Description
A delicious and versatile grilled chicken recipe, perfect for summer barbecues and weeknight dinners. Featuring a brine that keeps the chicken juicy and flavorful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 Boneless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 4 cups Warm water (for brine)
- 1/4 cup Kosher salt (for brine)
- 2 tbsp Brown sugar (for brine)
- 2 cloves Garlic, smashed (for brine)
- 2 tbsp Olive oil (coats chicken)
- 1 tsp Salt (seasoning)
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper (seasoning)
- 1 tsp Garlic powder (seasoning)
- 1 tsp Paprika (adds color)
- 1/2 tsp Dried oregano (herbal note)
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper (optional heat)
Instructions
- Prepare the Brine: Start by dissolving the kosher salt and brown sugar in warm water in a large bowl. Add the smashed garlic cloves to infuse flavor into the brine.
- Brine the Chicken: Submerge the chicken in the brine for about 30 minutes. This step is crucial as it helps lock in moisture, ensuring each bite is juicy and flavorful.
- Season the Chicken: After the brining process, pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Rub the olive oil onto the chicken and then sprinkle the mixed spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and cayenne) over the chicken for an extra flavor kick.
- Preheat the Grill: Set your grill to medium-high heat and be sure to oil the grates well. This helps prevent the chicken from sticking while giving it fantastic grill marks.
- Grill to Perfection: Place the chicken on the grill for about 7 minutes without moving it, which allows for those beautiful grill marks to form. After 7 minutes, flip the chicken and cook for an additional 6 minutes, checking with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest Before Serving: Once cooked, remove the chicken from the grill and allow it to rest under foil for 5 minutes. This redistribution of juices will keep it moist and flavorful when sliced.
Notes
Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is perfectly cooked. Resting the chicken before slicing keeps it juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 100mg