Our Recipes
Beer-Brined Chicken with Apple Cider Gravy
Serves: 4
Prep Time: in
Cook Time: in
Did you know that beer makes an excellent ingredient in brine for poultry? Beer’s natural acidity and hops tenderize the meat while gently infusing it with a malty, savory flavor, and the added salt helps the meat retain moisture. Generally, the subtle flavor profile of lager or pilsner beer works best! In this holiday-ready dish, a Bell & Evans Whole Chicken brines overnight with beer, herbs and spices, before it’s roasted to golden-brown. Served with a fantastic cider gravy, it makes an unforgettable centerpiece!
Ingredients
For Chicken
- 1 4-5 lb. Bell & Evans Whole Chicken
- 3 (12-oz) bottles Lager beer
- 1/3 cup Kosher salt
- 1/3 cup Sugar
- 1 Gala apple, seeded and thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
- 1 Navel orange, thinly sliced into rounds, plus more for garnish
- 1 tsp Whole allspice
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 2 Star Anise
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter
- 1 TB Chopped fresh sage, plus sage sprigs, for garnish
For Gravy
- 3 cups Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Bone Broth
- 1/4 cup Unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup All-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp Chopped fresh thyme
- 1 cup Apple cider
- 1 TB Chopped fresh sage
- Pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
Preparation
For Chicken
- Whisk the beer, salt and sugar in a large pot or container until sugar and salt dissolve. Add the apple, orange, allspice, cinnamon and star anise. Place chicken in the beer mixture, making sure it is completely submerged. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours, or up to 24 hours.
- Combine the butter, thyme and sage in a small bowl. Spread the butter over the chicken and under the skin. Tie the chicken legs together and tuck wing tips underneath body. Add 1 cup of broth to the bottom of the roasting pan.
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Place the chicken, breast-side-up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper.
- Roast until golden-brown, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, as measured by a meat thermometer, about 40 minutes to 1 hour. Let rest before slicing and serving.
For Gravy
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the flour, and cook until no lumps remain and a thick paste forms, about 1 minute.
- Increase heat to medium-high. Slowly whisk in the broth and apple cider, and cook, whisking constantly, until gravy thickens, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the sage, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until fl avors develop, about 10-15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish chicken with additional apples, oranges, thyme and sage. Serve with gravy, and enjoy.
Coupon Savings
Save $5 on Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Bone Broth—perfect for sipping, soups, gravies, and any of your favorite dishes that call for Chicken Broth.
Note: This downloadable coupon is not redeemable at the Bell & Evans Retail Store.
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