garlic and Onion Rub all over the chicken.
- Place the chickens on the grill over indirect fire. Close the lid and cook for 1 hour.
- Check the chicken for doneness in the thick part of the thighs, near the bone using a digital meat thermometer, cooking until chicken reaches 165°.
- Remove chickens from the grill to a rimmed sheet pan.
- Allow to rest 20 minutes before cutting.
Oven Directions
Chickens can be roasted on a rimmed baking sheet at 375° for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Use a digital meat thermometer to test the chicken in the thick part of the thighs, near the bone using a digital thermometer, cooking until chicken reaches 165°.
How to Meal Prep Grilled Whole Chickens
- We removed the chicken from all of the bones and ended up with about 1 1/2 pounds per chicken. You can keep or discard the skin.
- We chopped all the dark meat and carved the chicken breasts whole.
- Divide the chicken into 3/4 pound packages. This will yield 6 meals for a family of 4.
- Save the chicken bones to make a batch of Homemade Chicken Broth which is another bonus ingredient from cooking whole chickens. It is more flavorful and much cheaper than store bought broth. We like to freeze it to have on hand for our favorite soups, pasta and casseroles.
- If you don’t have time to make the broth immediately, freeze the bones in a vacuum seal bag or freezer container up to 3 months.
How to Store Chicken for Meal Prep
- Vacuum seal bags are our favorite for keeping meat fresh. Chicken can be kept in the refrigerator up to 4 days or frozen up to 6 months.
- Deli containers also work great for storing chicken.
- Zip top bags or a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil is another great option.
Delicious Recipes to Make with Meal Prep Chicken
Chicken Fajita Pasta is a one pot dinner ready in under 30 minutes that is full of amazing flavors. A quick and easy meal that will have everyone begging for more.
Smothered Chicken Burritos are a hearty meal for busy nights. Made with grilled chicken and black beans and a green chile sauce.
Rolled Chicken Tacos make a fast supper for any night of the week. Cheesy chicken filling inside crisp flour tortillas that are baked and not fried for a real family pleaser.
Hot Honey Chicken Wraps are a super quick and easy meal that everyone will love. A twist on Buffalo chicken wraps and they are loaded with flavor.
BBQ Chicken Pizza is really simple to make with our homemade pizza dough, bbq sauce and your favorite toppings.
Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup with mushrooms is a hearty weeknight dinner that can be on the table in under an hour.
Spanish Chicken and Rice is a quick and easy skillet casserole to make for any night of the week. Filled with tomatoes, green chiles and pinto beans for a hearty dinner that everyone will love.
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is the classic casserole that we all grew up with. Rice is a great way to stretch a meal and this casserole is always a hit with lots of cheese and bacon.
Pesto Chicken Sandwiches are made with focaccia bread, pesto, mozzarella, tomatoes and grilled chicken. On the table in about 10 minutes and one of the best sandwiches you’ll ever taste!
Chicken Penne Pasta is made with 5 cheeses and delicious penne pasta for a hearty dinner that everyone will love.
BBQ Chicken Baked Potatoes need to go on your list to try this week. Fluffy baked potatoes are topped with cheese, smoky grilled chicken and bbq sauce for a filling meal that everyone can agree on.
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas are even more delicious when made with grilled chicken. Elevate your next Mexican dinner with this meal prep chicken.
Add this Garlic and Onion Grilled Chicken meal prep recipe to your menu this week to optimize your grocery budget and save time getting delicious meals on the dinner table.
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Garlic and Onion Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 whole chickens
- 1/4 cup salted butter softened
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup Sweet Garlic and Onion Rub
Instructions
- Prepare a grill fire to 325° using pecan or hickory for smoke flavor.
- In a small bowl, combine softened butter with granulated garlic and kosher salt.
- Remove chicken from the packaging, and removing the neck and organs if they are inside, which can be saved for broth.
- Pat the chickens dry with paper towels and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Carefully run your fingers under the skin to loosen it from the meat.
- Place spoonfuls of butter mixture under the skin and press to spread it across the chicken breasts.
- Truss the chickens with butcher twine.
- Coat the outside of the chickens with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with Sweet Garlic and Onion Rub all over each chicken.
- Cook the chickens on the grill over indirect fire with the lid closed for 1 hour.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to check the chicken for doneness in the thick part of the thighs, near the bone, cooking until chicken reaches 165°.
- Remove chickens from the grill to a rimmed sheet pan.
- Allow to rest 20 minutes before carving.
Notes
Oven Directions:
Place seasoned chickens on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 375° for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Use a digital meat thermometer to test the chicken in the thick part of the thighs, near the bone using a digital thermometer, cooking until chicken reaches 165°.How to Meal Prep Grilled Whole Chickens:
- Remove the chicken from all of the bones, discard skin if desired.
- Chop the dark meat and carve the chicken breasts whole.
- Divide the chicken into 3/4 pound packages.
- Store the chicken bones in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months to make broth.
How to Store Chicken for Meal Prep:
- Chicken can be kept in the refrigerator up to 4 days or frozen up to 6 months using vacuum seal bags, deli containers or zip top freezer bags.
- Alternately, use a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil.