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    BeeyondCereal » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes

    Beer Brined Chicken Wings

    Modified: Oct 18, 2023 Published: Dec 24, 2020 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    This beer brined chicken wings is perfect for snacking on during the next football game, but they'd be excellent at a barbecue too!

    Recipe: $7.59 | Per Serving: $1.27 | Servings: 6

    a plate full of beer brined chicken wings with a cup of beer in the background.

    I'm not particularly fond of beer's taste and smell, but its effect on chicken is undeniable. Even my Beer Butt Chicken Recipe is a household favorite. Beer tenderizes the meat while imparting delicious flavors throughout.

    Have you tried chicken wing brine? It's incredible, with a subtle beer essence that doesn't overpower. Yet, the result is juicy, flavorful chicken that's simply irresistible!

    I started making these beer-marinated chicken wings to wean my husband off store-bought deli wings. Ironically, he now craves them more than ever, constantly asking when I'll make them again. The irony isn't lost on me!

    Explore more chicken wing recipes like Soy Garlic Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings, Honey Buffalo Wings, and Honey Lemon Pepper Wings for endless finger-licking goodness.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions for Beer Brined Chicken Wings
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 🍳 Reheating
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Appetizer Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. Simple ingredients. We don't need anything too fancy to make this recipe work, and that's awesome. Minimal shopping is needed.
    2. Easy to follow steps. There is very little hands-on work needed for this recipe, keeping it very simple and basic. This recipe would be great for beginner chefs.
    3. Cheap alternative. Buying chicken wings precooked from anywhere can be pricey, but making them yourself can definitely help to save a few dollars here and there. Enjoy your favorite appetizer but with a frugal twist.

    🥘 Ingredients

    labeled ingredients needed to make beer brined chicken wings.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Chicken wings- You will want to use some chicken wings and drummettes for this recipe. Make sure that they are thawed and not frozen.

    Kosher Salt- This is a thicker grain than table salt. It will help to brine the chicken. Do NOT use table salt. The results will NOT be the same.

    Beer- Use your favorite can of beer or whatever is on hand.

    Optional Add-ins- You can add in stuff like whole peppercorns, whole cloves, or even fresh herbs.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🔪 Instructions for Beer Brined Chicken Wings

    brown sugar water and salt in a saucepan.

    Step 1: Add the salt, brown sugar, and 1 cup of water to a small saucepan.

    dissolved brine mixture in a saucepan.

    Step 2: Heat until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Remove from heat.

    brown sugar brine in a mixing bowl.

    Step 3: Transfer the mixture to a large bowl with 1 cup of water. Stir to combine.

    beer brine in a large glass mixing bowl.

    Step 4: Add in the 2 cups of beer along with any flavor add-ins (if desired).

    beer brine and chicken wings in a mixing bowl.

    Step 5: Place your chicken wings inside the liquid and press down to submerge.

    brined chicken wings in a mixing bowl topped with plastic wrap.

    Step 6: Cover bowl in plastic wrap and place into the fridge for 3-5 hours.

    beer brined chicken wings on a foil lined baking sheet.

    Step 7: When ready to cook, drain liquid and place chicken wings in an even layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.

    baked beer brined chicken wings on a foil lined baking sheet.

    Step 8: Bake at 400 degrees F for 45 minutes until cooked through. If desired, broil on high for 1-2 minutes to crisp up the chicken skin.

    Serve warm.

    a plate full of beer brined chicken wings.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    1. Marinating Time: Avoid over-brining by limiting marination to no more than 5 hours. The ideal period is 3-4 hours for perfectly flavored, juicy, and tender meat.
    2. Choice of Beer: Use a beer you enjoy as the chicken will retain its flavor. Leftover wings taste even more like the beer the next day.
    3. Chicken Safety: Ensure thorough cooking by checking with an instant-read food thermometer. It should register at 165°F. Meat and juices may have a slight pink color but should not look raw.

    🍳 Reheating

    Microwave- I recommend laying chicken wings on a microwave-safe plate between two sheets of slightly dampened paper towels. Heat for 2 minutes or until warmed through. The paper towels will keep the chicken from drying out.

    Oven- Preheat your oven to 350F and lay your chicken wings onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-20 minutes or until fully heated through and crispy.

