The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

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This Chicken Seasoning is a simple way to add the best flavor to chicken! You can mix up this easy rub recipe in just minutes, using ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen.

The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (1)

Chicken recipes are a dinner time staple, and a good chicken seasoning or chicken marinade makes all the difference when it comes to preparing juicy, flavorful chicken. I love using a dry rub when seasoning meat because it’s an easy way to add lots of flavor.

Homemade spice blends are so simple to make and allow you to control the ingredients, salt and flavors. My Pork Rub, Taco Seasoning, and Cajun Seasoning are other favorite seasoning mixes that I like to make from scratch.

The Best Chicken Seasoning

This chicken seasoning is extremely versatile! You can use it to season just about any cut of chicken, including chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken tenders, chicken drumsticks, or when cooking a whole rotisserie chicken, such as this Instant Pot Whole Chicken or Crockpot Whole Chicken.

This chicken rub also works with a variety of cooking methods. It’s the perfect seasoning for Baked Chicken Breast, Baked Chicken Thighs, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Chicken Thighs and Air Fryer Chicken. You can even use it to season slow cooker chicken or Instant Pot Chicken!

Chicken Seasoning Recipe Ingredients

The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2)

  • Brown Sugar: The brown sugar helps to caramelize the outside of the chicken, which makes it especially juicy and flavorful. It also adds a touch of sweetness, which my family thinks is delicious. If you prefer a seasoning without sugar, you can omit the brown sugar.
  • Paprika: You can use sweet paprika or smoked paprika, depending on your flavor preferences. Smoked paprika will lend a smoky flavor.
  • Dried Oregano: Or try Italian seasoning, which is also delicious in this recipe.
  • Garlic Powder: For flavor.
  • Onion Powder: For flavor.
  • Salt: I always err on the side of using less salt to keep my recipes on the healthy side. You can adjust the amount of salt to your tastes and dietary needs.
  • Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper will give you the best flavor. You can buy an inexpensive pepper grinder with whole peppercorns at most grocery stores.
  • Cayenne Pepper: For a bit of heat. We’re using a small amount, so that the chicken won’t be too spicy.

Recipe Variation:

  • You can add 2 teaspoons of chili powder to this recipe for a bit of Tex-Mex flavor.

The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (3)

How to Season Chicken

Once you have the seasoning ingredients mixed together, you’re ready to season some chicken!

  • Start by patting the chicken dry using paper towels.
  • Rub a small amount of olive oil over the chicken to help the seasoning stick to the meat.
  • Use about 1 tablespoon of the seasoning mix per pound of chicken. You will need more seasoning for smaller pieces of chicken since there is more overall surface area per pound of meat.
  • You can cook chicken right away, but for the most flavorful chicken, let the meat marinate in the seasoning rub for one hour, and up to 12 hours, before cooking. Be sure to refrigerate the chicken while it marinates.
  • If you are using chicken with skin, try to rub some seasoning under the skin to flavor the meat.
  • For food safety, discard any unused rub that has come in contact with raw chicken or your hands as you handle raw chicken.

The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (4)

Storage Instructions

I like to make a batch of this chicken seasoning to keep on hand for busy days. Having a dry rub ready to go can make dinner prep especially quick and easy!

Store the seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, such as a cupboard or spice drawer. I usually store it in a small jar or small zip-top bag. Label the container with the date that you made the dry rub and the name of the seasoning. You don’t want to be wondering whether that small jar contains taco seasoning or chicken seasoning later on.

How Long Does this Seasoning Blend Last?

Assuming that the spices used are fresh and won’t soon expire, homemade chicken seasoning will last for about 6 months when stored properly.

The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (5)

5 from 18 ratings

Chicken Seasoning

Servings: 5 tablespoons

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

This Chicken Seasoning is a simple way to add the best flavor to chicken! You can mix up this easy rub recipe in just minutes. Perfect for seasoning chicken breasts, chicken thighs, whole chicken, chicken legs, tenders, grilled chicken, baked chicken and more!

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk or stir until well blended.

