Sunday, June 21, 2009

Apple cider brined chicken

I had a chicken in the freezer and was looking for something interesting to do with it. I know that it's not exactly the season to be cooking with apple cider, but trust me here. This apple cider brined chicken is great any time of the year.

The brine ensures a moist end product, and the cider adds just a touch of spice and sweetness. The recipe called for removing the skin partway through cooking time, but that sounded like a lot of mess and hassle, so I left the skin on. The sugar in the cider made for very crisp and browned skin, so I'm glad I didn't remove it.

I think this would also be great on the grill, I would suggest cooking it over indirect heat to prevent burning.

apple cider brined chicken

85 comments:

Julie said...

Looks so delicious!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely great pictures. Some of the best on the net. Chicken sounds pretty delectable, too. LOL

Anonymous said...

Wow! This chicken looks amazing. I have not tried to brine yet but this looks worth the time. Deb

Christo Gonzales said...

that chicken looks so good it seems like if you startled it - it would fall off the bone.

Pearl said...

great photos!

Unknown said...

That chicken looks amazing Sara! I love how crispy and delicious the skin looks!

Dewi said...

the recipe sound so good Sara. I'll keep this in mind.
Great photo of the chicken.

foodcreate said...

I LOVE the Apple cider brined chicken I made your recipe today and it turn out so delicious.I took it outside and everyone enjoyed:)

Thanks Sara for your wonderful recipe:) and for Stoping by:)

Have a Great Day! http://foodcreate.com

♥peachkins♥ said...

This chicken looks great..and the chicken skin is to die for..

Heather S-G said...

It's beautiful! I bet that apple cider adds a great sweetness.

Sarah said...

Sarah, looks absolutely delicious!

P.s. I'm posting again

Creative Classroom Core said...

Ive never tried a brine before, but it sounds great! I love the idea of apple cider!

Jennifer said...

WOW I need to try this! Looks amazing!!

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

I think I will try this on the grill.

Sean said...

Mmm that skin looks so crispy. Delicious!

Jennifer said...

Sarah, that looks great, I am going to use it the next time I make Turkey!

Manggy said...

The recipe had you discarding that awesome skin!? Inconceivable!! :) It looks smashing the way you've done it! :)

Angie's Recipes said...

GREAT pic!
Crispy chicken marinated with apple cider....writing that has already made me drool over....

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

That chicken must taste wonderful! Yummy!

Cheers,

Rosa

Finla said...

That just look super super crunchy delcious.

Deb in Hawaii said...

I keep reading things about brining chicken. I am going to have to try it. This looks delicious.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Beautiful chicken. Yours is much prettier than the one in the link. I've never brined much but this is encouraging. Mario Batali is always brining too and says it makes a world of difference. Guess I better start brining.
Sam

pam said...

You're right that skin came out perfect!

Debbie said...

That chicken looks fantastic. Just wondeful and tasty!

Amanda @ Mrs.W's Kitchen said...

It's not even 9am and here I sit, drooling away over your chicken. Fantastic, as always.

Cathy said...

Gorgeous pics Sara! I love cider brined chicken.

Cassie said...

This sounds absolutely delicious to me right now!

Zoe said...

It turned out great! Thanks for sharing!

Jenna said...

this looks great! I need to try brining some time!

stephchows said...

I'll take apply cider any time of the year! Look delicious!

Anonymous said...

Great idea to brine chicken in apple cider! I bet they are so succulent!

Rosie Hawthorne said...

That chicken is beautiful, Sara.
Whenever I do a chicken or turkey, I always brine it. Keeps it very moist. Haven't tried the apple cider brine yet but that's on my to-do list.

gastroanthropologist said...

Looks delicious. Did you use apple cider the sweet sort or the hard apple cider?

Jenn@slim-shoppin said...

I've never tried brining before. My sister does it all the time.

This recipe looks like something I could make!

I think it would have been weird to take the skin off too. That's the best part!

Culinary Wannabe said...

Taking the skin off would be a crime! It's the best part, especially when it gets all crisp and tasty!

Nutmeg Nanny said...

This chicken looks great! Now I'm craving chicken:)

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Good call on leaving the skin on....I think if I made chicken like that my kids might actually like it! Sara that looks REALLY good!
~ingrid

Sara said...

Your chicken looks delicious! Leaving the skin on was a good choice and it sounds like a lot less work.

teresa said...

I have never tried brining anything, but this looks so good I think it's time I do!

The Food Hunter said...

This looks amazing!

The Blonde Duck said...

I feel like chicken tonight...

Soma said...

