Italian Phrase
Quanto ci vuole per grigliare il pollo?
Meaning
The sentence asks about the amount of time needed to grill chicken. It is a practical question you might hear in a kitchen, at a barbecue, or when planning a meal.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to know the cooking time for grilled chicken, whether you’re asking a friend, a chef, or reading a recipe. It works in informal conversations as well as in more formal cooking‑class settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quantocivuolepergrigliareilpollo?
Quanto
Interrogative adverb meaning 'how much/how long' used to ask about quantity or duration.
ci vuole
Impersonal construction meaning 'it takes'; 'ci' is a dummy pronoun and 'vuole' is the third‑person singular of volere.
per + infinitive
The preposition 'per' followed by an infinitive expresses purpose or the activity that requires the time.
grigliare
Infinitive verb meaning 'to grill' (to cook over a grill).
il pollo
Definite article + noun; 'the chicken' (as a generic food item).
🗨In Conversation
Quanto ci vuole per grigliare il pollo?
How long does it take to grill the chicken?
Di solito ci vogliono circa 20‑25 minuti, se il pollo è a pezzi.
Usually it takes about 20‑25 minutes, if the chicken is cut into pieces.
✕Common Mistakes
Che ci vuole per grigliare il pollo?
‘Che’ means ‘what’ and cannot replace ‘quanto’ when asking about duration.
Quanto ci voglio per grigliare il pollo?
‘Ci voglio’ is first‑person singular (I want), not the impersonal ‘ci vuole’ (it takes).
Quanto ci vuole grigliare il pollo?
Missing the preposition ‘per’ changes the meaning; you need ‘per grigliare’ to indicate the activity.
↔Alternatives
Quanto tempo ci vuole per cuocere il pollo alla griglia?
How much time does it take to cook the chicken on the grill?
Quanto tempo serve per grigliare il pollo?
How much time is needed to grill the chicken?
Quanto ci metti a grigliare il pollo?
How long do you take to grill the chicken?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, grilling ("alla griglia") is especially popular in the summer, often for chicken, fish, and vegetables. Different regions have their own marinades—e.g., a lemon‑herb mix in Tuscany or a spicy chili rub in Calabria. When asking about cooking time, Italians may also ask about the "grado di cottura" (doneness) to ensure the meat stays juicy.