The Best Chicken Seasoning Recipe

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

More Recipes

• Steak Seasoning
• Burger Seasoning
• French Fry Seasoning
• Taco Seasoning

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!