Recipes Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Brines Perfect Chicken Brine 4.9 (54) 47 Reviews 9 Photos I created this chicken brine after experimenting for several years. This brine will add a ton of flavor and will ensure the meat stays moist as it's cooked. Submitted by Kate Leifker Updated on November 21, 2024 Save Rate Print Share Close Add Photo 9 9 9 9 Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Additional Time: 3 hrs Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins Servings: 16 Yield: 1 gallon Jump to Nutrition Facts Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 16 servings 16 cups water ¾ cup kosher salt ⅔ cup white sugar ¼ cup dried sage, or to taste ¼ cup dried basil, or to taste 2 heads garlic, crushed and chopped 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns 1 large bay leaf Directions Bring water, kosher salt, sugar, sage, basil, garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaf to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat, about 20 to 30 minutes minutes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until salt and sugar are dissolved completely, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover with a lid. Let brine sit at room temperature for 2 hours to let the dried herbs steep and enhance the flavor of the brine. Refrigerate to finish cooling before using, at least 1 hour. Cook’s Note Brine should be completely cooled before using. Follow the directions for your chicken recipe, but in general, a whole chicken can be brined for up to 8 hours, while bone-in pieces can be brined for up to 4 hours. Editor's Note: Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of brine ingredients. The actual amount consumed will vary. I Made It Print 190 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 47 Calories 0g Fat 12g Carbs 1g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 16 Calories 47 % Daily Value * Total Fat 0g 0% Sodium 4279mg 186% Total Carbohydrate 12g 4% Dietary Fiber 1g 3% Protein 1g 1% Vitamin C 2mg 3% Calcium 46mg 4% Iron 1mg 4% Potassium 64mg 1% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.