Best 13 Chicken Brine Recipes

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Are you craving a juicy, flavorful, and tender chicken dish that will tantalize your taste buds? Look no further than a perfectly prepared chicken brine! Brining is a culinary technique that involves soaking chicken in a seasoned liquid, typically a mixture of water, salt, sugar, and spices, for several hours or overnight. This process not only enhances the chicken's natural flavor and tenderness but also helps retain moisture during cooking, resulting in a succulent and delectable dish that will leave you and your dinner guests delighted.

Let's cook with our recipes!

PERFECT CHICKEN BRINE



Perfect Chicken Brine image

Brining chicken adds tons of flavor and keeps the meat moist. Several years of experimenting with ingredients and method and I finally found the right combination for my perfect chicken brine.

Provided by Kate Leifker

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 2h30m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 8

16 cups water
¾ cup kosher salt
⅔ cup white sugar
2 heads garlic, crushed and chopped
¼ cup dried sage, or to taste
¼ cup dried basil, or to taste
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 large bay leaf

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 37.8 calories, Carbohydrate 9.2 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 0.6 g, Sodium 3422.9 mg, Sugar 6.7 g

SIMPLE CHICKEN BRINE



Simple Chicken Brine image

This simple chicken brine will help make the meat more tender and juicy.

Provided by Jay

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 1h10m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 gallon warm water
¾ cup kosher salt
⅔ cup sugar
¾ cup soy sauce
¼ cup olive oil

Steps:

  • Pour the warm water into a container that is twice the volume of the water. Pour in the salt, sugar, soy sauce, and olive oil. Stir until the sugar and salt have dissolved, then allow the brine to cool to room temperature.
  • To use, place chicken in the brine, cover, and refrigerate two hours for skinless breasts, 4 hours for bone-in pieces, and 4 hours to overnight for whole chickens. Drain and pat the chicken dry before cooking. One gallon of brine is enough for 6 pounds of whole chicken or bone-in chicken pieces, and up to 10 pounds of skinless, boneless chicken breasts.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 182.5 calories, Carbohydrate 24.7 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 13209.3 mg, Sugar 22.7 g

BASIC ALL PURPOSE BRINE FOR MEATS, CHICKEN, AND TURKEY



Basic All Purpose Brine for Meats, Chicken, and Turkey image

Make and share this Basic All Purpose Brine for Meats, Chicken, and Turkey recipe from Food.com.

Provided by PalatablePastime

Categories     Christmas

Time 3h15m

Yield 1 quart

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 sprigs fresh thyme
3 bay leaves
4 -6 cloves garlic, sliced
4 cups water
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup kosher salt

Steps:

  • Makes 1 quart- make up additional amounts of brine if needed until meat is submerged.
  • Stir ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Continue stirring until sugar is dissolved.
  • Allow to cool.
  • Place meat or poultry in a food safe plastic bag inside another container for support and leakage control (oven roasting bags are a fine choice- NOT garbage bags).
  • Pour cooled brine into bag, and squeeze out as much air as possible and seal with a twistie tie.
  • Refrigerate for 3-4 hours for 3 pounds meat (such as pork ribs), 5-6 hours for a nice roasting hen, or 12-24 hours for a turkey, 12 hours being for a small one and the longer time for those turkeys around 20+ pounds.
  • Discard brine before using and pat meat dry.
  • If using poultry, you may want to add citrus fruit such as oranges or lemons, additional fresh herbs, or cloves of garlic into the cavity.
  • Prepare meat as desired- roast, bbq, etc.

PICKLE BRINE CHICKEN



Pickle Brine Chicken image

There aren't a lot of great uses for leftover pickle juice. I did hear recently that some people like to drink this stuff after jogging, which I found to be quite shocking, since I had no idea people still jogged. Like most brined recipes, the payoff is in the texture and moisture content and not necessarily in the taste. Having said that, these did have a nice little twang. So the next time you have nothing left in the pickle jar but the juice, you now know what to do.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Chicken Breast Recipes

Time 1h25m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 ½ cups dill pickle juice, or more to taste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 large skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • Whisk pickle juice, brown sugar, kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 pinch cayenne pepper together in a large bowl until sugar dissolves. Submerge chicken breasts in brine, using a plate or bowl to sink the breasts into the brine; refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
  • Remove chicken breasts from brine, discard the brine, and dry chicken breasts with paper towels. Brush each breast with olive oil and season each with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
  • Cook chicken on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer chicken to a plate, tent the plate with aluminum foil, and let chicken rest for 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 351 calories, Carbohydrate 10.9 g, Cholesterol 129.2 mg, Fat 12.2 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 47.3 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 5451.5 mg, Sugar 6.6 g

JAMAICAN JERK BRINE FOR CHICKEN, PORK ....



Jamaican Jerk Brine for Chicken, Pork .... image

Kosher salt, which is preferred due to it's lack of impurities if using table salt use 1/2 the amount.

