Dry Brined Roasted Chicken

4.7
(20)
19 Reviews
3 Photos

After years of dealing with the mess of a wet brine, I came across the technique of dry brining. So easy and so tasty. My family raves about it and I hope yours does too. Use the drippings as a great base for gravy. This method is great on turkey as well!

By Allrecipes Member
Updated on November 18, 2023
close up view of Dry Brined Roasted Chicken in a roasting pan
3
3
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs
Additional Time:
1 day 20 mins
Total Time:
1 day 2 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
1 chicken
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 1 whole chicken

  • 2 tablespoons salt, or as needed

  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest

  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions

  1. Remove chicken from packaging, remove giblet packet from cavity, and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Place in a 9x13-inch baking dish.

  2. Mix salt, orange zest, rosemary, and thyme together in a small bowl; rub 3/4 of the mixture all over outside of chicken; rub remaining mixture inside cavity. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 to 3 days.

  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove plastic wrap from chicken.

  4. Bake chicken in preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 2 to 2 1/2 hours depending on size. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove chicken from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 20 minutes before carving.

Cook’s Note

A good rule for the salt mixture is 1 tablespoon per 5 pounds of chicken.

I prefer fresh herbs if I have them on hand, but either dried or fresh herbs work fine.

62 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

161 Calories
6g Fat
0g Carbs
24g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 161
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Cholesterol 72mg 24%
Sodium 1816mg 79%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Protein 24g 48%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 223mg 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.