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

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.

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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.

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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!

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

FAQs

How do you get dry rub to stick to chicken? ›

Drizzle a light layer of olive oil onto the chicken if you want the rub to stick better. Olive oil helps the dry rub adhere to the meat so it's less likely to fall off while you're cooking it. Put a coin-sized amount of olive oil on the chicken and spread it evenly across the sides of the chicken.

How do I make sure my chicken seasoning stays on? ›

A quicker way to flavor the chicken is to rub the chicken down with olive oil and then seasoning it with whatever spices or seasoning blends you have picked. The olive oil will help your seasonings stay on the chicken while simultaneously preventing your chicken from sticking to the grill.

How long can I leave a rub on chicken before cooking? ›

Let rub sit on the chicken for up to 12 hours in the refrigerator. Preheat a grill to medium heat. Place dark meat on the grill first because it has a longer cooking time than white meat.

Do you oil chicken before dry 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.

Do you put dry rub on chicken before or after cooking? ›

First off, a dry rub is, well, dry. Made from a mixture of dried spices, a rub is literally rubbed on to meat before cooking. It can create a nice seared texture if you're grilling but it also adds tons of flavor and you'll taste more of each spice with every bite.

What makes chicken taste the best? ›

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.

How do chefs get chicken so tender? ›

Brines and marinades help tenderize the meat by bringing more moisture in the protein. With that extra moisture, you lose less when you cook. The simplest way to do this is with a dry brine — unwrap the chicken breasts, salt them on both sides and let them sit in the fridge for at least an hour.

What is the secret to juicy chicken? ›

Soak them in a solution of salt and water for about 30 minutes to an hour. This helps the chicken retain moisture during the baking process, resulting in juicier and more tender meat. Marinate the chicken breasts in a flavorful mixture of herbs, spices, and acidic ingredients like yogurt or citrus juice.

Why does my chicken taste bland even after seasoning? ›

You don't need any fancy tricks or an expansive spice cabinet here, it's just important to hit the most basic seasonings and hit them well. You see, without a generous sprinkling of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, your chicken is basically destined for blandness.

What is the best binder for chicken rub? ›

If you lather your bird in butter or olive oil before sticking the seasonings on, those two options make for a great binder. However, there is one condiment that seems to not only act as the perfect glue for spices but also adds some tang and color to your chicken — that condiment is mustard.

What is the best binder for chicken seasoning? ›

Butter and margarine are great binders that can help give poultry crispy skin. Butter/margarine: Perfect for poultry, this binder will help deliver a crispier, golden-toned skin. Instead of sticks or tubs of it, the squeezable containers found in local grocery stores are way more efficient.

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.

Do you oil chicken before or after 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.

Is dry rub better than marinade for chicken? ›

The dry rub and the marinade are both excellent ways to impart flavour to protein. Deciding which method is best is situational. For example: If you are going to grill chicken wings, you can use a dry rub to give them a ton of flavour without adding moisture that prevents a nice sear.

Why does my coating not stick to chicken? ›

The most common reasons breading doesn't stick is that: You didn't properly dry the meat. You didn't put a starch coating on the meat before dredging. Your oil wasn't properly heated.

What can I use to make rub stick to meat? ›

Oil won't evaporate during the cooking process and will help your seasoning better adhere to the meat. Instead of oil, you can also use apple cider vinegar, mustard, apple cider or even a beer to form the base.

How long before cooking do you apply dry rub? ›

Be sure to let the rub sit for 30 minutes or up to 1½ hours to allow the salt and spices to penetrate the meat before cooking. Another great use of dry rubs when it comes to roasts and steaks is to make a compound butter. This is so much easier than you think. You only need two ingredients: a great dry rub and butter.

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