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–+ servings
4.96 from 22 votes

Chicken Brine Recipe

The best chicken brine recipe to add moisture and flavor to the chicken deep down to the bone! This brine makes your chicken so juicy, succulent, and tender, try it once, and you'll never want to roast or cook a chicken without brining it first!
Author Diana
Servings 6
Prep Time 15 minutes
Brining Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4-5 pound 2-2.5kg whole chicken

For the brine:

  • 8 cups 2 liters water
  • ⅓ cup (80g) kosher salt or 40g table salt

Optional flavorings

  • 2 lemons sliced
  • ⅓ cup honey or sugar
  • 4 cloves garlic smashed and peeled
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 10 sprigs fresh mixed herbs parsley, rosemary, thyme

Instructions

  • In a pot or a saucepan, combine ½ cup of water, salt, and the rest of the ingredients (if using flavorings). Bring to a boil, whisk until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved, then remove from heat.
  • Pour in the rest of the water (if you're in a rush, add ice cubes), and allow the water to COMPLETELY cool down to room temperature and it's even recommended to refrigerate if possible.
  • When the water has completely cooled down, submerge the whole chicken in brine breast side down, cover, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours if using a whole chicken and up to 24 hours.

Video

Notes

  • Nutrition values are calculated per serving for a roasted 4lb chicken that serves 6.
  • Don't leave the chicken in brine for longer than 24 hours as it will become too salty.
  • Only submerge the chicken in the brine, when the brine has COMPLETELY cooled down. Warm brine can be a great environment for bacteria to grow, and it's not a safe thing to do. So never use warm brine!
  • The recipe is adapted from Chef Thomas Keller's chicken brine recipe shared via masterclass.com, he uses 10% salt, and then air dries the chicken for 2-3 days in the fridge for crispy skin and better texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 509mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Find it online: https://littlesunnykitchen.com/chicken-brine-recipe/