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This tried and true chicken seasoning blend is made with everyday pantry spices and makes the most delicious chicken dishes. Use it with chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or even a whole rotisserie chicken.
Making chicken seasoning from scratch takes only a few minutes and adds so much flavor to your dishes, all without the additives or excess salt often found in store-bought blends.
Featuring a mix of smoky and sweet spices with a dash of dried herbs, this chicken seasoning is my absolute go-to for skinless chicken breasts, but it’s good on everything, not just chicken. From pork to fish and even potatoes, it will kick up the flavors by several notches no matter what you use it on.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Seasoning
- Quick and easy. Just gather your ingredients and mix them together. That’s it!
- Can be made in larger batches. If you are someone who cooks meats regularly, I suggest making a big batch and storing this seasoning mix in your pantry for all future use.
- Flexible. In addition to chicken, you can also use this seasoning blend on pork, beef or even salmon.
Ingredients
Ready to make your poultry taste even better? Below is the list of very simple ingredients you’ll need to create the ultimate seasoning for chicken!
- Salt: I suggest using 1/2 teaspoon of salt or 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, but you should adjust the salt quantity according to your taste or dietary requirements.
- Fresh ground pepper: Use freshly ground black pepper for the best result. An affordable pepper grinder and whole peppercorns can be found at most supermarkets.
- Paprika: Depending on your taste, you can use either sweet or smoked paprika.
- Cayenne pepper: This adds a subtle heat to the chicken. We’re using it sparingly to ensure the chicken isn’t overly spicy. Red pepper flakes, chili powder, or even a Cajun seasoning mix are excellent alternatives.
- Garlic powder: Added for flavor and aromatics.
- Onion powder: A key player in achieving the perfect taste.
- Dried thyme: Herbs add depth to the mix. Italian Seasoning can be substituted.
- Dried basil: Adds a sweet, aromatic, and peppery flavor.
- Dried rosemary: Provides a strong, concentrated flavor.
- Dried parsley: Helps to balance and round out the flavors in the dish.
How To Use Chicken Seasoning
Regardless of the cooking method, be it baking, grilling, or pressure-cooking, this dry rub consistently imparts delicious flavor to the chicken. If you’re wondering how to bake chicken breast that’s seriously tasty, this seasoning is perfect for enhancing the flavor and keeping the meat juicy.
- Dry the meat. Pat dry the chicken (or any other meat) with paper towels.
- Add the seasoning. Next, lightly coat the chicken pieces with a bit of olive oil, which will help the seasoning adhere to the meat. Rub the spice blend all over the chicken breasts – or any other cut of chicken or meat.
- Aim to use about 1 tablespoon of the seasoning blend for every 1 pound of chicken.
- Let it sit. While you can cook the chicken immediately, allowing it to marinate in the rub for 30 minutes or up to 12 hours results in a more flavor-packed outcome. If marinating for over an hour, continue the process in the refrigerator.
- Discard extra seasoning. As a food safety precaution, get rid of any remaining rub that has been in touch with the raw chicken or your hands during the process.
Seasoning Guidelines
The quantities given in this recipe are designed to season approximately 6 to 8 chicken breasts or about 2 pounds of chicken. As a general rule, the amount of seasoning needed may vary depending on your taste preference. Use approximately 1 tablespoon of seasoning for each pound of meat as a basic guideline. Whether you’re grilling, baking, or frying, this is the best seasoning for chicken and will transform your dinner or lunch into a mouthwatering meal.
What Tools Do I Need?
To make and store this seasoning, you’ll need a few essential tools.
- Measuring spoons are vital for adding just the right amount of each spice.
- Mixing bowls provide the space needed to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
- Spice jars serve as the perfect storage solution, keeping your seasoning blend fresh and ready to use for your next recipe. Airtight containers are a good alternative.
How Long Will It Last?
If stored in a spice jar or airtight container and kept in a dark, dry place, this seasoning blend can last up to 3 months. I like to make a larger batch and have it on hand whenever I need a delicious spice rub.
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Chicken Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Stir to combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container or jar for up to 3 months.