Provided by Rita1652

Categories     Whole Chicken

Time 12h15m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups hot water
1 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoons jamaican jerk spice
4 lbs roasting chickens

Steps:

  • Dissolve salt and sugar in hot water add remaining ingredients and 2 cups of ice cubes to cool it. Place a 4 pound cleaned and dried chicken in a freezer zip lock bag pour brine over chicken and top with water to cover. Close bag trying to remove as much air as possible. Brine in refrigerator overnight 8-12 hours. If not ready to cook remove from brine rinse well and place back in the refrigerator till ready to cook.
  • Proceed with cooking method you desire.
  • Roast, Grill, Rotisserie cooking to internal temperature of 175.
  • Let rest 10-15 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 689.7, Fat 46.5, SaturatedFat 13.3, Cholesterol 213.9, Sodium 28500.9, Carbohydrate 14.5, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 13.4, Protein 50.4

APPLE CHICKEN BRINE



Apple Chicken Brine image

I made this up to go with some apple wine a friend had given us. It was quite possibly the best chicken I have ever roasted. I love cooking the chicken in a cast iron roasting pan sitting on a bed of chopped apple, onion, and garlic. Place thawed whole chicken in chilled brine and refrigerate 18 to 24 hours. Roast chicken as usual.

Provided by Ellie

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 1h25m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 gallon vegetable broth, or to taste
½ gallon apple juice
1 cup kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste
1 teaspoon herbes de Provence, or more to taste

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 176.5 calories, Carbohydrate 39 g, Fat 1.3 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 2.2 g, Sodium 12313.8 mg, Sugar 32.9 g

MESQUITE CHICKEN BRINE



Mesquite Chicken Brine image

This is a fabulous and simple chicken brine/marinade that leaves the bird wonderfully juicy inside.

Provided by duboo

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 10m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 gallon cool water
¾ cup white sugar
½ cup kosher salt
1 (12 ounce) bottle mesquite-flavored marinade (such as Lawry's®)

Steps:

  • Pour water into a large brining container. Add sugar and salt; stir until dissolved. Mix in the marinade until brine is combined.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 173.1 calories, Carbohydrate 43.1 g, Sodium 13374.7 mg, Sugar 37.5 g

BUTTERMILK BRINE FRIED CHICKEN



Buttermilk brine fried chicken image

Buttermilk brining infuses chicken with moistness and a tangy taste.Source: unknown

Provided by Lynnda Cloutier

Categories     Chicken

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 cups buttermilk
1/3 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 -- 3 pounds meaty chicken pieces, breast halves, thighs, and drumsticks
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup buttermilk
vegetable oil

Steps:

  • 1. For brine, in a resealable plastic bag set in a bowl mix the 3 cups buttermilk, the kosher salt, and sugar. Using a chef's knife, cut chicken breasts in half crosswise. Add all chicken pieces to the brine; seal bag. Chill for two -- four hours; remove chicken from brine. Drain chicken; pat dry with paper towels. Discard brine.
  • 2. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt and pepper. Place the 3/4 cup buttermilk into shallow dish. Coat chicken with flour mixture, dip in the buttermilk, and coat again with flour mixture.
  • 3. Meanwhile in a deep, heavy pot or a deep fat fryer heat 1 1/2 inches of oil to 350°. Using tongs, carefully add a few pieces of chicken to hot oil. Oil temperature will drop; maintain temperature at 325. Fry chicken for 12 to 15 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and coating is Golden, turning once. Drain on a wire rack or paper towels. If desired, keep Fried chicken warm in a 300° oven while frying remaining chicken pieces. Makes six servings.
  • 4. Note: spicy buttermilk brine fried chicken: prepare as directed, except add 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.

SAVORY CHICKEN BRINE



Savory Chicken Brine image

Brining a chicken with soy sauce makes a juicier and more flavorful chicken. Great for baked, grilled or fried chicken.

Provided by Kikkoman

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Kikkoman

Time 5h

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (5 pound) whole chicken
1 gallon cold water
1 tablespoon dried sage
1 tablespoon dried celery seed
½ tablespoon dried thyme
¾ cup kosher salt
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup Kikkoman Soy Sauce
2 tablespoons seasoned salt

Steps:

  • Remove giblets from chicken cavity, rinse chicken inside and out.
  • In a large stock pot or container, mix water, sage, celery seed, thyme, salt, sugar and soy sauce to create brine. Stir well until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Place the chicken in the brine, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • Remove chicken from the brine and rinse well inside and out. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of seasoned salt. Bake the chicken at 400 degrees F for 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 626.1 calories, Carbohydrate 27 g, Cholesterol 227.9 mg, Fat 28.7 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 61.4 g, SaturatedFat 7.9 g, Sodium 14333.1 mg, Sugar 25 g

BASIC BRINE FOR CHICKEN, TURKEY, PORK



Basic Brine for Chicken, Turkey, Pork image

Brining Meats make is very! juicey and tender everytime. I always !!!! brine my chicken,ribs and turkey. full of flavor because with brining you can add different herbs and spices for more flavor. When putting your meat in the brine make sure the meat is submerge all the way in brine if not !!! add more water and put a plate on...

