Name: Apple Cider Brined Roasted Chicken with Pan Gravy
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 130 min
Ingredients: 7 lb. Whole Roaster Chicken, giblets removed; 3 c Apple Cider; divided; 4 c. Water; 1/2 c. Light Brown Sugar; 1/2 c. Kosher Salt; 2 tbsp. Fresh Sage, chopped; 1 c. Chicken Broth; Pan Drippings; 2 tbsp. All Purpose Flour; 2 tbsp. Cold Water

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Apple Cider Brined Roasted Chicken with Pan Gravy made with a mixture of apple cider, water, brown sugar, Kosher salt and fresh sage.

Whole chicken brined in mixture of apple cider, water, brown sugar, Kosher salt and fresh sage; then roasted until golden brown.

Doesn't this Apple Cider Brined Roasted Chicken look fabulous! Last Thanksgiving I made a Lemon & Rosemary Brined Turkey and it was incredibly delicious and moist. However, being that I was hosting a party of 14, it was impossible for me to take pictures of said bird.

Don't get me wrong, my family loves me and this blog and all, but when it comes to Turkey Day, it's all about the food. No food styling or photos allowed!

And I wasn't about to cook a 20 lb. turkey for four people, I would be completely sick of it before my favorite holiday came so I opted for roasted chicken instead.

I suggest that if you're going to use this recipe for your Thanksgiving turkey, double the brining recipe and refrigerate for two days instead of one; rotating after one day.

Your cooking times will also vary, but a good rule of thumb is to roast your turkey in a 325 degree F oven for 15 minutes per pound. For example, an 18 lb. turkey will take approximately 4 ½ hours. You can read all about how to roast a Thanksgiving turkey here.

How do you make Apple Cider Brined chicken?

To make this apple cider brine, you need to combine liquid with equal parts of sugar and salt. In this case we're using apple cider, water, sugar, salt and sage. Combine them all together in a medium bowl and whisk until the sugar and salt have dissolved.

Next, place the chicken in a large, sealable, food safe bag (I used Reynolds Turkey Bags). Add the brine to the bag, place the bag in a large roasting pan to prevent any leaks in your refrigerator and refrigerate for 24 hours; turning the chicken over halfway through.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Discard the brine and place the chicken in a roasting pan; then add some cider and chicken broth to the bottom of the pan.

Bake the chicken for 1 ¾-2 hours or until the minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees is reached; basting halfway through cooking time. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving.

How do you make pan gravy?

While the chicken is resting before carving, add the pan drippings to a saucepan over medium high heat. You can either make the gravy using all purpose flour or cornstarch by mixing it with cold water; then whisking.

Once it's smooth, add it to the pan drippings and stir until the gravy thickens; approximately 3-5 minutes.

All cooking times vary depending on the actual weight of the bird and your oven, so make sure to check the internal temperature before removing it from the oven.

The turkey should be at least 165 degrees when you stick an instant read thermometer into thickest part of the thigh. Then, allow your turkey to rest for at least 15-20 minutes prior to carving.

This Apple Cider Brined Roasted Chicken was OUT OF THIS WORLD delicious! Brining really moistens the meat and keeps it extremely juicy. Even my 11 year old claimed "it was the best chicken she's ever had" and she's not a fan of roasted chicken normally.

Though she did complain that I used her apple cider...the kid loves the stuff!.~Enjoy!

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