Are you craving that perfect piece of grilled chicken but not sure where to get it? Whether you’re on a health kick, meal prepping for the week, or just love the taste of perfectly grilled chicken, knowing where to buy quality grilled chicken can be a game-changer for your meals I’ve done the legwork and compiled this comprehensive guide to help you find the best places to satisfy your grilled chicken cravings!
Fast-Food Chains with Amazing Grilled Chicken
When you need a quick fix these fast-food chains offer some of the best grilled chicken options around
1. Chick-fil-A
No surprise here! Chick-fil-A dominates the grilled chicken game with several delicious options
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (390 calories) – A lemon-herb marinated boneless breast with green leaf lettuce and tomato on a toasted multigrain bun
- Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich – Same as above but with Colby Jack cheese and applewood smoked bacon
- Cool Wrap – Features their signature grilled chicken
- Grilled Nuggets – Perfect protein-packed option
- Salads – Choose grilled chicken as your protein topping
Chick-fil-A’s grilled chicken is consistently juicy and flavorful, making it one of my go-to options when I’m on the move.
2. Panera Bread
Panera offers several grilled chicken options that go beyond basic:
- Chicken Bacon Rancher – Grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, and ranch dressing on black pepper focaccia
- Grilled Chicken & Avo BLT (910 calories) – Grilled chicken, bacon, cheddar, mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado, and garlic aioli on Country Rustic Sourdough
- Green Goddess Chicken Cobb Salad
- Southwest Chicken Ranch Salad
Panera’s grilled chicken tends to be more premium and pairs wonderfully with their fresh ingredients.
3. Carl’s Jr.
Carl’s Jr. calls it “charbroiled” rather than grilled, but the result is similar and delicious:
- Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich (650 calories)
- Charbroiled Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich
- Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich (recommended by dietitians as a healthier option)
4. Zaxby’s
Known for chicken, Zaxby’s offers:
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (470 calories) – Marinated grilled chicken, tomatoes, and ranch on a toasted potato bun
- Zalads with grilled chicken option
Their grilled chicken sandwich is popular for being lower in calories while still packing 38g of protein!
5. Whataburger
The Texas chain offers:
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (430 calories) – Grilled chicken filet, tomato, lettuce, and WhataSauce on a brioche bun
- Add extras like pickles, diced onions, and grilled onions for free
- Premium add-ons like bacon, cheese, or avocado for an additional cost
6. Smashburger
If variety is what you crave, Smashburger has an impressive SIX different grilled chicken sandwiches:
- Classic Grilled Chicken Sandwich (460 calories)
- Colorado Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Bacon Smash Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Avocado Bacon Club Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- BBQ Bacon Cheddar Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Truffle Mushroom Swiss Grilled Chicken Sandwich
All made to order and seriously delicious!
7. Jack in the Box
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (500 calories) – Featuring thick slabs of toasted sourdough bread, grilled chicken filet, lettuce, tomato, Good Good Sauce, and butter
8. The Habit Burger Grill
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (910 calories) – Hand-filleted and marinated chicken breast, melted cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and choice of barbecue or teriyaki sauce
- High in protein (45g) but also high in calories, fat, and sodium
9. BurgerFi
Available at select locations:
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich – All-natural grilled chicken breast topped with lettuce, tomato, and honey mustard
- Grilled Chicken Bowl – Chicken breast, tomatoes, pickles, jalapeños, haystack onions, lettuce, ranch, and Fi Sauce
10. Elevation Burger
Made with cage-free chicken:
- Elevation Grilled Chicken Sandwich – Organic grilled chicken breast tenders, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and Elevation sauce on a potato bun
- BBQ Cheddar Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Sriracha Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Grilled Chicken Tenders (652 calories with fries) – Served with olive oil fries and choice of dipping sauce
Delivery Services for Grilled Chicken
Grubhub
Grubhub offers delivery from various restaurants that serve grilled chicken dishes. Their platform connects you with local eateries that specialize in grilled chicken options. However, when trying to access their specific grilled chicken section, you might need to enable JavaScript in your browser preferences to see all available options.
Meal Prep Services
Clean Eats Meal Prep
If you want grilled chicken ready for the week, Clean Eats Meal Prep offers:
- Grilled Chicken By the Pound ($13.99)
- Tender chicken breast, simply grilled and unseasoned
- Hormone-free chicken
- Perfect for meal prep
- Gluten-free and dairy-free
- High protein (140g per pound)
- Low in sodium (333mg)
- Microwave for 2-3 minutes to prepare
Customer reviews consistently mention how “tender and juicy” the chicken is, with one reviewer noting it’s “grilled perfectly.”
Grocery Stores with Quality Grilled Chicken
1. Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods offers high-quality prepared foods, including:
- Fresh grilled chicken breast at the hot bar
- Pre-packaged grilled chicken strips in the refrigerated section
- Organic and antibiotic-free options
2. Costco
Costco is famous for:
- Rotisserie chicken (technically roasted, but a similar healthy option)
- Pre-cooked grilled chicken strips in the refrigerated section
- Frozen grilled chicken options
3. Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s offers convenient:
- Just Grilled Chicken Strips (refrigerated)
- Grilled chicken breast slices (frozen)
- Pre-marinated raw chicken that you can grill at home
4. Local Grocery Store Delis
Don’t overlook your local grocery store’s deli section, which often offers:
- Freshly grilled chicken breast
- Grilled chicken salads
- Sliced grilled chicken for sandwiches
DIY Grilled Chicken at Home
Sometimes the best grilled chicken is the one you make yourself!
