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Roasted chicken with lemon, asparagus, and herbs in a white baking dish.

Sweet Tea-Brined Chicken

Bree Hester
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Marinating + Steeping Time 1 day 10 minutes
Total Time 1 day 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 419 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 large tea bags
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon thinly sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled and halved
  • 2 sprigs rosemary
  • 2 cups ice cubes
  • 1 tablespoon crushed black pepper
  • 3-4 pounds chicken pieces such as bone-in breasts

Instructions
 

  • Boil 4 cups of water in a heavy-bottomed pan, add tea bags, and steep for 10 minutes.
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  • Stir in sugar and salt. Stir until completely dissolved.
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  • Add onion, lemon, garlic, and rosemary.
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  • Add ice and cool completely.
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  • Put the chicken into plastic bags, pour in the brine, place in fridge, and let marinate for 24 hours.
    Vacuum-sealed raw chicken breasts in plastic bags for meal prep or storage.
  • Take the chicken out of the brine and discard the brine. Dry the chicken off with paper towels.
  • Set up two-zone cooking. Heat one side of the grill to medium and leave the other side unlit. Put the chicken skin-side down on the side that is not lit. Cover the grill and cook for 20 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for 40-50 minutes or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F.
    Juicy grilled chicken breasts cooking on a barbecue grill.

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 29gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 4834mgFiber: 1g
Keyword Sweet Tea Brined Chicken
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