Name: Chicken Seasoning
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 6 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon brown sugar; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon dried rosemary; 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

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This chicken seasoning is the perfect blend of herbs and spices that produces flavorful and juicy chicken each and every time. A pantry staple that takes just minutes to put together and can also be used to season other types of meat, vegetables and potatoes.

I prefer to make my own seasoning blends whenever possible, some of my favorites include steak seasoning, Cajun seasoning, and this quick and easy poultry rub.

In my opinion, homemade seasonings taste so much more fresh and vibrant than the store bought variety. I use this chicken seasoning constantly, on all cuts of chicken, mixed into burgers, sprinkled over potatoes or even on my Thanksgiving turkey!

How do you make chicken seasoning?

Start by placing kosher salt, brown sugar, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and dried herbs in a bowl. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container in a cool dark place for up to 6 months.

Tips for the perfect spice blend

Smoked paprika can be found in the spice aisle of most grocery stores and really adds a lot of dimension and flavor to this rub. If you don’t have it on hand, you can use all sweet paprika instead, but I definitely think it’s worth purchasing.
I’ve had success using this rub on chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks and whole chickens. It’s also great on pork tenderloin, pot roast, roasted potatoes, turkey, salmon and carrots.
I recommend using freshly ground black pepper for maximum flavor.
My seasoning recipe contains salt, so you shouldn’t need to add any more salt to your chicken aside from what’s in the rub.
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled, in fact, I almost always make a double batch so that I always have some on hand.

How to use chicken seasoning

This is more than just a rub; it can be used in so many different ways.

Marinade: Stir together 2 tablespoons of chicken seasoning, 6 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Add one pound of meat to the marinade and let it sit for at least one hour.
Brine: Make a simple chicken brine by stirring together 4 cups of water, 1/4 cup of kosher salt and 2 tablespoons of this seasoning blend.
Wet Rub: Mix together 2 tablespoons of seasoning with 2 tablespoons of olive oil to make a paste. Rub the paste all over the meat of your choice.
Roasted Chicken: Brush 2 tablespoons of olive oil over bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons of chicken seasoning. Roast at 400 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Fried Chicken: Soak chicken in buttermilk for at least one hour. Mix together 2 cups of flour with 3 tablespoons of chicken seasoning. Coat the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour, then beaten egg, then add another coating of flour. Deep fry until golden brown.

Flavor Variations

This chicken seasoning is fabulous as-is, but you can add other flavors to make it your own.

Spicy: Kick up the heat by adding ground chipotle pepper powder, cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
Mexican: Omit the thyme, rosemary and parsley. Add 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1 teaspoon coriander.
Italian: Add 1/2 teaspoon dried basil and 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano.

All it takes is 5 minutes and a trip through your spice drawer to produce a seasoning blend that’s amazing for so many different uses!

More seasoning blends to try

Chicken Seasoning Video

A jar of chicken seasoning made with dried herbs and spices.

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5 from 10 votes