• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

cheapchickenrecipes.com logo

  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Website Accessibility
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Website Accessibility
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
      • Privacy Policy
      • Contact
      • Website Accessibility
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » How to

    Published: Jul 11, 2023 · Modified: Jul 19, 2023 by Ajoke · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    How To Brine Chicken Wings ( Best Chicken Wings Brine)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Learn to how to perfectly brine chicken wings for the most tender, succulent, juiciest wings you will ever taste. Whether you are frying, grilling, smoking, baking or air frying chicken wings, this simple brining method will guarantee you fantastic wings ever, the best flavor and texture.

    There are two methods of brining: dry and wet. In this post, we'll be going in-depth with wet brining method.

    uncooked chicken wings in a plate.

    Ever wondered if you can brine chicken wings, yes, you can. Not only is it worthwhile, it is also quick and easy to do

    It is not mandatory to brine chicken wings before cooking it because of its size, however, that extra step of brining will make sure that the wings stay juicy, tender and flavorful even to the bones.

    For as little as 2 hours or up to 24 hours, brining can add tons of flavor and juiciness to the wings. More importantly, you only need a handful of ingredients you already have on hand. There are different types of brining methods, dry and wet. Today's recipe is a simple wet chicken brine.

    Related post: how to butterfly chicken drumsticks, can you marinate chicken for 2 days,and hot honey lemon pepper wings.

    What is brining (wet brine)

    Brining is a simple process of soaking meat, such as chicken, in a salty liquid solution for a specific time before cooking it. This simple process infuses flavor and moisture into the poultry resulting in tender and juicy

    meat. The main ingredients for a simple brine are salt and water which is what the definition of a brine is. The technique is great for a tough piece of meat or a large meat .eg. turkey

    That said, you can other ingredients such as herbs and spices to your brine solution for additional depth of flavor.

    a hand holding cooked brined chicken wings.

    What you will need

    To make this simple and straightforward chicken wings brine, you will need the following ingredient 

    Water

    Salt: use coarse large grained salt. If using fine grain salt such as cooking salt then divide the specified recipe to half.

    Sugar: substitute with honey

    Black pepper 

    Oregano

    Apple cider vinegar: substitute with white vinegar

    Red pepper flakes 

    How to make chicken wings brine

    Mix the brine solution: place a saucepan on medium heat, add water, salt, sugar, red pepper flakes, vinegar, oregano, and black pepper to it. Stir the solution until everything is dissolved and bring to a gentle boil, say 3-5 minutes

    brine solution boiling on the stove in a saucepan.

    Remove from heat: turn off the heat once boiled and leave to solution to cool slightly then transfer to a large bowl or glass bowl. Pour cold water into the cooled salt water solution and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to cool completely or place in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Do not brine the chicken in a metal bowl.

    cling film over a bowl.

    Add chicken wings: once cooled, add the chicken wings to the brine solution. Make sure all pieces are fully submerged.

    Brine: Cover the container with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but no longer than 24 hours. The longer you brine the chicken wings, the saltier they will become. It is best to keep the brining time short for optimum result.

    chicken wings in a brine soultion.

    Dry the chicken wings: remove the chicken from the brine solution and discard the brine. Pat the wings dry with paper towels and let it air-dry completely before cooking. This can be done in the fridge.

    a hand patting chicken wings dry with kitchen paper towel.

    Cook: You can now season and cook the brined chicken wings using your preferred methods, such as grilling, baking, air frying or frying. Enjoy

    seasoning on raw chicken wings in a bowl.
    chicken wings in bath of brine.

    FAQs 

    How long to brine chicken wings

    This will depend on the thickness of the meat as the longer the better. But since chicken wings are relatively thin, it is best to brine them for a minimum of 2 hours and not longer than 4 hours. If you would not be cooking the chicken immediately, remove it from the brine and store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours covered with plastic wrap.

    What is the difference between brine and marinade

    A brine and a marinade are two different things, a brine gives moisture to your meat while the marinade flavors it. A marinade contains seasoning, herbs and spices, oil, lemon juice or vinegar while brine is simply a salt water solution.

    Meat can be cooked in a marinade but you can't cook meat in brine solution.

    Do you rinse chicken after brining

    In general, once the chicken is brined, remove it from the solution. There's no need to rinse the chicken wings as this is optional. Use paper towels to thoroughly pat it as dry as possible before cooking. This is important if you want crispy skin. Remember that wet skin prior to roasting will produce soggy wings rather than crispy and golden-brown wings.

