As a Registered Dietitian, this is my go-to chicken seasoning when I want big flavor without a long ingredient list. It's perfectly balanced - savory, slightly smoky, and just bold enough to make chicken taste amazing whether you're grilling, baking, or air-frying!
If there ever was an 'all-purpose' chicken seasoning, this is it. It's like a dry rub, except there's no need dry the chicken pieces with a paper towel first or rub the seasoning onto the chicken with your hands. 🙌
Add this seasoning to chicken as it cooks in a skillet, mix it with a little bit of olive oil and use it in place of BBQ sauce when air-frying chicken, or rub it under the skin of a whole chicken before roasting chicken in your Dutch oven.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients I love that this chicken seasoning blend uses simple pantry spices to deliver maximal flavor with minimal effort.
- Easy Recipe Just mix together a handful of dried herbs. No fresh herbs needed.
- Kid-Approved I can't even describe the flavor profile in this recipe. It's super flavorful in a way that seasons chicken so that it can be enjoyed as is with simple sides, added to salads or used to level up cheese quesadillas or mac and cheese.
Best Spices For Chicken
Here's the list of ingredients needed to make this simple seasoning for chicken. For the complete recipe, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Smoked Paprika Smoked paprika is one of the most underrated spices you can find in the grocery store. While you can use regular paprika, smoked paprika adds an incredible smoky flavor that you'll just love.
- Garlic Powder Use garlic powder, not garlic salt.
- Onion Powder Use onion powder, not onion salt.
- Oregano Use dried oregano. If you don't have oregano, use dried basil or Italian seasoning instead. Oregano helps balance out the rest of the flavors.
- Salt & Pepper I like to use sea salt, but regular table salt will work just as well. Feel free to use less salt, if you prefer. Black pepper is a must - it adds the right amount of heat. There's no need to add cayenne pepper- trust me.
Dietitian Tip
One of the easiest ways to control the amount of sodium (salt) in your diet, is to make your own spice blends, whether its taco seasoning or a chicken seasoning like this.
If you're trying to cut back on salt, either remove salt completely from a recipe or cut the amount of salt in half the first time you make it. Remember, you can always add more salt to a recipe but it's impossible to remove salt once it's been added.
How to Make and Store Chicken Seasoning
- Add all ingredients to an airtight container, or small bowl (if using right away). I often use a small glass jar to double the recipe so that I have it ready to use for seasoning chicken with no notice.
- Store remaining chicken seasoning in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature. Use within 3-6 months.
How to Season Chicken
- Skillet on the Stovetop This is the easiest way because there's no need to plan ahead, heat your oven or grill. here's what you do: after drizzling a small amount of olive oil on each piece of thinly sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, lightly coat the top of each piece of chicken with this homemade chicken seasoning. Cook over medium to medium-high heat for about 4 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Roasting a Whole Chicken Just follow my instructions for making a Dutch Oven Roasted Chicken but use this chicken seasoning in place of the dried herbs and salt the recipe calls for.
- Air-Frying Chicken My air-fryer BBQ chicken recipe has been such a hit! The key here is to add the sauce (in this case, a slurry of 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil mixed with two to three teaspoons of chicken seasoning instead of BBQ sauce) a few minutes before the chicken is done cooking.
More Chicken Recipes
More Dinner Recipes
- Meals for After Wisdom Teeth Removal (Ideas from a Dietitian)
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos (3 Ingredients!)
- Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Green Beans
- Top 7 Easy Ground Turkey Ideas
Did you make this homemade chicken seasoning and love it? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and comment below to let me know. A 5-star review is the best compliment!
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for more easy recipes and nutrition tips!
I have You Wash I'll Dry to thank for sharing the spice blend used to make a delicious chicken dish from the cookbook, The Weekday Lunches and Breakfasts Cookbook. It turns out it calls for a pretty common blend of spices, but I still wanted to share the credit. 😊
📖 Recipe
Chicken Seasoning
Equipment
- 1 teaspoon measuring spoons set
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika Can use regular paprika instead.
- 2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- 2 teaspoon Dried Oregano dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Salt I like to use sea salt, but regular table salt works just as well.
- 1½ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small jar or small bowl.
- Stir well. Store at room temperature in an airtight container if not using right away.
Notes
- Use about 2 and a half teaspoons per pound of chicken. I use one recipe (as this is written) to season three-and-a-half to four pounds of chicken.
- If you are trying to cut back on the amount of sodium in your diet, reduce the amount of salt in this recipe.
- For meal prepping purposes, double or triple this recipe and store it in an airtight container in your spice drawer. Use within two to three months.
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