Sweet Tea Brined Chicken
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Recipe by:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 (4-pound) whole chicken, butterflied
  • 1 quart sweet tea, plus more if needed
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon Acadiana Table Cajun Seasoning Blend, see recipe here
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 2 yellow onions, halved
  • 2 heads garlic
  • 4 tabasco peppers
  • 4 stalks fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
  • 1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
Instructions
  1. In a large container with a lid, add the chicken. Add the tea and lemon juice. Add more tea if needed to cover the chicken. Place the top on the container and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
  2. Preheat your oven to 450ºF.
  3. Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry. Combine the salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning. Rub both sides of the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle over the spices coating each side.
  4. In a large cast-iron skillet or a metal baking tray, place the lemons, onions, and garlic cut-side down. Layer the peppers, rosemary, and parsley around the skillet. Add the chicken on top, breast-side up. Bake for 20 minutes.
  5. Lower the temperature to 350ºF and bake until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165ºF and juices run clear.
  6. To crisp the skin, turn your oven to broil (or to its highest temperature) and return the chicken to the oven, watching carefully to prevent burning. Broil until the top begins to brown and the skin is crispy, 3 to 5 minutes.
  7. Remove and let rest for 10 minutes. Garnish with more of the fresh rosemary and parsley, and squeeze the roasted garlic and lemons over the chicken.
Notes
Prep time does not include brining. Butterfly the chicken by removing the backbone with kitchen scissors or a sharp knife. Be sure to remove any organ meats packaged inside the chicken. For the sweet tea, you have options: Make it from scratch; buy it in a jug; use the iced tea instant mix (I like Community brand). Before adding to the skillet, slice the top off the garlic head to expose the garlic cloves inside.
Recipe by Acadiana Table at https://www.acadianatable.com/?p=28500