  • To use, generously rub over chicken thighs, breasts, drumsticks, or tenders or a whole chicken before cooking. You can first rub some olive oil over the chicken to help the rub stick to the meat better.

  • For the most flavor, let the rub marinate on the meat for 1 hour (and up to 12 hours) in the refrigerator before cooking. Discard any rub that has come in contact with raw chicken or your hands when rubbing on the chicken.

  • Cook chicken as desired, such as in the oven, on the grill or in an air fryer, Instant Pot or slow cooker.

Notes

  • Recipe makes enough rub to season about 5 pounds of chicken breasts or thighs. A rule of thumb is to use about 1 tablespoon of rub per pound of chicken. This will vary somewhat depending the cut of chicken since smaller pieces, such as wings, have more surface area per pound.
  • Store extra chicken seasoning rub in an airtight container for up to 6 months in a cool, dry place.

Serving: 1/2 tablespoon, Calories: 14kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 234mg, Potassium: 31mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 373IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: American

Course: DIY, Seasoning

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Kristine's Kitchen!

Dairy Free Easy Meal Prep Gluten Free Homemade Favorites Sauces / Seasonings / Dressings / Spreads

posted by Kristine Rosenblatt on Jun 21, 2021

34 comments Leave a comment »

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34 comments on “The Best Chicken Seasoning”

  1. Mimi Reply

    Loved this recipe on grilled chicken. Going to try it on pork tonight.

    • The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (9)

      Kristine Reply

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! You might also like my pork rub recipe. 🙂

      • Tina

        I have made it w/ chilli powder and w/out it was delicious both ways.made it in air fryer.

  2. Sarah Reply

    We LOVED this seasoning!! I put some on a whole chicken and then roasted it, and I also added some to the coating for some homemade chicken nuggets and my family loved them. They are so picky so that’s a huge win for us, thanks!! I’m making an extra large batch of the chicken nuggets now to keep in the freezer and I spent 5 minutes searching my browser history from two weeks ago to make sure I had the exact recipe. I bookmarked it this time lol. Used half the amount of brown sugar and it was sweet enough for us. I also love that I was not bombarded with advertisements while navigating your website like so many of the other food blogs out there!

  3. HELEN HOKE Reply

    This is the second time making and using this Rub. My family loves the chicken that comes from the air fryer with this rub on it. I made a double batch and put it in a jar for next time. I also cut the recipe out and put with reg made recipes. Thank you!

  4. Jen Reply

    This seasoning was delicious! Thank you!

  5. Erin Perez Reply

    Tried it, loved it! Was preparing chicken last-minute and was happy to find a rub that didn’t require hours of marinating. It probably only sat for 15 minutes before going on the grill – and it was still packed with flavor! This is being added to my rotation. Thanks!

  6. Barbara Hopkins Reply

    I made this for the first time this week and we loved it. My husband said you can make that chicken every week. This dry rub is delicious

  7. Monica L Tuite Reply

    This rub made the chicken smell great as it was baking and it tasted just as great!! Thank you!

  8. Monica L Tuite Reply

    Sorry, it’s me again! Forgot to rate this rub 5 stars!!

  9. Adam Reply

    Amazing Rubbbb

    1000 stars!!!

  10. Terri Reply

    I am going to try this recipe tonight.

  11. Julie Jepson Reply

    can i use this for chicken that I am going to shred and freeze for a reception?

    • The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (10)

      Kristine Rosenblatt Reply

      Yes, you can.

  12. Ken Colman Reply

    I’d like to try this on skinless chicken in a smoker with a water pan… Any suggestions on how to keep it from drying out?

    • The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (11)

      Kristine Rosenblatt Reply

      Hi Ken,

      Try using this chicken seasoning like any dry rub in your smoker.

  13. Christine Reply

    Hi Kristine,
    Can you use real onion as opposed to onion powder?
    Cheers,
    Christine

    • The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (12)

      Kristine Rosenblatt Reply

      No, dried seasonings work best since this is a spice rub recipe.

