Best 3 Feta Brined Chicken Breasts Recipes
Chicken is a protein-rich, versatile, and delicious meat that can be cooked in various ways, making it a common ingredient in many cuisines around the world. However, sometimes, chicken breast can become dry and tough when cooked. To combat this, many chefs and home cooks alike have turned to brining as a way to keep chicken moist and flavorful. One unique and delicious way to brine chicken breasts is to use feta cheese. This tangy, salty cheese imparts a wonderful flavor to the chicken and helps to keep it moist and juicy. Feta brined chicken breasts are perfect for grilling, roasting, or baking and can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to pasta dishes to tacos.
Let's cook with our recipes!
FETA-BRINED ROAST CHICKEN
Brining a chicken before roasting can make for a particularly juicy, tender bird. Using feta in the brine adds a complex and earthy flavor to the mix. Don't skip the step of taking the chicken out of the brine an hour before cooking. This allows the bird to come to room temperature and dries it out a bit, which helps crisp the skin. This recipe calls for a lot of black pepper, and if you like a spicy bite, don't afraid to go for the full 2 tablespoons. Or bring the amount down for something milder. In either case, do grind it yourself; the pre-ground stuff is missing all the essential oils that give freshly ground black pepper its woodsy, floral notes. Roasted potatoes make an excellent side dish.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, weeknight, roasts, main course
Time 10h30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- The day before serving, combine 2 ounces feta, 2 teaspoons salt and 4 cups water in a blender and blend until smooth. Put chicken in an extra-large resealable plastic bag or a container large enough to submerge chicken, and cover with the feta brine. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Before cooking, remove chicken from brine and transfer to a towel-lined tray. (Discard brine.) Pat chicken dry with paper towels and allow to come to room temperature for 1 hour.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, the pepper, the oregano and the zest of the lemons (about 1 tablespoon). Liberally cover chicken in herb mix and gently massage entire bird. Halve lemons and place 3 halves in cavity (save remaining half for serving). Using kitchen twine, tie legs together.
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add oil and heat until it just smokes. Place chicken, breast-side up, in pan. Transfer entire pan to oven. Cook, basting once or twice, until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife, 50 to 60 minutes.
- Remove pan from oven, then stir remaining crumbled feta into juices in pan and stir well. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes in the pan before slicing and serving on a bed of greens, with feta-laced pan juices on top, drizzled with a little lemon juice from the reserved lemon half.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 841, UnsaturatedFat 40 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 63 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 59 grams, SaturatedFat 19 grams, Sodium 1184 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
FETA-BRINED CHICKEN BREASTS
The secret to these moist and tender chicken breasts is the feta brine. Not only does the brine prevent the breasts from drying out, the feta adds a subtle, tangy yet fresh flavor. This also works well with bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces, but be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Bruising the herbs releases their lovely aromatic oils without having to worry about picking the bits off the chicken when done brining.
Provided by France C
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 8h45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Pound chicken to an even 1-inch thickness and place in a gallon-sized resealable bag.
- Lightly crush oregano and rosemary sprigs using the back of a knife or a meat mallet so they are lightly bruised but still whole. Place on top of chicken.
- Combine feta cheese, reserved brine, water, and garlic in a blender and process until smooth. Pour brine mixture over chicken, seal the bag, and refrigerate for 8 hours to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Remove chicken from brine and pat dry. Brush with olive oil place in a large baking dish. Season with black pepper and place a lemon slice on each breast.
- Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 22 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 232.8 calories, Carbohydrate 2.6 g, Cholesterol 79.8 mg, Fat 12.7 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 26.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 219.3 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
FETA CHICKEN
Chicken wrapped around tomato-basil feta cheese--simple, succulent, and sensational.
Provided by Debbie
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Chicken Breast Recipes
Time 45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Place chicken breasts between 2 pieces of waxed paper. Gently pound chicken with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick; remove wax paper. Place 1 ounce of feta cheese in the center of each chicken breast, and fold in half.
- Spread 2 tablespoons bread crumbs in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange chicken in the dish, and top with remaining bread crumbs.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 223.8 calories, Carbohydrate 4.6 g, Cholesterol 93.7 mg, Fat 7.8 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 32 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 481 mg, Sugar 1.4 g
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your dish.
- Don't overcook the chicken. Chicken breasts are very easy to overcook, so be careful not to cook them for too long. Otherwise, they will become dry and tough.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken is cooked to the proper temperature. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit before you remove it from the heat.
- Let the chicken rest before slicing it. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making it more tender and flavorful.
- Serve the chicken with your favorite sides. Some popular options include roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Conclusion:
Feta brined chicken breasts are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you're grilling, baking, or frying them, these chicken breasts are sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to cook chicken, give feta brined chicken breasts a try. You won't be disappointed!
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