Lemon-Thyme Brined Grilled Chicken

Grilling season has officially arrived here in NJ (well at least at my house...I don't like to use the outside grill unless it's above 60 degrees!) and I couldn't wait to try out some new grilled chicken recipes. The first one I experimented with was a basic brine marinade like I've used in the past on pork, and came up with this Lemon-Thyme Brined Grilled Chicken. 


I've said it before that brining makes your meat incredibly moist and this was no exception. I especially like to use a brine when grilling as I tend to overcook things on the grill, especially chicken. This chicken was so light and flavorful, though I don't recommend letting it sit in the marinade for more than 8 hours or it may taste too salty. I let mine sit for about 4 hours and it was perfect; then served it with a baked potato and tossed salad. 

Lemon-Thyme Brined Grilled Chicken

Prep Time: 4-8 hours                                          Yield: 4

Cook Time: 10-15 minutes                                  Serving: 1

Ingredients

• 4-4oz. Chicken Breasts, boneless and skinless
• 3/4 c. Water
• 2 tbsp. Granulated Sugar
• 2 tbsp. Sea Salt
• 1 Lemon, zest and juice
• 2 tbsp. Fresh Thyme, removed from stem

Directions

1. Combine the water, sugar, salt, lemon zest and juice and fresh thyme in a bowl and whisk together. 
2. Add the chicken to a resealable plastic bag; then add in the liquid. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 4-6 hours. 
3. Remove chicken from the refrigerator 15 minutes prior to grilling, discard the liquid and grill the chicken to the proper internal temperature (minimum 165 degrees). 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 186 , Carbs 0g, Fat 4.1g, Protein 36.4g, Fiber 0g, Sugar 0g

*Calculations based on ingredients entered into Calorie Count and may not be 100% accurate. This particular information is based solely on the chicken as all of the brining liquid is discarded prior to cooking. 

Enjoy!