Lemon Brine Chicken Recipes

LEMON BRINE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place water and salt in a large dutch oven, heat just enough to dissolve salt.
• Squeeze lemons over the dutch oven, add the fruit as well as the juice.
• Add parsley, onion, garlic, and pepper.
• Add chicken to dutch oven. The water should just cover the chicken.
• Cover dutch oven and refrigerate 6 - 8 hours.
• Grill or bake as usual. I used indirect heat on a gas grill for about an hour and then medium direct heat to crisp up the skin.

LEMON-HERB CHICKEN BRINE RECIPE

Steps:

• Make the brine, by mixing warm water with the salt and honey in a large glass bowl or baking dish; stir until the salt and honey are dissolved. Cool completely then add the lemon slices, fresh parsley, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, bay leaves, garlic cloves, and black peppercorns.
• To use brine, place chicken in the brine, cover, and refrigerate for two hours for skinless breasts, 4 hours for bone-in pieces, and 4 hours to 24 hours for whole chickens.
• After brining, remove the chicken from the brine (discard brine), rinse the chicken under cold water then pat dry. For best results, place the chicken on a plate and place it in the refrigerator for an hour to dry the skin completely.
• Take the chicken out of the refrigerator an hour before seasoning then roasting, baking, or pan searing. Enjoy.

HONEY BRINED CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND SAGE

Steps:

• Mix honey, salt, water, bay leaves, and garlic together. Pull skin away from chicken just enough to place sage leaves and lemon slices under skin. Truss the chicken and tie the other end of the butcher's twine to the pot handle for a quick retrieval of the brined chicken. Place chicken in liquid and let sit in cooler for 12 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place chicken on roasting rack in oven and brush with olive oil. Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes or until juices run clear.

FRENCH LAUNDRY'S LEMON BRINED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a very large pot, combine 1 quart of the water with 1 cup of the salt and the honey, bay leaves, garlic, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme and parsley. Add the lemon zest and juice and the lemon halves and bring to a simmer over moderate heat, stirring until the salt is dissolved. Let cool completely, then stir in the remaining 3 quarts of cold water. Add the chickens, being sure they're completely submerged, and refrigerate overnight.
• Drain the chickens and pat dry. Scrape off any herbs or peppercorns stuck to the skin and cut each bird into 8 pieces, keeping the breast meat on the bone.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne and the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt. Put the buttermilk in a large, shallow bowl. Working with a few pieces at a time, dip the chicken in the buttermilk, then dredge in the flour mixture, pressing so it adheres all over. Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
• In a very large, deep skillet, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil to 330°. Fry the chicken in 2 or 3 batches over moderate heat, turning once, until golden and crunchy and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of each piece registers 160°, about 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to paper towels to drain, and keep warm in a low oven while you fry the remaining chicken pieces.
• Transfer the fried chicken to a platter, garnish with the herb sprigs and serve hot or at room temperature.

BRINED WHOLE CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND THYME

Steps:

• Make the brine--in a big pot, combine the sugar, salt, and dried thyme; squeeze the lemon juice into the pot and add the juiced lemon halves.
• Add 1 gallon of cold water and stir the mixture to dissolve the sugar and salt.
• Remove and discard the neck, giblets, wing tips, and any excess fat from the chicken; submerge teh chicken in the brine, breast side down, and cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
• Remove the chicken from the pot and discard the brine; pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
• Lightly brush the outside of the chicken with oil.
• Season with pepper inside and out.
• Place the garlic and fresh thyme in the cavity of the chicken; tie the legs together.
• Grill, breast side up, over Indirect Medium heat until the juices run clear and the internal temperature reaches 170° in the breast and 180° in the thickest part of the thigh, 1 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for about 10 minutes before carving; serve warm.

LEMON HERB-BRINED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Remove and discard skin from all chicken pieces except wings. Add all chicken pieces to large resealable plastic bag; place in large bowl.
• Bring 2 cups water, lemon peel, salt, garlic and herbs to boil in saucepan. Remove from heat; pour into separate large bowl. Add remaining water, dressing and ice; stir until ice is melted.
• Pour over chicken; seal bag. Refrigerate overnight. Remove chicken from dressing mixture; discard dressing mixture. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Let stand at room temperature 20 min. Meanwhile, heat greased grill to medium-high heat.
• Grill chicken 2 min. on each side. Reduce grill to medium heat. Grill chicken 8 to 18 min. or until done (165°F), turning occasionally and removing chicken pieces from grill when done. (Smaller pieces will cook more quickly. See tip for suggested grill times.)

SIMPLE LEMON HERB CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut lemon in half, and squeeze juice from 1/2 lemon on chicken. Season with salt to taste. Let sit while you heat oil in a small skillet over medium low heat.
• When oil is hot, put chicken in skillet. As you saute chicken, add juice from other 1/2 lemon, pepper to taste, and oregano. Saute for 5 to 10 minutes each side, or until juices run clear. Serve with parsley for garnish.

LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper; place in the melted butter. Cook chicken, flipping frequently, until browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon garlic powder over chicken; flip and sprinkle 1 tablespoon garlic powder on second side. Cook each side for 2 minutes.
• Pour lemon juice over each side of chicken and cook until no longer pink in the center, 5 to 10 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).