Beer Brined Chicken Wings

5 from 3 votes

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

Prep Time10

Cook Time45

Total Time55

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 250kcal

Cost: Recipe $7.59 / Serving $1.27

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)

Make the brine. In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of water with the salt and brown sugar. Heat and stir until fully dissolved.
Cool the brine. Pour the hot brine into a large bowl and add the remaining 1 cup of cold water to cool it down.
Add beer and aromatics. Stir in the beer and any optional add-ins, if using.
Brine the wings. Add the chicken wings to the bowl, pressing gently to submerge. Cover and refrigerate for 3 to 5 hours.
Preheat the oven. When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with foil.
Bake the wings. Remove the wings from the brine and arrange them in an even layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes.
Optional broil. For crispier skin, broil on high for 1 to 2 minutes after baking, watching closely.
Serve. Serve warm.

Brining time. Do not brine longer than 5 hours. For thawed wings, 3 to 4 hours produces the best flavor and texture.
Beer choice. Use a beer you enjoy drinking, as some flavor carries through, especially in leftovers.
Do not rinse. Skip rinsing the wings after brining to preserve flavor and moisture.
Season carefully. Avoid adding extra salt before baking. Taste after cooking and adjust seasoning if needed.