    Can I brine frozen chicken

    Yes, you can. Note that this process will take longer because you will have to wait for the chicken to thaw out in the brining solution. Depending upon the size of the frozen meat, it should be brined for 2 to 24 hours. It's similar to brining a thawed chicken, the difference is that it needs to be brined longer in the solution.

    Can I use a different cut of chicken and how long should I brine it for:

    Yes, you can. Tenderloin, chicken breast, thighs, legs, spatchcocked chicken (butterflied chicken) or a whole one. This brine recipe will definitely work for all cuts of chicken but always remember that the size of the chicken would determine how long you would brine it.

    Why do you add sugar to brine

    Sugar will help to ensure the perfect browning of the meat's skin while adding a sweet flavor. It also helps to balance the salty flavor of the brine. You can substitute white sugar for brown sugar or honey.

    chicken wings in bath of brine.

    How To Brine Chicken Wings (Best Chicken Wings Brine)

    Ajoke
    Learn to how to perfectly brine chicken wings for the most tender, succulent, juiciest wings you will ever taste. Whether you are frying, grilling, smoking, baking or air frying chicken wings, this simple brining method will guarantee you fantastic wings ever.
    There are two methods of brining: dry and wet. In this post, we'll be going in-depth with wet brining method.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Calories 30 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2.2 lb chicken wings seprated or whole.
    • 6 cups of water
    • ¼ cup kosher salt
    • ¼ caster sugar substitute with honey
    • ½ Tablespoon black pepper
    • ½ Tablespoon oregano
    • 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar substitute with white vinegar
    • ½ Tablespoon red pepper flakes

    Instructions
     

    • Mix the brine solution: place a saucepan on medium heat, add water, salt, sugar, red pepper flakes, vinegar, oregano, and black pepper to it. Stir the solution until everything is dissolved and bring to a gentle boil, say 3-5 minutes
    • Remove from heat: turn off the heat once boiled and leave to solution to cool slightly then transfer to a large bowl or glass bowl. Pour cold water into the cooled salt water solution and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to cool completely or place in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Do not brine the chicken in a metal bowl.
    • Add chicken wings: once cooled, add the chicken wings to the brine solution. Make sure all pieces are fully submerged.
    • Brine: Cover the container with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but no longer than 24 hours. The longer you brine the chicken wings, the saltier they will become. It is best to keep the brining time short for optimum result.
    • Dry the chicken wings: remove the chicken from the brine solution and discard the brine. Pat the wings dry with paper towels and let them air-dry completely before cooking. This can be done in the fridge.
    • Cook: You can now season and cook the brined chicken wings using your preferred methods, such as grilling, baking, air frying or frying. Enjoy

    Nutrition

    Calories: 30kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 28361mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1245IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    I hope you find this simple technique useful. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @cheapchickenrecipes on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest or make it on Tiktok. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox every week.

    More How to

    • a hand holding chicken leg in rinse under the tap.
      Should You Wash Chicken Before Cooking
    • two different marinated chicken in a ziploc bag.
      Can You Marinate Chicken For 2 Days
    • two butterflied chicken and a whole on a chopping board.
      How To Butterfly Chicken Drumsticks

    Sharing is caring!

    1 shares
    • Facebook
    • Email

    About Ajoke

    Hello! I'm Ajoke (Har-Joh-Keh), and I'm passionate about cooking affordable yet tasty meals. My blog, Cheap Easy Chicken Recipes, is all about sharing delicious and simple recipes using the most popular protein...

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Modesty Martin’s says

      September 19, 2023 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      Thank you 🙏

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Recent Posts

    • Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters 
    • Butter Chicken Pasta recipe
    • Should You Wash Chicken Before Cooking
    • Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken In Air Fryer
    • Frozen Chicken Strips In Air Fryer

    Recent Comments

    1. Modesty Martin’s on How To Brine Chicken Wings ( Best Chicken Wings Brine)
    2. Ajoke on Butter Chicken Pasta recipe
    3. Ajoke on Cajun Chicken Orzo Recipe
    4. Stewball on Cajun Chicken Orzo Recipe
    5. Stewball on Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs Recipe

    Copyright © 2025 cheapchickenrecipes.com on the Brunch Pro Theme

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.