How to Barbecue Chicken in Parchment Paper
Cooking chicken in parchment paper, or en papillote, keeps it moist while it cooks. The parchment paper is formed into a package to trap the steam that escapes. The paper must be crimped tightly to keep the steam inside the packet. Cooking the chicken with this method requires no additional fat or oil, which makes it a healthy cooking alternative. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Barbecue grill
- Chicken breasts
- Parchment paper
- Seasonings (cook's choice)
- Aluminum foil
- Meat thermometer
Instructions
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1
Preheat a grill to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn all the burners on high on a gas grill, or light the charcoal and allow it to burn down until a white ash forms.
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2
Place a 12-by-12-inch piece of parchment paper on a flat surface. Place a chicken breast in the center of the parchment paper.
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3
Add seasonings to the chicken. Basil leaves, dried thyme and lemon slices work well for chicken.
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4
Grab the edges of the parchment paper. Bring the edges together and then crimp them closed to form a package.
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5
Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil the same size as the parchment paper. Place the parchment paper package in the center of the foil. Wrap the foil tightly around the parchment paper package in the same manner as you wrapped the parchment paper. The foil helps to hold everything together on the grill so that the grates do not rip the parchment paper open.
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6
Repeat Steps 2 through 5 for each chicken breast.
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7
Grill the chicken over direct heat for 15 to 20 minutes. The aluminum foil will puff up while the chicken cooks on the grill.
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8
Insert a meat thermometer through the foil and parchment paper into the thickest part of the chicken. Remove the chicken when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Tips & Warnings
You can add vegetables to the chicken if you prefer. Slice the vegetables thinly so that they cook evenly.
Open the parchment paper package carefully to prevent the steam from burning your skin.
References
- Photo Credit chickens' breast meat image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