  14. Del Reply

    Hi, it was a last minute to marinate some thighs & drumsticks chicken for a BBQ and don’t have much time so I found your recipe the first one I clicked on so put together the ingredients and followed the directions oh, about 2hrs marinade then brought it to our BBQ potluck and I received some good compliments of the seasoning on my chicken so yeah it turned out “Liked” by all. It’s simple recipe and it’s flavorful. I will use thhis recipe again.

  15. Valerie Reply

    Love this combo of spices and brown sugar. I do plan to make 10X also for the future. So handy to have it all ready. It’s that good! I use this rub on pork and beef too.

  16. Edna Reply

    I used this great spice mix on a whole chicken in the instant pot pressure cooker.
    Wonderful flavor with no complaints and much praise. It tasted very good.

  17. Arden S Epstein Reply

    I used cumin instead of cayenne pepper, because I’m not a fan of hot seasoning. The rub was exceptional.

  18. Alyssa Reply

    Made this today and rubbed it on chicken drumsticks and put them in the airfryer. It’s sooo good! Great recipe!

  19. Stacy Reply

    This is the best seasoning for chicken I’ve ever tasted. I make a big batch of it and keep it in a container in my pantry so supper prep is super quick!

  20. Heather Reply

    Best chicken rub I have ever used. The chicken was tender
    And mildly spicy

  21. Teresa Reply

    Awesome!!! This really adds delicious flavor to chicken. I’ve been looking for a seasoning recipe for chicken that isn’t boring. This is definitely it! I will use this recipe again.

  22. Squeaky Reply

    This was exactly what I had in mind. I had a whole chicken that was accidentally defrosted, and needed to be cooked on a Friday night. Not exactly a “roast chicken dinner” day here. I wanted to make something exactly like this, with fries and gravy.

    I used the rub on a spatchcock chicken, I left the rub on the chicken for maybe 90 minutes before roasting. I did it on a rack at 400° in my convection oven and it was so perfect.

    I did halve the sugar as other people did, and that was perfect for me. I might even use a little less in future but the sugar does definitely add to the recipe, I suggest trying it with just a little if you are thinking of omitting it.

  23. Shelly M Reply

    Love this seasoning mix😋 it’s my new go to…. I use it on everything! Meats, soups, egg dishes, potato salad etc.
    Thank you Kristine!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

  24. Grace h Reply

    Bussin
    5 star
    Will try again
    Used with flour to cover and put in pan with olive oil to make crispy

  25. Melissa D Reply

    Made the rub as written but did not marinate long since I didn’t have time. 😅😬 It was still delicious though. Next time I will marinate them. Used my ninja indoor grill set on high for 8 minutes and they came out perfect. Juicy, delicious, flavorful. Thank you.

  26. LENA Reply

    CAN I USE TYME AND ROSEMARY TO AND HOW MUCH? THANK YOU

    • The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (13)

      Kristine Rosenblatt Reply

      Hi Lena,
      Instead of the dried oregano, you can use 1 teaspoon each of dried thyme and rosemary. Enjoy!

  27. lena Reply

    I’m going to make sunday how long can i let the rub on before airfrying it? thanks…

    • The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (14)

      Kristine Rosenblatt Reply

      You can put the rub on the chicken up to 24 hours ahead, then store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook the chicken. Enjoy!

Leave a comment »

The Best Chicken Seasoning! - Easy Chicken Rub Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How long should dry rub sit on chicken? ›

Mix dry ingredients together in a small bowl and rub into the chicken, making sure to get the rub into the nooks and crannies. Let rub sit on the chicken for up to 12 hours in the refrigerator.

What is chicken rub made of? ›

Stir celery flakes, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, sage, black pepper, rosemary, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl. Transfer spice mixture to a spice grinder or food processor; blend until smooth.

How do you get rub to stick to chicken? ›

You can make the meat stickier with oil or water, or use your favorite condiment. Most rubs are more soluble in water than in oil—AmazingRibs.com even did an experiment to confirm it—so choosing something water-based will better encourage bark formation.

