I love a good all-purpose spice blend, and this homemade chicken seasoning tastes delicious on any cut. I use it most often to jazz up chicken breasts, but this poultry seasoning tastes delicious on thighs, wings, drumsticks, or even a whole roasted chicken! This simple mix of spices is sweet, savory, and just a little smoky. It blends well with just about any cuisine from Southern BBQ to Mediterranean and everything in between. If I’m ever unsure of how to season my chicken, I use this pantry-staple spice blend!
Seasoning for Chicken Breasts
Whether I’m making juicy baked chicken breasts in the winter or beautifully charred grilled chicken breasts in the summer, this simple chicken seasoning recipe always comes in handy. It’s a versatile blend of savory spices (plus a little brown sugar) that enhances the natural flavor of chicken and poultry, and helps it caramelize perfectly no matter how I cook it.
I mix a delicious blend of salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, 2 kinds of paprika, and oregano to create this DIY spice blend. It has a balanced flavor and is a wonderful all-purpose seasoning for chicken breasts, thighs, wings, and more. I use this spice mix for meal prep all the time when I’m not sure what recipe I’ll be adding the chicken to, because it truly goes with everything!
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Make a Bigger Batch
This recipe yields 4 tablespoons, which is perfect for a single family meal or a week of meal prep. If you’d like to make a larger batch of this seasoning blend, simply increase the amount with the same spice ratios and store it in a jar so it’s ready to use any time.
Chicken Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (or substitute regular paprika)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a dish.1 tablespoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, 1½ teaspoons ground paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Sprinkle the seasoning over your chicken before cooking. Use about 1 tablespoon of seasoning per pound of chicken.
- Cook as desired. See below for chicken breast cooking times.
Notes
- Oven: Bake chicken breasts at 350℉ for 25-30 minutes.
- Grill: Grill over medium-high heat (375-450°F) for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Air Fryer: Cook at 380°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Stovetop: Cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes per side.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
How to Season Chicken Step by Step
Mix the Spices: Combine 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, 2 teaspoons of onion powder, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 2 teaspoons of brown sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons of ground paprika, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika in a bowl or shallow dish.
Season the Chicken: Coat chicken in olive oil to help the spices stick. Then sprinkle the spice blend over chicken breasts, or any cut of chicken, before cooking. I recommend using 1 tablespoon of seasoning per pound of chicken.
Rest: Once fully coated in the seasoning mix, allow chicken to rest for 15-30 minutes while you prep to cook. This extra “marinating” time will really help it adhere to the chicken, ultimately leading to more flavor!
Bake: Bake seasoned chicken at 350℉ for 25-30 minutes, or until cooked through to 165℉. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing and eating. You can cook your chicken however you prefer!
How to Store
Store this chicken seasoning mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months. I like to keep it in a labeled jar in my pantry! Cooked seasoned chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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