Grilled Sweet Tea Brined Chicken with Charred Lemon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-06 · Updated 2026-06-06

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Juicy grilled chicken marinated in a sweet tea brine, enhanced with smoky charred lemon for a refreshing Southern-inspired flavor. This Southern United States-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, black tea bags, water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Southern United States cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

6 pieces, skin on bone-in chicken thighs
4 black tea bags
4 cups water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1, halved lemon
2 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, bring 4 cups water to a boil and steep 4 black tea bags for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 2 tbsp kosher salt until dissolved. Cool the brine to room temperature.
Step 2: Submerge 6 bone-in chicken thighs with skin on into the cooled sweet tea brine, cover, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight for juicy, flavorful chicken.
Step 3: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Season chicken with 1 tsp black pepper.
Step 4: Brush 2 tbsp olive oil over chicken pieces and grill for 6-7 minutes per side, until skin is crisp and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 5: While chicken cooks, place 1 halved lemon cut side down on the grill and char for 2-3 minutes until caramelized and fragrant.
Step 6: Serve grilled chicken with squeezed charred lemon over the top for a bright, smoky finish.