Maple Butter Glazed Chicken

Hello and welcome to Djalali Cooks. Today’s Maple Butter Glazed Chicken is based on a recipe for turkey by Chris Morocco, from Bon Appétit. I have simplified it a bit for chicken, and the results are no less special for your holiday table or a regular Monday night. We are cutting out a lot of the prep by using bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces, which also gives one the choice to use only the pieces they like best. We have to let the chicken pieces sit for an hour with a dry brine, so let’s get right to it.

Dry Brine

Place a wire rack in a sheet tray. Let’s mix up the dry brine to rub on the chicken pieces. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon each: garlic powder and light brown sugar; 2 tablespoons Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt; and 1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper. Coat all sides of each piece of chicken with the dry brine. Pat the seasoning into the chicken pieces and place them skin side up on the wire rack in the sheet tray. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Let’s make the Maple Butter Glaze.

Maple Butter Glaze

This glaze is simple, yet it’s packed with flavors that fit in so perfectly with holiday cooking. We have Worcestershire, real maple syrup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, butter and fresh herb sprigs. Use thyme or rosemary.

Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir as the mixture bubbles. Cook and stir (or swirl) for about 4-6 minutes, until the mixture has thickened to coat the back of a spoon. Then, remove from heat and let sit until we are ready for it.

After the chicken has been brining for an hour, lift the chicken on the wire rack out of the sheet pan and rinse off the extra dry brine in the pan. Replace the chicken on the rack in the sheet pan. Drizzle olive oil over all the chicken pieces, and use your hands to rub the oil over all sides of each piece.

Bake the Maple Butter Glazed Chicken

Now it’s time to bake! Bake the chicken on the center rack for about 15-20 minutes. Then begin the glazing process. Every 7 minutes for another 28-30 minutes, pull the chicken out of the oven, brush on the glaze and place back in the oven.

Temp the chicken after 28 minutes of glazing. We’re looking for 165 degrees. When the chicken is fully cooked, let it sit for 10 minutes or so before transferring to a serving plate. Sprinkle the plated chicken with chopped parsley for color. Or you can nestle herb sprigs between chicken pieces for presentation.

Wonderfully sweet and savory, this chicken gets a nice and crispy glazed skin. The chicken is tender and juicy, well-seasoned thanks to the dry brine. This is an easy weeknight chicken dinner, but it has such a special flavor it feels right home for a laid-back holiday supper. Thanks so much for joining me today, take care and be well. xo Kelly

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Maple Butter Glazed Chicken

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Dinner, Main Course – American

By Adapted From Chris Morocco – Serves: 2-4

Prep Time: 10 Minutes (plus one hour for brining) – Cooking Time: ~45-50 Minutes – Total Time: ~1 Hour (plus one hour for brining)

Sweet and savory, Maple Butter Glazed Chicken is an easy weeknight meal, but its special flavor is perfect for a laid-back holiday meal.

Ingredients

• Dry Brine
• 1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 tbsp. Light Brown Sugar
• 2 tbsp. Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
• 1/2 tbsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper
• 8 Chicken Pieces
• Maple Butter Glaze
• 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter
• 2 tbsp. cup Pure Maple Syrup
• 1 tbsp. Soy Sauce
• 1 tbsp. Unseasoned Rice Vinegar or white wine vinegar
• 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• 2-4 Sprigs of Rosemary or Thyme
• Chopped Parsley for Garnish

Instructions

1

Place a wire rack in a sheet tray.

2

In a small bowl, whisk together the dry brine ingredients. Coat all sides of each piece of chicken with the dry brine. Pat the seasoning into the chicken pieces and place them skin side up on the wire rack in the sheet tray. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.

3

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

4

Combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir as the mixture bubbles. Cook and stir (or swirl) for about 4-6 minutes, until the mixture has thickened to coat the back of a spoon. Then, remove from heat and let sit until we are ready for it.

5

After the chicken has been brining for an hour, lift the chicken on the wire rack out of the sheet pan and rinse off the extra dry brine in the pan. Replace the chicken on the rack in the sheet pan. Drizzle olive oil over all the chicken pieces, and use your hands to rub the oil over all sides of each piece.

6

Bake the chicken on the center rack for about 15-20 minutes. Then begin the glazing process. Every 7 minutes for another 28-30 minutes, pull the chicken out of the oven, brush on the glaze and place back in the oven.

7

Temp the chicken after 28 minutes of glazing. We're looking for 165 degrees. When the chicken is fully cooked, let it sit for 10 minutes or so before transferring to a serving plate. Sprinkle the plated chicken with chopped parsley for color. Or you can nestle herb sprigs between chicken pieces for presentation.

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