    Air fryer- Reheat chicken wings in the air fryer by laying them in an even layer in the basket and cooking at 360F for 5 minutes. You may wish to flip them over halfway so that they can cook evenly.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    How long to brine chicken wings?

    Brines should be left on chickens for a minimum of 1 hour, but up to 5 hours if needed. 3-4 hours is a good amount of time to let your thawed chicken wings brine.

    What does beer do to chicken?

    The beer brined wings work like magic to help break down different things in the chicken meat to tenderize it to perfection. It also adds a subtle flavor and leaves the chicken extra juicy, so make sure to have some napkins handy.

    Do I need to rinse brine off of my chicken?

    No! Unless otherwise stated you should never try to rinse off a brine before baking. The brine is what makes the end results so good. To rinse it off would be undoing all the work and waiting that you JUST did.

    Should I add seasoning salt to brined chicken before baking?

    I would recommend not adding any salty flavors to the chicken until after they've finished baking and you can safely taste one first. Then adjust to taste. The brine will leave some saltiness on the chicken already, so it's best to taste and adjust so that your chicken doesn't turn out too salty.

    beer brined chicken wings on a gray plate with fresh herb garnish.

    ❤️ More Delicious Appetizer Recipes

    • honey buffalo chicken wings on a plate with sliced celery and sliced green onion garnishes.
      Honey Buffalo Wings
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      Creamy Vanilla Fruit Dip
    • mini spinach dip bowls on a plate with one in front missing a bite from it.
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    • a bowl filled with maple bacon dip.
      Maple Bacon Dip

    If you tried these Beer Brined Chicken Wings, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    herb garnished beer brined chicken wings on a plate with a cup of beer in the background.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Beer Brined Chicken Wings

    This beer brine chicken is perfect for snacking on during the next football game but they'd be excellent at a barbecue too!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 105kcal
    Cost Recipe $7.59 / Serving $1.27
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Small Saucepan
    • Large Mixing Bowl
    • Measuring Cups
    • Whisk
    • Baking Sheet

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups water, divided ($0.00)
    • ¼ cup salt ($0.06)
    • ¼ cup brown sugar ($0.11)
    • 2 cups beer ($0.92)
    • 2 pounds chicken wings, thawed ($6.50)

    Optional Add-ins

    • whole peppercorns
    • whole cloves
    • fresh herbs
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a pot on the stove dissolve 1 cup of water with salt and brown sugar. Stir as needed.
    • Once dissolved, pour the mixture into a bowl with 1 cup of cold water.
    • Add in the 2 cups of beer and any add-ins. Stir to combine.
    • Place chicken inside bowl, and press down slightly to submerge.
    • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and store in fridge for 3-5 hours.
    • When ready to cook, preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil.
    • Remove chicken from bowl, and place on baking sheet in an even layer (or close to it).
    • Bake for 45 minutes. If desired, broil on high 1-2 minutes after baking for a crisper skin.
    • Serve warm.

    Notes

    Avoid letting the chicken rest in the brine for more than 5 hours, as it may become over-brined. 3-4 hours is ideal for perfectly flavored, juicy, and tender meat.
    Use a beer you enjoy, as the chicken wings will maintain some beer flavor, especially the leftovers.
    Brines should be left on chickens for a minimum of 1 hour, but up to 5 hours if needed. 3-4 hours is optimal for brining thawed chicken wings.
    Do not rinse off the brine before baking, as it enhances the final results. Rinsing would undo the work and waiting you've invested.
    Refrain from adding salty flavors to the chicken before baking. Taste a wing after baking to determine the saltiness and adjust seasoning accordingly. The brine already imparts some saltiness, so it's better to adjust later to avoid overly salty chicken.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 4wings | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.7g | Protein: 12.8g | Fat: 2.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 33.1mg | Sodium: 2412.8mg | Potassium: 122.3mg | Sugar: 7.6g | Vitamin A: 10.4IU | Vitamin C: 0.9mg | Calcium: 16.8mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Author Nicole Durham
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    Hey, I'm Nicole

    The proud owner and recipe developer behind BeeyondCereal. Here, I'm passionate about showing people how to navigate the kitchen with frugality in mind, whipping up family-friendly recipes that not only save money but also bring joy to every meal.

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