Quick Marinade Ideas:
- Basic: Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Lemon Herb: Lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, thyme
- BBQ: Your favorite BBQ sauce diluted with a bit of apple cider vinegar
- Mediterranean: Olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, yogurt
Grilling Tips:
- Pound chicken to even thickness for more consistent cooking
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes, but ideally 2-4 hours
- Preheat grill to medium-high (around 375-450°F)
- Cook until internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting
Making the Most of Your Grilled Chicken
Once you’ve got your hands on some delicious grilled chicken, here are some ways to use it:
Meal Prep Ideas:
- Slice and add to salads throughout the week
- Chop and use in grain bowls
- Shred for tacos or wraps
- Add to pasta dishes
- Make quick quesadillas
Storage Tips:
- Refrigerate for 3-4 days in airtight container
- Freeze for up to 3 months
- Reheat with a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent dryness
Nutritional Benefits of Grilled Chicken
Grilled chicken is popular for good reason:
| Nutrient | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Protein | Builds muscle, promotes fullness |
| Low Fat | Lower in calories than fried options |
| No Added Sugar | Better for blood sugar control |
| B Vitamins | Energy production, brain health |
| Selenium | Antioxidant properties |
My Personal Experience
I’ve tried grilled chicken from most of these places, and I gotta say, Chick-fil-A’s grilled nuggets are my weekly staple! They’re so convenient for my meal prep. When I’m feeling fancy, I’ll grab Panera’s Grilled Chicken & Avo BLT—it’s worth the splurge sometimes!
For home cooking, I recently discovered brining the chicken breast in salt water for 30 minutes before grilling makes ALL the difference in juiciness. We used to end up with dry chicken until my partner showed me this trick!
Whether you’re grabbing a quick sandwich from Chick-fil-A, ordering a pound of clean grilled chicken for meal prep, or making your own at home, there are plenty of delicious grilled chicken options available. The key is knowing where to look!
What’s your favorite place to get grilled chicken? Do you have any special preparations or uses for it once you’ve got it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Happy chicken hunting!
Tyson Grilled & Ready Fully Cooked Chicken Breast Strips
Tyson’s grilled chicken strips are boneless, skinless, seasoned chicken breasts with “smoke flavor added,” according to the packaging. I picked up a 22-ounce bag for $8.99 and microwaved about a cup of chicken strips on a covered plate for a minute-and-a-half, as per the directions.
The look: Despite the picture on the bag, not all of the chicken strips were, well, strip-like. They were a bit wider in shape, offering more surface area than the other options included in this taste test. The sides were a slightly darker light brown color with black speckles from the seasoning
The taste: The packaging certainly didn’t lie. This grilled chicken gave off a strong smoky aroma that matched its flavor. However, I wasn’t a big fan. While the chicken was moist, I didn’t detect any sort of charred flavor that you typically get from grilled chicken. Instead, this chicken tasted like it could have been smoked, but the flavor was a bit too strong. It was also saltier than I would have liked.
Bell & Evans Fully Cooked Grilled Diced Chicken Breast
I know, I know. These aren’t technically strips. But they’re a close alternative for those looking to get their grilled chicken fix fast. Out of all the products I tried, this one had the fewest ingredients, consisting of boneless, skinless chicken breast meat, water, rice starch, and sea salt. I picked up a bag of this air-chilled chicken for $14.99 at Whole Foods—the most expensive of the five options. The instructions say you can thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight or thaw it in the microwave, according to your microwave’s instructions. So, I decided to microwave these in a covered bowl for a minute-and-a-half and hoped that did the trick.
The look: Although the bag advertises the chicken as “diced,” I expected the pieces to be a bit longer and more strip-like, similar to what’s depicted on the package. Instead, the actual product varied in size and shape, with the dark brown grill marks apparent on the sides of the chicken.
The taste: Unlike the Tyson grilled chicken strips, which had an overpowering flavor, this one tasted significantly more plain. In fact, it was the blandest of every option I tried. The texture was notably soft and moist, but I found myself yearning for flavor. I suppose this shouldn’t be a shock given that the only flavoring on the ingredient list is salt. However, dipped in sauce or drizzled with salad dressing, this chicken has the potential to be a winner.
The Best Grilled Chicken You’ll Ever Make (Restaurant-Quality) | Epicurious 101
FAQ
Can you buy pre-grilled chicken?
Grilled PERDUE® SHORT CUTS® Carved Chicken Breast are perfectly seasoned, fully cooked, chicken strips. Skip the grill and make meal prep a breeze.
What fast food chain offers grilled chicken?
- Panera — Spicy Fiesta Chicken.
- Carl’s Jr — Charbroiled Chicken Club. …
- Carl’s Jr — Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich. …
- Chick-fil-A — Grilled Chicken Sandwich. …
- Jack in the Box — Grilled Chicken Sandwich. …
- Smashburger — Chicken Smashburger. …
Is Chick-fil-A grilled chicken grilled?
Yes, Chick-fil-A’s grilled chicken is actually grilled on a special, patented electric grill with a top and bottom surface that cooks the chicken quickly and creates the signature grill marks. The raw chicken breast is marinated with a seasoning blend and then cooked on the grill, ensuring it is tender, juicy, and has a smoky flavor from the grilling process itself.
Does Wendy’s still offer grilled chicken?
Wendy’s is discontinuing its Grilled Chicken Sandwich to make room for the new Grilled Chicken Wrap.