The Best Seasoning for Chicken

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The best seasoning for chicken is this simple blend that adds so much flavor and comes together with five spices you likely have on hand. 

You'll love the flavor combination of this chicken seasoning and how easy it is to throw together.

When it comes to making great chicken, it all starts with great seasoning. This homemade seasoning makes chicken taste amazing. And you can use it on any cut of chicken. 

This spice mixture makes ⅓ cup of seasoning mix, but feel free to double or triple it since it will store for up to two months. If this is your first time making homemade seasonings, you'll be so impressed that you may never go back to packets again. I love this seasoning on chicken with skin, such as my baked chicken thighs and baked chicken legs.

The best seasoning for chicken

1. The combination of these simple ingredients creates the most flavorful chicken. 
2. This simple seasoning only contains five classic ingredients, and I bet you already have them in your spice rack. 
3. This all-purpose chicken seasoning can be used on any chicken cut, including legs, thighs, whole chicken, and boneless chicken breasts. It also tastes great on veggies or as a pork rub, making it perfect for sheet-pan meals. 
4. Homemade spice blends, especially this one, are budget-friendly because you can use common grocery-store spices to make them again and again. There is no need for packets or expensive spice stores. 

Recipe ingredients

• Paprika - Made from dried sweet peppers, but much milder than chili powder, paprika adds a slightly sweet and red color to the mix. 
• Granulated garlic - This has a slightly sweet, spicy, and savory flavor and adds the perfect balance to this mix. 
• Onion powder - You likely use onion powder in all your chicken breast recipes. It's slightly zesty, and a hint of sweetness pairs perfectly with chicken. 
• Sea salt and black pepper - Salt and pepper are used as flavor enhancers to make all those spices shine.

How to make this recipe

First, gather and measure your seasoning ingredients into a small bowl. Then, stir together the ingredients until fully combined.  It's that simple!

Store in an airtight container for up to 60 days to keep on hand for all your chicken meals. 

How to use this seasoning

You won't need to use exact measurements, but for optimal flavor, use about 1 tablespoon of seasoning mix per pound of chicken. Coat the chicken with oil first, followed by the seasoning. Or dry rub the seasoning onto the chicken, then drizzle with a little olive or avocado oil before baking.

Here are a few recipe tips

• This seasoning is versatile and can be used for any cooked chicken recipe. Cooking methods include the Instant Pot, air fryer, grill, oven-baked, oven-broiled, and pan-seared on the stove.
• Feel free to rub the seasoning under the skin when using skin-on chicken.
• The longer you leave this dry rub seasoning on the chicken, the more it will absorb all the flavors. Also, feel free to rest your seasoned chicken overnight before cooking.
• Some cooks prefer to shake chicken pieces with the seasoning in a Ziploc bag for thorough coating and minimal mess.
• Chicken should always reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F before serving, regardless of the cooking method used.

Where to use this seasoning

• Use about 3.5 teaspoons of seasoning instead of the salt and spices listed in my air fryer chicken breast and air fryer chicken thighs.
• This seasoning works great for whole chickens as well. It's my favorite way to season Air Fryer Whole Rotisserie Chicken and Slow Cooker Whole Chicken.
• It pairs perfectly with my homemade BBQ Sauce.

Recipe variations

• Substitute garlic powder for granulated garlic by using half the amount (1 tablespoon garlic powder in place of 2 tablespoons granulated garlic).
• Use 2 teaspoons of kosher salt in place of sea salt.
• Using garlic salt? Omit both the granulated garlic and the sea salt, then adjust to taste.
• I don’t add sugar to this mix, but a small amount of white or brown sugar can add a touch of sweetness.
• For extra heat, add a little cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.

More homemade seasonings to try 

Homemade seasonings are so easy to make! Making them ahead of time for your spice cabinet makes it easy to throw a deliciously seasoned meal together at the last minute.

• Taco Seasoning - This quick and easy seasoning recipe uses just a few ingredients and is perfect for all your Tex-Mex and Mexican dishes. 
• Italian Seasoning - This Italian seasoning can be used in marinades, pastas, soups, and sauces. It's so flavorful and a great versatile spice to have on hand - especially for busy weeknights.
• Everything Bagel Seasoning Recipe - This bold, savory blend is delicious, versatile, and uses only six pantry ingredients!

📖 Recipe