How to Brine a Flavorful Chicken Breast: Prep, Cooking, & More

Chicken so juicy it’ll have everyone asking, “Where’d you get that recipe?”

Co-authored by Jillian Fae Downing and Savannah Vold

Last Updated: February 13, 2023 References

Making a Basic Brine

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Enhancing Your Brine

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Brining Your Chicken

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Cooking Your Brined Chicken

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Video

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Expert Q&A

ARTICLE

VIDEO

Say goodbye to dry chicken forever with the help of a delectable, homemade brine. Brining your chicken before cooking adds flavor and keeps it nice and juicy so you won't have to think twice about ending up with a dry and chewy chicken breast. In this article, we’ll teach you how to make a delectable brine and how to cook your chicken breasts to perfection, so your fabulous meal will be the talk of the town!

Things You Should Know

Make a basic brine by dissolving 4 tablespoons of salt (60 g) for each quart (0.95 liters) of water. Then, add 2 tablespoons (30 g) of sugar and seasonings to taste.
Pour your brine over your chicken in a plastic bag or pan and let it sit in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours for maximum tenderness.
Cook your brined chicken in a variety of delicious ways, like grilling, baking, or frying.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Making a Basic Brine

1
Dissolve 4 tablespoons (60 g) of salt into a quart of water. Brine is nothing more than salt dissolved in water at its most basic level. A good ratio to start with is 4 tablespoons (60 g) of salt for each quart (0.95 liters) of water, but you can add more to taste if you prefer a saltier brine. Add the salt to a quart of water and stir until it dissolves completely.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Jillian Fae Downing
Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.}
- Use coarse salt for your brine, like sea salt or kosher salt, for a richer flavor. If you only have table salt, use a quarter less of the total amount of salt per quart.^{[2]
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- A quart is enough to brine about 1 1/2 pounds (680 g) of chicken.^{[3]
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2
Add 2 tablespoons (30 g) of brown sugar. Adding sugar to your brine helps the outside of your chicken breasts brown and caramelize when they cook. While your brine water is still warm, add about 2 tablespoons (30 g) of brown sugar to your brine, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.^{[4]
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- Alternatively, other sweeteners like honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup can be used within your brine in equal parts.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Jillian Fae Downing
  Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
  Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.}
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3
Season your brine with pepper, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs. The exact seasonings you use will depend on what flavors you want in your chicken. You can use a combination of fresh or dried herbs, garlic, spices, and peppercorns to taste.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Jillian Fae Downing
Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.}
- For example, a teaspoon (5 g) of black peppercorns, 2-4 peeled and smashed cloves of garlic, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and 1 bay leaf per quart of water will add some subtle flavor to your chicken.^{[7]
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4
Flavor your brine. If you want your chicken to have a particular flavor once it's cooked, like honey butter or a hot and spicy tang, you can build that flavor in your brine by adding the specific ingredients you desire. There are countless brine recipes in books and online to help you find your go-to brine.^{[8]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Enhancing Your Brine

1
Make a honey butter brine. Use the standard water-to-salt ratio (about 4 tablespoons (60 g) of salt for each quart (0.95 liters of water)) for a sweet brine, perfect for honey-butter chicken. Swap out sugar in favor of an equal amount of honey (2 tablespoons). Season with whole peppercorns and fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary to taste.^{[9]
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2
Add some spice to your brine. To make a spicy brine that seasons your chicken perfectly, start with about 4 tablespoons (60 g) of salt for each quart (0.95 liters of water) and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Then, add 2-3 seeded jalapeno or habanero peppers, a dash of smoked paprika, garlic cloves, and peppercorns to taste.
3
Brine your chicken with beer. If you are going to roast your chicken, start by making a standard brine of 4 tablespoons (60 g) of salt for each quart (0.95 liters of water). Then, add 1 cup (237 ml) of stout beer to your solution. Finish with a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce and 2 tablespoons (30 g) of maple syrup or molasses.^{[10]
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4
Cool the brine before adding in the chicken. Never add a warm brine to your chicken. A warm brine creates the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Allow your brine to cool until it is room temperature, or pop it in the fridge to help it cool off faster. Alternatively, you can add ice to cool the brine down even quicker.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Jillian Fae Downing
Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.}

