Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x5 loaf pan with foil or parchment paper leaving a couple inches overhang. Spray the foil or parchment with non stick spray.
Place the butter and ¼ cup of chocolate chips in a medium-sized bowl. Microwave in 20 seconds increments, stirring well in between, until melted and smooth (this should happen fairly quickly). Allow the mixture to cool down for a couple minutes.
Add the sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, water, and egg to the melted chocolate and whisk for 30-45 seconds. Tap all of the excess batter off the whisk and remove it from the bowl.
Add the flour**, salt, and remaining ¼ cup chocolate chips to the batter. Stir with a rubber spatula until combined.
Scoop the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread into an even layer.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the tops of the brownies appear dry and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out fairly clean (there might be some melted chocolate clinging to it, that's fine, just no raw batter). Place the pan on a wire rack to cool. We like these best served warm. They will firm up as they cool.