Best 9 Apple Brined Chicken Thighs Recipes

APPLE WOOD SMOKED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Prepare the brine in the morning by combining the salt and sugar with the water in a medium saucepan. Heat until both are entirely dissolved.
• Add the herbs and allow to cool until it is room temperature.
• Place thighs in a bowl and pour brine over. Cover with plastic wrap and brine for two to four hours.
• Remove chicken from brine and place on a rack over a pan in the fridge for a few hours to air dry (optional). Discard brine.
• Pre-heat grill to high. Sear on presentation side for 1-2 minutes depending on how high the temperature is. Flip and sear another minute. (see notes)
• Lower heat to 225 F and add apple wood chips. (see notes)
• Smoke for two hours or until internal temperature of each thigh reaches 165 F (74 C).

APPLE CHICKEN BRINE

Steps:

• Stir vegetable broth, apple juice, kosher salt, black pepper, and herbes de Provence together in a pot; bring to a boil, stirring until salt is completely dissolved. Cool completely, transfer to a container or resealable bag, and refrigerate until chilled.

APPLE-BRINED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine the cider, onion, lemon, rosemary sprigs, salt, 1/4 cup brown sugar, garlic, bay leaf and peppercorns. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until salt and brown sugar are dissolved. Remove from the heat; stir in water. Cool brine to room temperature., Place chicken in the 2-gallon resealable plastic bag. Carefully pour cooled brine into bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible; seal bag and turn to coat. Place in a roasting pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours, turning occasionally., Place beans and apples in a greased roasting pan. Drain chicken; place in prepared pan. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 40 minutes., Combine the minced rosemary, oil, pepper and remaining brown sugar; sprinkle over chicken. Bake 15-25 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 170°-175° and beans are tender.

CHILE APPLE BRINED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the cut-up chicken in the Chile Apple Brine and refrigerate overnight.
• To make the chicken fry mix, add the cornmeal, flour and Rib Rub to a large bowl.
• Drain the brined chicken well and add to the bowl with the chicken fry mix. Mix the chicken well with the breading to get a good coat. Let set in the mix for 20 minutes.
• In a large heavy pot, add the canola oil and heat over medium heat to 275 degrees F.
• Give the chicken a final mix and, using tongs, carefully place each piece of chicken into the hot oil. Fry until cooked through, about 14 minutes. Remove to a platter lined with paper towel and let drain before serving.
• Soak the chiles in hot water until softened. Transfer them to a food processor and process to a paste. Strain the paste, then transfer to a large container with a lid.
• Put the apples in a food processor, skin and core included, and pulse to chop. Transfer to the container with the chile paste and add the apple cider, molasses, salt, sugar, garlic and 8 cups (1/2 gallon water).
• Combine the salt, sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, anise seed and mustard in a bowl.

APPLE CIDER BRINED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix 2 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons pepper, 4 cups water, vinegar, and apple juice in a 2 gallon container. Add the chicken and allow to marinate for 30 minutes up to 3 hours in the refrigerator.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon pepper to the flour, mix well, and hold until ready to fry.
• In a cast iron skillet, add the oil and bring to 350 degrees F over high heat. Remove the chicken from the brine, pat dry with a paper towel, and dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, coating well and tapping off any excess. Once all the chicken is floured, add to the oil, in batches, and cook until golden brown on both sides, 8 to 9 minutes per side. The internal temperature must be 165 degrees to be cooked thoroughly.

APPLE-GLAZED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with seasoned salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on both sides. Remove from pan., Add juice and thyme to skillet. Bring to a boil, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Return chicken to pan; cook, covered, over medium heat 3-4 minutes longer or until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°.

PERFECT CHICKEN BRINE

Steps:

• Mix water, kosher salt, white sugar, garlic, sage, basil, peppercorns, and bay leaf in a large pot over medium-high heat; bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the salt and sugar are dissolved completely, about 20 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat and cover with a lid. Cool brine at room temperature for 2 hours before refrigerating to cool completely.

MAPLE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Using paper towels, pat the chicken dry and trim off any excess fat. Place in a large resealable plastic bag or medium bowl with a lid.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and 2 tablespoons salt. Pour into the bag with the chicken, seal and refrigerate overnight or for at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pull the brined chicken out of the fridge, drain off the brine and pat the chicken dry. On a rimmed sheet pan, rub the chicken with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
• Set it skin side up and roast for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the juices run clear when pierced and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• As the chicken roasts, make the glaze: Add the maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, fennel, paprika and ½ cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the mixture has reduced and thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
• Brush the cooked thighs with the glaze and set under the broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minute, keeping an eye on the glaze as it is quick to burn. Serve hot.

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH APPLES AND GREENS

Steps:

• Pat the chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
• In a Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the oil over medium. Cook the chicken thighs skin-side down, undisturbed, until the skin is golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and cook until lightly browned on the other side, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Pour off all but about 3 tablespoons of fat from the pot, turn the heat to medium-low, then add the shallots and sage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
• Add the cider, cider vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until the cider has reduced slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pot, skin-side up. Pour just enough broth around (not on!) the chicken to cover the sides of the thighs but not cover the skin on top.
• Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Partly cover and gently simmer until the thighs are cooked through and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate or sheet pan (if you'd like to broil the chicken in the next step), raise the heat to medium, and add the kale and apple to the pot. Cook, tossing often, until all the kale is wilted, the apples are just softened and the liquid has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. While the greens cook, if you'd like to crisp the skin on the chicken, pop it under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning, and stir in 1 or 2 more teaspoons cider vinegar to taste. Divide the chicken and kale mixture among shallow bowls; serve with crusty bread to mop up broth.