All-Purpose Chicken Seasoning
Published 5/19/2023 • Updated 8/12/2024
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This 5-star chicken seasoning is a combination of sweet, savory, and smoky all crafted from pantry staples.
Perfect for any cut of chicken and cooking method, it’s designed to be generously applied and left to sit for 15 minutes, ensuring a flavor-packed chicken every time.
Lots of you have made this chicken seasoning and rated it 5-stars because it’s truly that tasty. It’s sweet from brown sugar, savory from garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin, and smokey from the paprika. You can season any cut of meat with it and make a big batch to store in the cabinet for later.
I truly believe this is the most delicious seasoning for chicken as we’ve featured it in so many of our chicken recipes on Fit Foodie Finds — baked chicken legs, spatchcock chicken, and stuffed chicken breast.
Featured Comment
“This is our go-to chicken seasoning! It’s so easy and yummy.” – Michelle
What spices are in this chicken seasoning?
Trying to figure out what to season your chicken with? You could buy one of those pre-mixed chicken seasonings at the grocery store or you can make this homemade chicken seasoning that uses a variety of kitchen staples.
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Dried thyme
- Ground mustard
- Dried basil
- Ground pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Sea salt
- Paprika
- Brown sugar
Why use this homemade chicken seasoning recipe?
We like to make our own homemade seasonings for most things! Our pork rub, fajita seasoning, and homemade chili seasoning are some of our favorites. Homemade seasoning recipes are the best because:
Salt control: you get to control how much salt you put in your spice blends! When you buy store-bought blends they end to having a lot of salt and sometimes even fillers!
Heat: Having control over the spice level and sweetness of spice blends is so helpful! You can make it your own!
Make-Ahead: Once you find a mix you like, you can make a double or a triple batch and have it on hand!
Types of Chicken You Can Season
You can use this chicken seasoning any cut of chicken. From legs to thighs to wings. You can’t go wrong.
How to Season Chicken
Wondering how to season chicken? It’s so easy. Our #1 tip is to make sure not to under season your chicken. Nothing is worse than flavorless chicken. Plus, this seasoning isn’t overly salty, so you really can’t overseason.
- Pat your chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Then, sprinkle seasoning on all sides of your chicken and lightly rub it into the meat.
- Let sit for around 15 minutes for optimal flavor.
You’ve Seasoned Your Chicken, Now What?
After you’ve decided what cut of chicken to use, you also have so many options for how you cook your seasoned chicken. Check out all the ways you can cook your chicken after you season it!
How much seasoning per lb. of chicken?
A good rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon of seasoning per 1 lb. of chicken. Typically 1 lb. of chicken breast yields around 3 chicken breasts, so you can use 1 teaspoon per breast.
How long does a homemade spice rub last?
This homemade chicken seasoning will last around 3 months if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Glass
Spice Jars
Organize your homemade spices with this empty glass spice jar set!
Check it out!
6 Baked Chicken Breast Recipes
You are going to love these 6 oven baked chicken breast recipes. Check out how to bake chicken breast perfectly every time and get 6 delicious flavor variations!
How to Store Homemade Chicken Seasoning
Store this seasoning in an airtight container such as a jar for up to 3 months in a cool, dark place.
All-Purpose Chicken Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for the chicken seasoning into a large glass container or Mason jar.
- Then, stir the spices together to create your rub.
- Seal jar and store in a dry, cool place.
- To season chicken: use around 1 tablespoon of seasoning per 1 lb. of chicken. Pat your chicken dry and then sprinkle the seasoning on top of the chicken. Lightly rub the seasonings into the chicken. Let sit for 15 minutes and then cook using your favorite method.
Tips & Notes
- Per 1 lb. of chicken, use 1 tablespoon of chicken seasoning.
- Feel free to double or triple this recipe to make extra seasoning.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is a new dish that I have never eaten before.
easy and yummy
Excellent seasoning! I find it very similar to the one used for the preparation of “pollo a la brasa”, a kind of baked chicken very traditional in Peruvian cuisine. So good!
This was delicious! Will be my go-to from now on!
Making this for my people for Christmas! So good!
This is our go-to chicken seasoning! It’s so easy and yummy.
Will try this