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Brining Your Chicken

1
Trim fat and tendons off your chicken. Before you brine, prepare your breasts by trimming away any fat or tendons. Fat is typically a white or creamy color and will be around the edges of the breast, while tendons will be tough reddish spots.^{[12]
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- Cutting the fat and tendons off your chicken before brining will ensure that it’s tender, delicious, and, most importantly, free from those icky, chewy pieces we hate!
2
Put your chicken in a pan or bag. You can put your chicken in a large, shallow pan or a sealable bag to brine. If you put your chicken in a pan, lay the breasts out side-by-side, ensuring they do not overlap.^{[13]
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3
Pour your brine into your container over your chicken. There should be enough brine to submerge your chicken completely. Seal your bag and roll it lightly to ensure that every crack and crevice of your chicken is enveloped in your delicious brine.
- Don't forget to cover your meat with foil or cling wrap if it's in a pan or dish.
4
Put your brined chicken in the refrigerator for around 1 hour. The longer your chicken rests, the juicier and more flavorful it will be when you cook it. Aim to brine your chicken for 1 hour per every 1 pound of meat.
- Larger chicken breasts or large quantities of chicken may be brined overnight for a superior flavor and texture.
- You can quickly brine your chicken by splitting it up into 1/2 pound (227 g) servings and letting each one soak in its own dish or bag for 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.^{[14]
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  Expert Source
  
  Jillian Fae Downing
  Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
  Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.}
5
Remove your chicken and pat it dry. Once you have brined your chicken, remove it and let it rest on a plate for at least 5 minutes. This allows the excess juices to drain off your chicken breasts. Then, use a paper towel to gently pat away any excess moisture from the breast’s surface.^{[15]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Cooking Your Brined Chicken

1
Grill chicken immediately out of the brine. Grilling brined chicken gives the meat a crispy outside and a tender, juicy inside. Cook your chicken on medium-high heat of 375 to 450°F (190 to 230°C) until the outside of your chicken is golden-brown and the inside is up to a temperature of 165° Fahrenheit (75° Celsius).^{[16]
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- Check the chicken's inside with a thermometer to ensure it is fully cooked at 165° Fahrenheit (75° Celsius).
2
Try baking tender chicken breasts. While baked chicken often comes out dry, brined chicken comes out juicy, tender, and flavorful. Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and season the chicken with salt, pepper, and other seasonings of your liking to taste. Then, place the breasts in a greased dish and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).^{[17]
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- You can use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature of your chicken.
- If the outside of your chicken cooks too fast, turn the oven temperature down to 400°F (204°C).
3
Fry your chicken for a crispy, mouthwatering treat. Like baking, frying can tend to dry out your chicken, but don't worry! Brining ensures juicy, tender breasts regardless of the cooking method you choose. Batter the chicken in your favorite batter and deep fry in oil that has been heated to about 350°F (176.6°C) for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, depending upon the thickness of your cuts.^{[18]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How long should you brine chicken breast for?

Jillian Fae Downing
Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
Jillian Fae Downing is a Private Event Chef, Chef Educator, and the Owner of Jillian Fae Chef Services based out of Temecula, California. With 12 years of experience, she specializes in menu planning and menu research and development. Jillian Fae holds an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts from Orange Coast College and a BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Arizona State University. She is also a member of the American Culinary Federation and the American Personal and Private Chef Association.

Jillian Fae Downing

Private Event Chef & Chef Educator

Expert Answer

If it's just the breast, you'd need much less time than you would a whole chicken. You typically only need to brine chicken breast of about one and a half to two hours and that’s enough time for the brine to penetrate.
Question

What is the formula for brine?

Jillian Fae Downing
Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
Jillian Fae Downing is a Private Event Chef, Chef Educator, and the Owner of Jillian Fae Chef Services based out of Temecula, California. With 12 years of experience, she specializes in menu planning and menu research and development. Jillian Fae holds an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts from Orange Coast College and a BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Arizona State University. She is also a member of the American Culinary Federation and the American Personal and Private Chef Association.

Jillian Fae Downing

Private Event Chef & Chef Educator

Expert Answer

My go-to formula is typically one gallon of water to one cup of salt to a half cup of sugar — you can also use other sweeteners if you're looking for a different flavor element. If you're doing a small amount of breast, obviously, you could scale down the brine.
Question

Do you need to brine chicken breast to make chicken stock

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No, you do not need to brine chicken breast to make stock. Chicken stock can be made by simmering chicken bones and parts with vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery in a pot with water for around 4 hours.