Love the texture. Delectable photos.

Maria said...

apple cider brined...love it!

Reeni said...

How gorgeous!!

Annie said...

The chicken looks amazing! And the recipe sounds great. I will be trying this one for sure!

Heather said...

wow! that looks PERFECT!

La Bella Cooks said...

Oh wow, I am craving this. Sounds divine!

Anonymous said...

I've never tried brining. You have totally inspired and convinced me to give it a shot.

lk- Healthy Delicious said...

wow- the color on that chicken is beautiful! I did a cider bring for thanksgiving one year and it was marvelous.

noble pig said...

Yes it's perfect for anytime, and it looks amazing.

lubnakarim06 said...

Looks drool worthy...

Donna-FFW said...

Sara- This looks delectable. Absolutely delicious!

The Fajdich Times said...

Your chicken looks amazing! The brine sounds excellent. I think is would be great for a turkey on the grill:)

Diana said...

That is calling out for a hearty side of potato salad and a glass of lemonade. Love that golden color -- really is perfect for summer!

maris said...

I love apple cider in marinades - it reminds me that my favorite season, fall, is right around the corner!

Also - hope you like my new blog home! I can't remember if I emailed you but wanted to make sure you knew :)

Sara said...

Sara, this looks delicious. Even before I saw your final sentence about grilling it, I was already planning on doing so!

Selba said...

This is so scrumptious!!! *drool*

Kerstin said...

Wow, the chicken skin looks so crispy and delicious! My mouth is watering!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I usually brine my Turkey at Christmas. I should try doing it with chicken. Love the pics.

Jamie said...

Oooh, this is my kind of chicken! Beautiful and scrumptious!

unconfidentialcook said...

Wow, that looks like some great, crispy bird!

nora@ffr said...

wow sara!! these chicken are totally drool worthy.. yummm!! vat a great combo with apple:)

Lyndas recipe box said...

This chicken sounds amazing, Sara; who cares about the season when you have something this good! I'm going to try this.

pigpigscorner said...

Wow, they look amazing! THe colour makes it looks so appetising!

Melissa @ For the Love of Health said...

what an amazing recipe! I love chicken and I can only imagine how wonderful it tastes!

Claudia said...

I love vinegar brines - on chicken, pork, turkey... you get the picture. Yes, this is a keeper - just a gorgeous and delicious way to cook a chicken.

Live.Love.Eat said...

Season, schmeason, I trust you! This looks incredible.

Robin said...

I have never done a brine before but see that it is all the rage. I better join the rage if I want good food too!

Olga said...

Seriously? that looks gorgeous!!!

A few nights ago I browned a few chicken breasts in a pan and then poured some apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice into the pan, covered and let everything cook for 5 min.

Jann said...

I can smell this cooking now! Would love to taste this!

Gera@SweetsFoodsBlog said...

Your chicken with apple cider rocks! So irresistible :)

Cheers!

Gera

Marta said...

Cider cooking knows no season!
This looks fantastic, I completely trust you! Brines are such a key to gorgeous chicken, and I'm sure the cider just adds the extra tenderness. Lovely dish!

Chef Fresco said...

I bet that apple cider on the chicken is so delicious! They look perfectly done too! Yum!

Jessica@FoodMayhem said...

Look at that gorgeous color!

Sara, you are featured this week on our Weekend Shout Out: see here

Lori Lynn said...

I vote for skin on!
LL

Dragon said...

This chicken looks divine, Sara!

♥Rosie♥ said...

Utterly delicious chicken and your pics are amazing!!

Anonymous said...

This looks amazing Sara! Sorry I have not been by I just moved to another domain = )

Jan said...

This looks spectacular, I'm going to have to try this on the grill - soon!

leslie Miller said...

this sounds like just what i was looking for!

Judy said...

I've been thinking of doing a chicken or pork chops with the apple cider brine also. Thanks for sharing.

Chef E said...

Call me crazy, but I could make a meal of the skin, lol, yes we never understood our parents pulling off, or us and then they ate it first!

Looks divine, I do this with fish, so why not chicken, so be it!

Kiezie said...

How fabulous!! I can't wait to use apple cider to brine! This looks wonderful!

Jude said...

Wow. Does the cider give it that reddish brown color? Never tried any brine like this before.

Anonymous said...

this is a great looking recipe! i couldn't find your copyright info, so i wanted to let you know that i used your photo in an entry i wrote about grilling and brining chicken (giving you credit and a link back to your entry, of course!) here it is if you'd like to check it out!

http://reluctantwwfoodie.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/grill-brine-and-sunshine/