Juicy and Crispy Dry Brine Chicken

This simple whole roast chicken recipe will become your new staple. The dry brine technique results in flavorful meat and a crispy skin, and it's SO, SO easy!

Easy chicken dinner

To me, a dinner of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and roasted broccoli is the PERFECT dinner. Add some gravy, and I don't need anything else!

Luckily, it is REALLY easy to make juicy, flavorful roast chicken at home. The secret is the dry brine technique.

I've been using the dry brine technique on roast turkey for years (to amazing results), so I don't know why it took me so long to test it out on chicken. I finally got around to trying it on a whole roasted chicken, and it works every bit as well.

You get the same juicy, flavorful meat and crispy skin you expect from your favorite rotisserie chicken, and you can do it right in your own kitchen.

Related recipe: Dry Brine Turkey

Small Thanksgiving dinner - chicken

This dry brine chicken is great for a small Thanksgiving gathering when you don't need a whole turkey but want to make something special.

Related recipe: Ciabatta Stuffing

Easy dry brine chicken

This technique / recipe is truly foolproof.

You only need two ingredients (chicken and salt), and the brine timing doesn't have to be perfect.

Sometimes I've started the dry brine in the morning and cooked the chicken at night, and other times I've only left the salt on for an hour or two. Either way, it results in a delicious and flavorful roasted chicken.

If you like, you can add some herbs or aromatics, but it is also good on its own. Because you're not adding many other ingredients, it's a great way to cook chicken that you plan to use in other recipes, or in sandwiches, soups, and salads.

Recipes for using leftover roasted chicken

Try this chicken in any of these easy weeknight recipes:

• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• BBQ Chicken Flatbread
• Chicken Chili Verde Stew
• Lemon Basil Chicken Salad

Related recipe: Pretzel Crusted Chicken

Dry Brined Chicken: Frequently Asked Questions:

Will it get too salty?

If you use the correct amount of salt per weight of chicken, and distribute the salt evenly, the chicken should not be too salty. Just be sure that the chicken that you use is not already pre-brined or pre-seasoned in any way.

Do I need to rinse the dry brine before cooking?

No. In addition, leaving the meat un-rinsed results in a crispier skin.

What type of salt should I use?

Morton's kosher salt is most readily available in the supermarket; however I prefer Diamond Kosher salt because it is less salty. If you do use Morton's, use slightly less than the recipe calls for.