Should you let seasoning sit on chicken before cooking? ›

Yes, you should always season your chicken before cooking when it's raw. You can even do this up to 24 hours before if you have the time. Why? Because leaving the seasoning on your chicken overnight in the fridge will help it start to trap moisture in the chicken, which will make it nice and juicy once cooked.

Do you oil chicken before rub? ›

Start with a light coat of olive oil (adding too much will allow the seasonings to drip off on the grill) and then graciously season both sides with your selected spice blend. Then, rub those spices in with your hands, ensuring they are well-attached to the exterior of the chicken.

What happens if you leave dry rub on too long? ›

You can even leave the dry rub on overnight, but keep in mind that the salt content will begin to dry out the meat if left on for too long. If you're in a hurry, you can hit the grill immediately after applying the rub.

What is the difference between chicken seasoning and rub? ›

A rub is any combination of spices, salt and sugar used to season meat prior to cooking. Unlike seasonings, rubs are almost never added after cooking. There are dozens of different rubs, from barbecue rubs and chili powder to jerk seasoning, sate, and curries.

What spices best go with chicken? ›

5 best spice and herbs blends for chicken and meat
  • Paprika and garlic powder. Paprika is a great spice that makes any chicken dish stand out, it comes in many forms sweet, hot, regular and smoky. ...
  • Basil and rosemary. ...
  • Ginger and lemongrass. ...
  • Turmeric and chili. ...
  • Coriander and cumin.

What's the difference between a seasoning and a rub? ›

A steak rub is like a seasoning, but with larger pieces of dried herbs and spices. A rub is a great way to add flavor and surface texture to steaks and the best way to make a flavorful crust on smoked brisket or pork. Rubs are usually coarser than seasonings and are applied much more liberally.

How to make chicken taste good? ›

Here are 7 tricks to make chicken breasts taste better and even totally delicious.
  1. Cook them right. Most people get scared and overcook chicken breasts, cooking out all the moisture and leaving them tough and dry. ...
  2. Marinate them. ...
  3. Cut them thin. ...
  4. Fry them. ...
  5. Stuff them. ...
  6. Shred them. ...
  7. Use the right pan.

When should I put rub on chicken? ›

Top Tips for Applying Rub to Chicken

Begin marinating your chicken the night before or first thing in the morning and allow it to rest in the fridge. By the time you are ready to cook the chicken at suppertime, the spices will have seeped into the skin, creating a more aromatic flavor.

What is the basic rule of adding seasoning? ›

The Rules. Remember the ½ Rule - Start off with 1/2 teaspoon of spice for any dish that serves four to six people. And for herbs, use 1/2 teaspoon for powders and 1-1/2 teaspoon for dried or chopped.

Should you put olive oil on chicken before seasoning? ›

Seasoning skinless chicken is as straightforward as with any other cut of meat. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the chicken to act as a binder, sprinkle your seasoning on top, then gently press it in and let your chicken dry-marinate for about 45 minutes.

Why is my chicken bland after seasoning? ›

You're Not Adequately Seasoning Them

You see, without a generous sprinkling of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, your chicken is basically destined for blandness.

Should I let dry rub sit on chicken? ›

We recommend letting the dry rub sit on the chicken for at least 15 minutes before cooking.

How long to let seasoning sit on chicken before cooking? ›

I allow one day for a thick-ish steak, two days for a whole chicken, and three or four days for a large cut of meat, like a brisket or a turkey. The amount of salt is a matter of taste, so experiment.

How long does it take for chicken to absorb seasoning? ›

For dry rub marinades, 30 minutes to 2 hours is how long to marinate chicken to allow the flavors to penetrate enough of the chicken to add flavor. For wet marinades, we know it can be tempting to let them swim for a bit—if a little soaking is good for tender, tasty meat, more must be better, right?

How long can you leave a dry rub on? ›

Meats benefit from even a half-hour of being dry rubbed prior to cooking. Generally, six or more hours is preferable. A dry brine is a dry rub (salt, spices, and herbs) with sugar added. It is meant to be left on the meat for at least a day, and up to three days, and then wiped or rinsed off prior to cooking.

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