Brining chicken in a mixture of maple syrup, garlic, thyme, pepper and salt keeps it moist and flavorful during grilling. A salad, cornbread and barbecue sauce round out this family-friendly meal.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 3 hr 25 min |
| Active: | 10 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- Small bunch fresh thyme sprigs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds bone-in chicken pieces, such as legs, thighs and breasts, halved
- Olive or vegetable oil for brushing the grill grates
- Serving suggestions: green salad, cornbread and/or your favorite barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Stir the maple syrup, garlic, thyme, 1 tablespoon salt, a generous grind of pepper and 3 cups of water together in a large bowl until the salt is dissolved. Add the chicken, making sure it’s completely covered by the brine. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
- Prepare an outdoor grill or grill pan for high heat.
- Drain the chicken and pat very dry. Lightly oil the grill grates and grill the chicken, flipping occasionally, until no longer pink near the bone, 15 to 20 minutes (depending on the size of the chicken pieces). Serve with a salad, wedges of cornbread and/or your favorite barbecue sauce on the side.