Description
Brining chicken makes your weeknight dinner dreams come true with tender, juicy results that’ll have everyone asking for seconds. Soak those poultry pieces in a salty water bath to lock in moisture and create seriously delicious chicken that sings with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups cold water
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- 2 pounds chicken
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Acid/Optional Additions:
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ lemon (juice)
Instructions
- Pour 4 cups cold water into a large bowl. Add ¼ cup kosher salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, 2 smashed garlic cloves, 1 bay leaf, and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika. Stir until salt and sugar completely dissolve.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat to a gentle simmer for 3-4 minutes. This releases flavors from herbs and spices. Remove from heat and let cool completely to room temperature.
- Transfer chicken wings to a large resealable plastic bag or container. Pour the cooled brine over the wings, ensuring they are fully covered.
- Refrigerate the brining chicken for 2-12 hours. Avoid brining longer than 12 hours to prevent oversalting the meat.
- Remove wings from brine after desired brining time. Pat each wing thoroughly dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Sprinkle your wings with a light coating of additional seasonings like ½ teaspoon black pepper or your favorite spice blend to enhance the brined flavor.
Notes
- Always use cold water when mixing your brine to help the salt and sugar dissolve more effectively.
- Experiment with different herbs like rosemary, thyme, or bay leaves to customize your brine’s flavor profile.
- Avoid metal containers when brining, as they can react with the salt and create an off-flavor in your chicken.
- Pat the chicken wings extremely dry before cooking to ensure a crispy exterior when roasting or frying.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1475 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3.5 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg