Quick Easy Chicken Brine
Transform your chicken into a tender, juicy masterpiece with this Quick Easy Chicken Brine recipe! Ready in just 10 minutes, this simple yet flavor-packed brine combines the perfect blend of kosher salt, granulated sugar, smashed garlic, black peppercorns, a fragrant bay leaf, and fresh rosemary. Adding ice cubes ensures the brine cools rapidly, saving you precious time. Whether you're preparing bone-in chicken thighs or boneless breasts, this foolproof brine guarantees perfectly seasoned poultry every time. Ideal for grilling, roasting, or frying, this recipe is your go-to solution for elevating weeknight dinners or impressing guests with minimal effort. A must-try trick for incredibly moist and flavorful chicken!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 cups Water
- 0.25 cup Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons Granulated sugar
- 3 units Garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 tablespoon Black peppercorns
- 1 unit Bay leaf
- 1 unit Fresh rosemary sprig
- 2 cups Ice cubes
Instructions
In a medium-sized pot, add 2 cups of water, kosher salt, and granulated sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the salt and sugar dissolve completely.
Turn off the heat and add the garlic cloves, black peppercorns, bay leaf, and rosemary sprig. Allow the mixture to cool slightly for 5 minutes.
Pour the brine into a large bowl. Add the remaining 2 cups of water and ice cubes to cool the brine completely.
Ensure the brine is completely cold before submerging the chicken. Add your chicken pieces to the brine, ensuring they are fully covered.
Refrigerate the chicken in the brine for 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the size of the chicken pieces (30 minutes for smaller pieces, up to 4 hours for bone-in cuts).
Remove the chicken from the brine, rinse thoroughly with cold water, and pat dry with paper towels before cooking.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
127 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.3 g | 0% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 26878 mg | 1169% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 32.9 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.3 g | 8% | |
| Total Sugars | 25.0 g | ||
| Protein | 1.2 g | 2% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 106 mg | 8% | |
| Iron | 1.0 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 135 mg | 3% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
