Check out my recipe for making tender and juicy chicken breasts using your Ninja Foodi Grill!
One of the most common proteins is chicken. Due to its mild flavor, it is versatile, easy to customize, and easy to cook. Sometimes, we get in a rut and run out of ideas on how to turn simple chicken into a delicious meal! With just a few ingredients and a couple of extra minutes, you can turn boring chicken into Red Pepper Lime Chicken! And...you can grill it in about 15 minutes using your Ninja Foodi Grill!
This recipe was made using the Ninja® Foodi® Smart XL Pro Grill & Griddle, but any Ninja Foodi Grill can be used for this recipe.
I started making this recipe in some form, more than 10 years ago. It started out as a chicken shish kabob recipe. But, I always struggled to keep the chicken and veggies on the skewers long enough to make it worth the trouble of putting them together. Eventually, I ended up making a deconstructed version of both the chicken and the veggies! Same great flavors, but with much less work involved!
I used the Ninja® Foodi® XL Pro Grill & Griddle which has a smart option. It's really easy to use because you can just select what you are cooking and what temperature you would like it to be cooked. But, it is just as easy to use an instant-read thermometer to make Ninja Foodi Grill Red Pepper Lime Chicken Breasts. Regardless of the method, the chicken breasts should take about 15 minutes to cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tips for making Ninja Foodi Grill Red Pepper Lime Chicken Breasts
For well-done chicken, with no pink inside, the internal temperature should be 165 when eating. To ensure that the chicken does not overcook and become dry, remove the chicken from the heat at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The chicken will continue to cook as it rests. The final temperature should be 165 degrees. Always use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken before serving.
Technically, no. But I HIGHLY recommend that you do so. If you don't preheat the grill, you will start out by cooking on a cold surface. The grill will not properly sear and char whatever it is cooking.
While the grill is non-stick, it does a better job of being non-stick with just a little bit of high heat oil added to it. It makes it easier to flip the food and clean the grill once you are finished cooking. A lot of times I'll even spray the food lightly with oil before cooking it, especially if I'm using the air crisp function. If there is a little bit of oil, the food gets a little extra crispy.
Always use a non-aerosol, high heat oil. Many cooking sprays contain lecithin. Lecithin can destroy the non-stick surface of your Ninja Foodi Grill and inserts. I prefer to use avocado oil because it does not have much flavor at all and is safer to use because it does not have lecithin. Other high heat oils are peanut, canola, sunflower, and sesame oil. Many of these oils can be found at your local grocery store in a non-aerosol spray can. Otherwise, you can buy an oil mister off of Amazon fairly inexpensively.
When the meat is cooking, the juices move around inside of the meat. Allowing the meat to rest allows all of the super flavorful juices to find their home within the meat. If you immediately cut into a piece of cooked meat, all of the juicy deliciousness will leak out of the meat and you'll be left with a dryer and less flavorful meat. Most meat only needs a few minutes to rest before cutting into it. Usually, about 5 minutes will do the trick. If you have a very large cut of meat, increase the resting time to 10 or 20 minutes.
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What you'll need to make this recipe:
Ingredient substitutions and tips for making Ninja Foodi Grill Red Pepper Lime Chicken Breasts:
The full ingredient list is found at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Avocado Oil- Use a NON-AEROSOL oil to spray on the grill. Other types of oil can be used, but I use avocado oil because it does not have any flavor and does not smoke on the grill.
Garlic- Minced- fresh or jarred can be used. Adjust the amount based on your own preference.
Lime- Fresh lime juice and zest is preferred. If you don't have fresh limes, packaged juice can be used instead. Lemons can be substituted for limes if needed.
Butter- I use salted butter but you can use your favorite butter or butter substitute.
Red Pepper Flakes- A little goes a long way. Adjust the amount based on your own preference. Can be omitted if you prefer.
Chicken Breasts- Boneless, skinless. I used large breasts, but you can use any size. If you opt to use smaller chicken breasts, adjust the cook time based on the time that it takes to reach the proper internal temperature.
Salt and Pepper- Adjust amounts according to taste.
Steps for making this recipe:
Directions for making Ninja Foodi Grill Red Pepper Lime Chicken Breasts:
1. In a Ziplock bag or large bowl, combine the boneless, skinless chicken breasts, the melted butter, garlic, red pepper flakes, lime juice and zest, salt, and pepper. Mix together until well combined.
2. Seal the bag or cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate for about an hour. If time does not permit, you can marinate for less time.
Using the Smart Ninja Foodi Grill
1. Turn the Ninja Foodi Grill "ON."
2. If you have the Smart Ninja Foodi Grill, choose the "GRILL" option. Push the "PRESET" button and turn the dial until it reads "CHICKEN."
3. Push "START" and close the lid. The Ninja Foodi Grill will start to "PREHEAT."
4. Once preheated and the grill says "ADD FOOD," open the lid and lightly spray the grill with non-aerosol avocado oil.
5. Insert the smart thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast. Using silicone tongs, place the chicken onto the grill and close the lid.
6. When the Ninja Foodi Grill says "FLIP," open the lid, flip the chicken breasts and then close the lid.
7. Continue to cook until the Ninja Foodi Grill says "GET FOOD." Open lid, remove chicken and plate. Allow chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Using an Instant Read Thermometer
1. Turn the Ninja Foodi Grill "ON."
2. If your grill does not have the Smart feature, push the "FUNCTION" option and turn the dial until it is on "GRILL." Push the"TEMP" button and choose "MEDIUM." Push the "TIME" button and choose 15 minutes.
3. Push "START" and close the lid. The Ninja Foodi Grill will start to "PREHEAT."
4. Once preheated and the grill says "ADD FOOD," open the lid and lightly spray the grill with non-aerosol avocado oil.
5. Insert the instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast. Using silicone tongs, place the chicken onto the grill and close the lid.
6. After about 8 minutes, open the lid, flip the chicken breasts and then close the lid.
7. Continue to cook until the internal temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Open lid, remove chicken and plate. Allow chicken to rest for about 5 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, before serving.
Pin recipe for later:
Ninja Foodi Grill Red Pepper Lime Chicken Breasts
Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin RecipeEquipment
- Silicone Tongs
- Ziplock Bag or Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts (Large-Boneless and Skinless)
- 1 Tablespoon Butter (Salted-Melted)
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic (Minced)
- ¼ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Lime (Juice and Zest)
- 1 Pinch Salt
- 1 Pinch Pepper
- Avocado Oil (Spray)
Instructions
- In a Ziplock bag or large bowl, combine the boneless, skinless chicken breasts, the melted butter, garlic, red pepper flakes, lime juice and zest, salt, and pepper. Mix together until well combined.
- Seal the bag or cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate for about an hour. If time does not permit, you can marinate for less time.
Using the Smart Ninja Foodi Grill
- Turn the Ninja Foodi Grill "ON."
- If you have the Smart Ninja Foodi Grill, choose the "GRILL" option. Push the "PRESET" button and turn the dial until it reads "CHICKEN."
- Push "START" and close the lid. The Ninja Foodi Grill will start to "PREHEAT."
- Once preheated and the grill says "ADD FOOD," open the lid and lightly spray the grill with non-aerosol avocado oil.
- Insert the smart thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast. Using silicone tongs, place the chicken onto the grill and close the lid.
- When the Ninja Foodi Grill says "FLIP," open the lid, flip the chicken breasts and then close the lid.
- Continue to cook until the Ninja Foodi Grill says "GET FOOD." Open lid, remove chicken and plate. Allow chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Using an Instant Read Thermometer
- Turn the Ninja Foodi Grill "ON."
- If your grill does not have the Smart feature, push the "FUNCTION" option and turn the dial until it is on "GRILL." Push the"TEMP" button and choose "MEDIUM." Push the "TIME" button and choose 15 minutes.
- Push "START" and close the lid. The Ninja Foodi Grill will start to "PREHEAT."
- Once preheated and the grill says "ADD FOOD," open the lid and lightly spray the grill with non-aerosol avocado oil.
- Insert the instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast. Using silicone tongs, place the chicken onto the grill and close the lid.
- After about 8 minutes, open the lid, flip the chicken breasts and then close the lid.
- Continue to cook until the internal temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Open lid, remove chicken and plate. Allow chicken to rest for about 5 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only.
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