4.7 from 222 votes
Chicken Brine Recipe
This step-by-step guide will show you how to brine chicken, tips for a juicy chicken, how to get crispy chicken skin and, of course, the best chicken brine recipe!
Prep Time
1 d
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 d 1 hr
Servings: 4
Calories: 372 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Chicken Brine:
- 1 gallon water
- 3/4 cup coarse Kosher salt*
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 3 dried bay leaves
- 5 cloves garlic , peeled and smashed
- 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3 lemons , sliced
- 4-5 pound roaster chicken
Basic Roasted Chicken:
- ½ cup butter , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
To Brine Chicken:
- In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, combine the water, Kosher salt, sugar, bay leaves, smashed garlic cloves, black peppercorns, rosemary, thyme and slices lemons.
- Bring the brine solution to a low simmer, stirring until salt and sugar have dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool fully.
- Add the chicken to the cooled brine. If there is room, you can add to the stock pot, just make sure it is fully submerged in liquid. If you need to add 1-2 additional cups of water to make this happen, go for it! You can also use a brining bag.
- Cover, if you using a pot, and refrigerate for 8-24 hours. Do not over brine, as meat can start to turn rubbery if brined for too long.
- Remove the chicken from the brine and rinse with cold water. Continue with your favorite chicken recipe.
- Discard the brine.
Cup of Yum
To Cook Brined Chicken:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, combine the butter, herbs, Kosher salt and ground black pepper.
- Loosen the skin from meat and rub butter under the skin evenly. Use your fingers to loosen skin from the meat and for hard to reach places, you can use the back of a spoon to get down in there with the butter. If there is extra butter, just place it in the cavity.
- Place the chicken breast side down. Truss the chicken by loosely tying the legs together using cooking twine.
- Roast the chicken for 30 minutes, remove from oven. Stick a pair of tongs inside the cavity of the chicken to flip the bird to breast side up.
- Continue roasting the chicken breast side up for another 30-40 minutes or until a digital thermometer registers at 165 degrees when inserted into the thigh.
- Remove the chicken from the oven. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving or serving.If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!
Notes
- Do NOT use table salt.
Nutrition Information
Calories
372kcal
(19%)
Carbohydrates
45g
(15%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
23g
(35%)
Saturated Fat
15g
(75%)
Cholesterol
61mg
(20%)
Sodium
22055mg
(919%)
Potassium
176mg
(5%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
35g
(70%)
Vitamin A
745IU
(15%)
Vitamin C
44.1mg
(49%)
Calcium
93mg
(9%)
Iron
1.1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 372
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 372kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 45g | 15% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 23g | 35% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Cholesterol | 61mg | 20% |
| Sodium | 22055mg | 919% |
| Potassium | 176mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 35g | 70% |
| Vitamin A | 745IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 44.1mg | 49% |
| Calcium | 93mg | 9% |
| Iron | 1.1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.