The Best Chicken Seasoning Recipe

5 from 15 votes
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My best chicken seasoning is simple, easy to put together, and perfect for adding deep flavor to a midweek meal. Who feels like chicken tonight?

Mixing chicken seasoning in a small bowl with a spoon

There are probably millions of ways to season chicken with dry rubs, brines, marinades, and sauces. But it’s always a good idea to have a simple yet delicious all-purpose chicken seasoning ready to use at any moment.

This spice blend is a delicate mix of aromatics and heat and is perfect to use on wings, breasts, legs, and thighs. It’s become my go-to, low-effort way to add flavor and color to my chicken when I need a delicious dinner in a hurry – it’s a staple on my spice rack.

Dare I say it – this is the best seasoning for chicken out there. Plus, it’s completely adaptable – you can mix and match the spices you have to hand and make a homemade chicken seasoning you’ll keep coming back to.

A small bowl with chicken seasoning spices

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What Do You Season Chicken with

The best spices for chicken tend to use a balance of both herbs and spices, brought together to enhance the flavor of the meat specifically. Depending on your palate, you can lean more toward an aromatic blend or a smoky, subtly sweet flavor. Sure, you can buy it at the grocery store, but I find making a simple seasoning at home is not only more budget-friendly, but means you can control what goes in – especially the sodium levels.

The best spices for chicken seasoning, I find, are:

  • Salt and Pepper,
  • Paprika – Smoked, hot, or mild – they all work for this recipe.
  • Dried Oregano: You can also use dried thyme, basil, parsley, or rosemary – I like to make my own from fresh for the ultimate flavor. But they can also be bought pre-dried from the grocery store.
  • Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: These are strong aromatics and great for adding depth of flavor to chicken.
Ingredients for chicken seasoning

And here are some optional add-ins I sometimes love adding:

  • For sweetness and caramelization: white or brown sugar works well with chicken seasoning.
  • For different levels of heat: chili powder, cayenne pepper, celery salt, or white pepper
  • For more spiciness: ground mustard seeds, or ground cumin.

You want to make sure your herbs and spices are as fresh/new as possible because they get milder in flavor over time – and you want maximum flavor for this seasoning.

How to Season Chicken

Add all your ingredients to a small bowl or a jar, adjusting amounts based on your taste. Mix or whisk well.

Mixing spices for chicken seasoning

If you’re using straight away, there’s a simple way to infuse your chicken seasoning blend with your meat:

  • Use a paper towel to pat your chicken dry and transfer it into a clean bowl or dish. You don’t need to wash your chicken – contrary to popular myth. It can cause harmful bacteria to splash onto your sink and surfaces.
  • Sprinkle the chicken seasoning over the meat and using your hands (with or without gloves), gently rub it into the meat. I tend to use 1 tablespoon of seasoning mix per pound of chicken, but you can use more or less depending on your tastes.
  • If your chicken still has skin, rub some underneath the skin for more flavor. It’s great mixed with a little melted butter and poured over a whole chicken before roasting.
  • Allow the flavors to meld together for at least 15 minutes – but I like to leave it for up to 2 hours. It will make for flavorful chicken and give it a beautiful deep red color.

Cook and enjoy! This chicken seasoning will work with most cooking methods – whether you’re roasting, grilling, pan-frying, or air frying.

How to Store Chicken Seasoning

Keep your chicken spice mix in a clean, airtight container in a cool, dark, dry location. It’s perfect for keeping in the pantry or with your other herbs and spices.

As a general rule of thumb, a spice mix like this will only keep for as long as your oldest herb or spice allows. This is why I always like to use fresh ingredients. Chicken seasoning will keep for 4-6 months – this is when it’ll be at its freshest and deliver the most flavor.

Before using, give your jar of seasoning a good shake to dislodge any mix that might have gotten stuck together.

Homemade chicken seasoning in a small bowl

More Recipes

If you try this chicken spice mix recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!

The Best Chicken Seasoning Recipe

5 from 15 votes
By: Samira
My best chicken seasoning is simple, easy to put together, and perfect for adding deep flavor to a midweek meal. Who feels like chicken tonight?
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 5 Tbsp

Ingredients 
 

  • 4 tsp sweet paprika
  • 4 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Optional add-ins

  • 1/4-1/2 tsp sugar
  • Cayenne pepper or chili powder, to taste

Instructions 

  • Add all your ingredients to a bowl or a jar, adjusting amounts based on your taste. Mix or whisk well.

How to Season Chicken

  • Use a paper towel to pat your chicken dry and transfer it into a clean bowl or dish.
  • Sprinkle the chicken seasoning over the meat and using your hands (with or without gloves), gently rub it into the meat. I tend to use 1 Tbsp of seasoning mix per pound of chicken, but you can use more or less depending on your tastes.
  • Allow the flavors to meld together for at least 15 minutes – but I like to leave it for up to 2 hours. Cook as usual.

How to Store

  • Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place – like a pantry. 
    It will keep for up to 4-6 months, depending on the freshness of your original herbs and spices. As a rule of thumb, your chicken seasoning blend is only as fresh as the oldest ingredient used to make it. 
    Shake the jar before using. 

Notes

A general rule is to use 1 tablespoon of this seasoning mix per pound of chicken. However, you can increase or decrease this to personal preference. I like to ensure that it’s at least fully covering the meat, with no empty spots.
You can then cook the meat with your cooking method of choice: baking, grilling, pan-frying, air-fried, Instant Pot, etc., and the results will be delicious every time!
Check the blog post for optional add-in ideas.
Course: Spices
Cuisine: American, Global
Shelf life: 4-6 months

Nutrition

Calories: 17kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 0.3g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.05g, Sodium: 947mg, Potassium: 86mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 0.3g, Vitamin A: 829IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 36mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

5 from 15 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. Maria says:

    I like this recipe and I will try it! I always use saffron to marinate my chickens but this combination looks much more delicious.
    BTW I have an online spice shop that you can buy your stuff from me <3

    1. Support @ Alphafoodie says:

      Thank you so much for your comment, Maria. Adding saffron to the marinade sounds delicious.

  2. Nancee says:

    5 stars
    This is possibly the best rub I’ve come across! Seriously the rosemary thyme and basil just add the best crusty flavor to the CT
    Decided to leave a comment because it absolutely deserve a positive review!

    1. Support @ Alphafoodie says:

      Thank you so much for your comment, Nancee. Glad you liked it 🙂

    2. Jim says:

      No rosemary, thyme, or basil in this rub … I think you commented on the wrong page. 🙂

      1. Support @ Alphafoodie says:

        Hi Jim,
        Rosemary, thyme or other herbs can be added to adjust the flavor to personal taste 🙂