Maple Brined Grilled Chicken Recipes

GRILLED MAPLE CHICKEN WITH SMOKEY GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or oven to 450 degrees F. If using a grill, set up hot and cool zones by turning one side of a gas grill to the high setting or by banking very hot coals on one side of a charcoal grill.
• Whisk together the maple syrup, mustard and soy sauce in a medium bowl. Toss the chicken in the marinade and season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the hot side of the grill bone-side down and grill 3 to 5 minutes. Move the chicken to the cool side of the grill, close the lid and cook until the thickest part of a thigh registers 160 degrees F, 30 to 40 minutes. If using the oven, place the chicken bone-side down on a sheet tray and roast until the thickest part of a thigh registers 160 degrees F, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the bacon to a large saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the greens, chile flakes if using, a pinch of salt and 1/4 cup water and cover with the lid. Cook until the greens are tender, about 5 minutes. Splash with some vinegar and serve with the chicken on top.

GRILLED MAPLE-CHIPOTLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine chicken breasts, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, chipotle powder, oregano, paprika, cayenne, and celery salt into a marinating container and mix well. Let chicken marinate at least 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place marinated chicken breasts on the center of the grill, reserving remaining marinade. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, spreading remaining marinade over chicken using a basting brush every few minutes to properly glaze. Flip and continue to cook and baste until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 10 to 15 minutes more.

GRILLED MAPLE-BRINED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• 1. Mix all of the brine ingredients together in a nonreactive pot and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and stir the brine to ensure that the salt, sugar, and maple syrup have dissolved. Let the brine cool, then put it in a large nonreactive container and add the pork chops. Cover and refrigerate for no more than 12 hours.
• 2. Remove the pork from the brine and pat dry (without rinsing).
• 3. Prepare a grill with hot and medium cooking areas. A grill is hot when you can't hold your hand near the grill surface for longer than 2 seconds without pulling it away; it's medium when you can't hold your hand there for longer than 4 seconds.
• 4. Season the chops with pepper (not salt - remember, the brining solution is salty) and brush with the oil. Sear the chops directly over the hottest part of the open grill for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Then move the chops to the medium area of the grill, cover the grill, and cook to the desired doneness. Use an instant-read digital thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chops. A reading of 145° to 150°F will give you a pink, moist chop, 160°F is well-done. Serve immediately, accompanied by the chutney, if using.

MAPLE SAGE GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk 4 tablespoons apple juice, brown sugar, olive oil, vinegar, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, mustard, sage, garlic and salt until blended. Pour 1 cup marinade into a shallow dish. Add chicken; turn to coat. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade., Drain chicken, discarding marinade in dish. Place chicken on oiled grill rack. Grill, covered, over medium heat until a thermometer reads 165°, 7-8 minutes on each side., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine reserved marinade, remaining 1/2 cup apple juice and remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half, 5-7 minutes. Serve with chicken.

BRINED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the water, salt, and sugar together in a large deep bowl or plastic tub.
• Stir until salt and sugar are dissolved.
• Add the chicken and fully submerge; refrigerate for 2-4 hours to brine.
• Remove the chicken from the brine, rinse and pat dry.
• Grill chicken on direct heat for 5-7 min, turning once or twice until chicken is golden and well-marked from the grill.
• Move the chicken over to the side of the grill to indirect heat and continue to cook until juices run clear, about another 5-7 minute.

MAPLE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Using paper towels, pat the chicken dry and trim off any excess fat. Place in a large resealable plastic bag or medium bowl with a lid.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and 2 tablespoons salt. Pour into the bag with the chicken, seal and refrigerate overnight or for at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pull the brined chicken out of the fridge, drain off the brine and pat the chicken dry. On a rimmed sheet pan, rub the chicken with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
• Set it skin side up and roast for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the juices run clear when pierced and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• As the chicken roasts, make the glaze: Add the maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, fennel, paprika and ½ cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the mixture has reduced and thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
• Brush the cooked thighs with the glaze and set under the broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minute, keeping an eye on the glaze as it is quick to burn. Serve hot.

MAPLE BARBECUE GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium. Cook garlic, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly and scraping bottom of pan, until slightly darkened, about 3 minutes. Add maple syrup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and Sriracha. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until flavors have come together, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Transfer about half of barbecue sauce to a heatproof bowl and set aside for serving.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off); oil grate. Season chicken generously with salt. Grill chicken over direct heat, turning every minute, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Move chicken over indirect heat. Cover, positioning vent (if your grill has one) over chicken, and continue to grill, keeping grill covered as much as possible and turning every 5 minutes or so, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 140°F-145°F, 18-25 minutes depending on the size of the pieces. Baste chicken with barbecue sauce and grill, turning and basting occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 160°F for breast and 165°F for dark meat, about 10 minutes longer.
• Arrange chicken on a platter. Serve with reserved barbecue sauce alongside.
• Do Ahead: Barbecue sauce can be made 2 weeks ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.

MAPLE BARBECUED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients; reserving 3/4 cup. , Grill chicken, uncovered, over medium heat for 3 minutes on each side. Grill 6-8 minutes longer or a thermometer reads 170°, turning occasionally and basting with sauce. Serve with reserved sauce.