Notes
- This recipe makes 2 Tablespoons of chicken seasoning blend, enough for around 2 pounds of chicken or other meat.
- Instead of using individual dried herbs like basil, parsley, rosemary, and thyme, you can substitute them with 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning. Keep in mind, though, that some Italian seasoning blends may contain additional herbs such as sage, rosemary, and fennel seeds.
- To Use the spice blend, lightly coat the chicken with olive oil and rub the spice blend all over the chicken. Use about one tablespoon of the seasoning mixture for every pound of chicken.
- You can marinate the chicken in the dry rub for 30 minutes or up to 12 hours. Refrigerate the chicken if you plan to marinate it for over an hour.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Question: how much sodium? which salt do you use? It came to my attention that they all have different sodium levels per 1/4 teaspoon. One can come out too salty tasting while the other not enough.
Sodium level per 1/4 teaspoon:
420 mg Himalayan pink salt
458 mg Celtic Sea salt
550 mg La Baleine sea salt
590 mg iodized salt Diamond Crystal
My brother in law pointed me to your seasoning blend. He used it on chicken cutlets and it was fabulous. He first lightly coated with olive oil and then coated each piece with this blend minus the cayenne (kids and sensitives). Once the chicken was cooked he added fresh lemon juice. It was fabulous and we will be using this this often! Thanks for sharing.
That’s great to hear! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
BEST CHฤฐCKEN SEASONฤฐNG RECฤฐPE….THANK YOU KATERฤฐNA..
Yet to try this, however I want to fry chicken with this seasoning on, will that still be ok?
Yeah, that will be delicious.
It really is an amazing blend I have it all the time now thank you!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
I have serial rubs but not this one. I love making my own rubs as you control the amounts. Can’t wait to make it and try it.
I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! ๐
I am absolutely amazed at how you answer questions that may sound crazy but to the ones that ask it’s truly a question I have been cooking for over 30 years and still love to find new spice blends and recipes l truly am a fan of this blends, thank you
We do try to answer all the questions! Thank you for chiming in! ๐
How do you cook the chicken please
This right here is my go-to recipe for baked chicken breasts: https://diethood.com/oven-baked-chicken-breasts/
Tried it this weekend. Very Tasty. Great rub.
I only modified two things:
Halved the amount of salt because I try not to eat so much salt and used a bit more Paprika to get a more reddish color.
Thank YOU! I am very glad you enjoyed it! ๐
When you bring chicken in lukewarm water for 20-30 min, is it ok to leave out on counter or should it brine in fridge
Yes, as long as it’s for 30 minutes, it’s okay to leave it on the counter. I have left the chicken on the counter for an hour, but never longer than that.
Hi, I don’t like salt or pepper or garlic or onion and my herbs have all gone stale. And I don’t particularly like paprika either but I do like nutmeg. Can I make this with just the cayenne pepper and some nutmeg?
Is this a real question? You can season your chicken however you want to, but if you don’t use any of the same ingredients for your blend then no it will not be the same as this recipe.
you can put dog shit in it for all anyone cares, the chicken police won’t come and arrest you
LOL I had to laugh when I read this. It sounds like me with all my food restrictions, lack of ingredients, and limited knowledge about the use of herbs and spices in general. But I gave it my best shot with the ingredients I had and although my chicken wasnโt as moist as I had hoped and not as flavourful (probably due to the fact that most of my ingredients are old), I was still INSPIRED! I will tackle this with my next chicken (because they were on sale and I bought 3 of them). My 3 star rating is NOT a reflection of the recipe but of my cooking talent or lack of talent and the quality of my ingredients. Thanks to the chef for the recipe. It gave me the courage to at least try something outside my comfort zone.
I’m glad to hear that! I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! ๐
Never tried nutmeg on chicken. Give it a shot let me know. Or marinate with lemon olive oil rosemary and thyme (fresh.
Have you got any chicken?
Sure you can. But you will not end results.
Bravo on that spice mix, it’s a real bomb๐ฅ..
Thank YOU! I am very glad you enjoyed it! ๐