How to Brine Chicken (Chicken Brine Recipe)
User Reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
5 mins
-
Brine Time
12 hrs
-
Total Time
12 hrs 5 mins
-
Servings
6 -8
-
Calories
468 kcal
-
Course
Condiments
-
Cuisine
American
How to Brine Chicken (Chicken Brine Recipe)
Report
Make this simple chicken brine recipes, then follow ours step by step instructions for how to brine chicken to make sure that it's loaded with tons of flavor. Enjoy!
Share:
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- ½ cup kosher salt
- 6-8 pounds whole chicken or chicken pieces
OPTIONAL BRINE ADDITIONS
- 2 lemons sliced
- ¼ cup sugar or honey
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3-5 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 3 bay leaves
- 4-8 prigs fresh herbs rosemary, thyme, parsley
Instructions
- Place the water, salt, and any optional add-ins in a large stockpot set over medium heat. Bring the water to a boil until salt has dissolved, then remove the pot from the heat and cool completely.
- When the brine has completely cooled down, submerge the chicken pieces or the whole chicken, breast side down. Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours, but no more than 24 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the brine and rinse it with cool water. Pat it dry with paper towels, and proceed to cook as desired.
Notes
- Only use kosher salt. Do NOT use table salt, or you will end up with extremely salty chicken!
- Feel free to mix up the flavorings to fit your preferences. Use my suggestions or come up with your own!
- Make sure the brine has cooled completely before adding the chicken; otherwise, the chicken may end up in the temperature danger zone, leading to bacterial growth that could make you sick. To quickly cool the brine, add a few ice cubes.
- Make sure the brine fully covers the chicken so that the flavors can penetrate all over. Add more water as needed to cover the chicken completely.
- Once brined, gently pat the chicken dry to remove excess moisture. If you have time, let the chicken sit uncovered in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to dry it out even more. This will lead to crispier skin.
- We recommend roasting brined chicken, but you can cook it any way you like! The general formula for roasting brined chicken is 15 minutes at 350°F for every 1 pound of chicken. So a 6-pound chicken will take about 90 minutes to cook.
- Nutritional information is for display purposes only.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
468kcal
(23%)
Protein
40g
(80%)
Fat
33g
(51%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
7g
Monounsaturated Fat
14g
Trans Fat
0.2g
Cholesterol
163mg
(54%)
Sodium
9599mg
(400%)
Potassium
413mg
(12%)
Vitamin A
305IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
39mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6-8
Amount Per Serving
Calories 468 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 468kcal | 23% |
| Protein | 40g | 80% |
| Fat | 33g | 51% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 7g | 41% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 14g | 70% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 163mg | 54% |
| Sodium | 9599mg | 400% |
| Potassium | 413mg | 9% |
| Vitamin A | 305IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 39mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
Other Recipes
You'll Also Love