Provided by Josephine Quick

Categories     Marinades

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 gal water
1 c kosher salt
3/4 c sugar
1/4 c soy sauce, low sodium
1/4 c molasses
2 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp thyme
1 Tbsp oregano
1/2 pkg pickling spices
2 Tbsp orange peel
2 Tbsp muti-color peppercorn
1 bay leave
1 tsp sage
3 bottle dark lager beer(optional)gives great flavor

Steps:

  • 1. bring mix to boil and allow to cool to room temp.
  • 2. you can do your own other ingredients like, maple syrup, garlic, onion, allspice,ginger, or spices you like can be used.
  • 3. TIME FOR FOOD TO BE LEFT IN BRINE: shrimp 30 minutes whole chicken 8-12 hours chicken parts 5 hours chicken breast up to 8 hours Whole turkey 24 hours pork chops 12-24 hours whole pork loins 2 to 4 days
  • 4. after brining rinsh meat off. NO NEED TO SALT YOUR MEAT!!!!!!!!

BRINE FOR PORK, CHICKEN, AND TURKEY



Brine for Pork, Chicken, and Turkey image

From Chef Alice Waters. This makes for some crazy good, moist meat. If brining only one chicken or a pork roast, cut the recipe in half, if doing turkey...use the whole batch!

Provided by loveleesmile

Time P1DT1h30m

Yield 6-9 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 1/2 gallons cold water
2 cups kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 bay leaves, torn into pieces
1 bunch fresh thyme or 4 tablespoons dried thyme
1 whole head of garlic, peeled
5 allspice berries, crushed
4 juniper berries, crushed

Steps:

  • Place the water in a large pot that can easily hold the liquid and the meat you intend to brine.
  • Add all the ingredients and stir for a minute or so until the sugar and salt dissolve.
  • Refrigerate poultry in the brine for 24 hours; pork for 3 days. If the meat floats to the top, use a plate or other weight to keep it completely submerged in the brine.
  • To cook chicken: Stuff the cavity with onions, lemon wedges, and herbs such as thyme, parsley, and rosemary. Rub the skin with oil to help browning. Sprinkle with fresh ground pepper. (Salt isn't needed because of the brine.) Cook uncovered in a 400-degree oven until done, about 1 hour and 15 minutes for a 3-1/2 to 4-pound chicken.
  • To cook turkey: Stuff the cavity with lemons, herbs, and onions, if desired. Rub the skin with oil and sprinkle with fresh ground pepper. Cook uncovered in a 400-degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes per pound until the internal temperature at the thickest part of the thigh registers at least 165 degrees.
  • To cook a boneless pork roast: Sprinkle the roast with pepper and herbs such as sage, thyme, or tarragon, if desired. Roast uncovered in a 400-degree oven for about 12 to 15 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature reaches 150 to 160 degrees.

CHICKEN BRINE



Chicken Brine image

Makes meat very tender and juicy and bursting with flavor!

Provided by fubu30086

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 4h27m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 ½ quarts water
1 (750 milliliter) bottle Sauvignon Blanc (such as Barefoot®)
½ cup sea salt, or to taste
3 ounces ginger, grated
3 sprigs fresh parsley leaves, chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme leaves, chopped
3 sprigs fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
1 navel orange, zested
2 lemons, zested
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to taste

Steps:

  • Combine water, Sauvignon Blanc, and sea salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until salt is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in ginger, parsley, thyme, rosemary, orange zest, lemon zest, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Let brine steep, covered, until cool, 4 to 5 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 45.9 calories, Carbohydrate 2.8 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 0.3 g, Sodium 2652.3 mg, Sugar 0.6 g

CHICKEN BRINE



CHICKEN BRINE image

Categories     Orange     Rosemary     Thyme

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 1/2 quarts water
1 bottle (750 milliliter) bottle Sauvignon Blanc
1/2 cup (or to taste) sea salt
3 ounces ginger, grated
3 sprigs (leaves) fresh parsley, chopped
3 splash (leaves) fresh thyme, chopped
3 sprigs (leaves) fresh rosemary, chopped
1 navel orange, zested
2 lemons, zested
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon (or to taste) ground cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • Combine water, Sauvignon Blanc, and sea salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until salt is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Stir in ginger, parsley, thyme, rosemary, orange zest, lemon zest, garlic, and cayenne pepper.
  • Let brine steep, covered, until cool, 4 to 5 hours.
  • To brine chicken, submerge it completely in brine and refrigerate for 1 1/2 to 2 days. Rinse off brine under cold water and pat chicken dry. Place chicken on a baking sheet and chill uncovered for up to 8 hours.

Tips:

  • Use a large container for brining, such as a stockpot or a large plastic bag.
  • Make sure the chicken is completely submerged in the brine solution.
  • Brine the chicken for at least 4 hours, but no longer than 24 hours.
  • If you are brining the chicken for longer than 8 hours, place it in the refrigerator.
  • Rinse the chicken thoroughly with cold water before cooking.
  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before cooking.
  • Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Conclusion:

Brining chicken is a great way to add flavor and moisture to the meat. It is a simple process that can be done with a few basic ingredients. By following the tips above, you can brine chicken like a pro and enjoy delicious, juicy chicken every time.

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