Sweet and Spicy Roast Chicken with Chiles and Thyme

• total time: 10 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients

6 cups plus 3 tablespoons pineapple juice

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

3 fresh hot red chiles, 2 halved lengthwise, 1 thinly sliced

2 thyme sprigs, plus 1 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped thyme

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 bay leaf

Kosher salt

5 pounds mixed bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces, such as whole legs and breast halves

Pepper

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine 6 cups of the pineapple juice with 1/2 cup of the brown sugar and bring just to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Add the halved red chiles, thyme sprigs, crushed garlic, bay leaf, and 2 tablespoons of salt; let cool completely.

Submerge the chicken in the brine, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Let the chicken stand at room temperature in the brine for 1 hour before roasting.

Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining 3 tablespoons of pineapple juice and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Stir in the sliced red chile and chopped thyme to make the glaze.

Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry with paper towels; discard the brine. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper and arrange skin side up on the prepared baking sheet. Roast in the upper third of the oven for about 45 minutes, basting with the glaze every 15 minutes, until browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone registers 160°F. Transfer the chicken pieces to a serving platter and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

• Calories: 968 kcal
• Total Fat: 35 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 441 mg
• Sodium: 1612 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 58 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g
• Total Sugars: 48 g
• Protein: 101 g