Description
This Buttermilk Hot Sauce Brined Chicken recipe features tender and flavorful boneless skinless chicken breasts marinated in a spicy buttermilk hot sauce brine. The chicken is grilled to perfection and finished with a tangy BBQ hot sauce glaze, delivering a perfect balance of heat, zest, and smoky flavor. Ideal for a quick and delicious summer meal that serves six people.
Ingredients
Scale
Brine
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups cold water
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp black pepper
- ½ cup hot sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 lime (sliced)
- 4 garlic cloves
Chicken
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
BBQ Sauce Glaze
- â…“ cup BBQ sauce
- 2 Tbsp hot sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the brine: In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, cold water, kosher salt, black pepper, ½ cup hot sauce, and brown sugar until the sugar has fully dissolved. Stir in sliced lime and garlic cloves to infuse flavor.
- Brine the chicken: Place the 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts into a gallon ziplock bag. Pour the prepared brine over the chicken, seal the bag ensuring the chicken is fully submerged, and refrigerate for 24 hours to tenderize and flavor the meat.
- Remove chicken from brine: After 24 hours, take the chicken breasts out of the marinade and pat dry slightly to prepare for grilling.
- Make the BBQ hot sauce glaze: In a small bowl, combine â…“ cup BBQ sauce with 2 tablespoons of hot sauce and mix well for a flavorful glaze.
- Grill the chicken: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken breasts for 12 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF to ensure they are fully cooked. During the last few minutes on the grill, brush both sides of the chicken with the BBQ hot sauce glaze to caramelize and add extra flavor. Remove from the grill and let rest briefly before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken is fully submerged in the brine to maximize flavor penetration.
- Adjust hot sauce amounts to your preferred spice level.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness to avoid overcooking.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the chicken on a stovetop skillet for similar results.
- Allow chicken to rest after grilling for juicier meat.
