Chicken Seasoning Recipe
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Feb 25, 2026 
I created this chicken seasoning recipe one day when I was completely tired of bland, boring chicken dinners. I use simple pantry spices to build bold, smoky, savory flavor that transforms everything from grilled chicken breasts to baked thighs and smoked drumsticks. This spice blend is quick to mix, made with everyday ingredients, and far better than anything store-bought. Whether I’m meal prepping for the week or firing up the grill for dinner, this easy, foolproof seasoning guarantees juicy, flavor-packed chicken every single time.
Today I’m sharing my favorite all-purpose chicken seasoning recipe. Of course, you can put just about any seasoning on chicken, and it will taste good, yet this is my go-to seasoning for chicken that my family absolutely loves! Like my best steak seasoning, this chicken spice blend is great on all sorts of chicken-focused meals and can be used in a multitude of dishes. However, I’m also sharing my favorite variations for when you’re cooking a specific style of chicken to pair with a meal.
Krystin – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is perfect!! Thank you so much for sharing this!! We cook a lot of chicken & these make the chicken so tasty!! Love the variations!!
Table of Contents
Sommer’s Recipe Highlights
Budget-friendly – My seasoning recipe uses simple pantry spices that are easy on the wallet, so there’s no need to spend another $5-10 on a premade spice blend in a little jar.
Great for meal prep – I love to make batches of this seasoning mix ahead of time, and keep it on hand for easy weeknight chicken dishes. This helps me make even the simplest “chicken and veggie” meal exciting!
Versatile – Whether you’re cooking chicken breast, thighs, or wings, my seasoning works on every part of the chicken. Plus, like with my blackened seasoning, you can use it to jazz up other dishes like soups and pasta recipes, and even sprinkle it into homemade dressings.
Key Ingredients and Tips
- Lemon pepper seasoning – Yes, I’m starting with another premade seasoning blend, but this one is very inexpensive, and most people already have it in their pantry. The combination of salt, pepper, dehydrated lemon, and a few other things creates an amazing base for the seasoning blend.
- Salt – Although the lemon pepper has some salt, I definitely use more to give the chicken lots of flavor. I usually pick some sort of natural sea salt for this, like Celtic or Himalayan pink salt.
- Garlic powder and onion powder – Again, the lemon pepper seasoning may have a little bit of garlic and or onion in it, but not nearly enough to give the chicken a robust flavor.
- Paprika – When available, I always buy smoked paprika because it has a much deeper smoky-sweet flavor than traditional paprika.
- Dried dill – This gives the seasoning blend an unexpected pop of herby flavor.
How To Make
Find the full recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and storage tips in the printable form at the bottom of the post!
Mix – First, I grab a small bowl and measure out all my herbs and spices, giving them a quick stir so everything is evenly combined. Mixing them first ensures every bite of chicken gets the perfect balance of flavor.
Sprinkle – Next, I generously sprinkle the seasoning over my chicken. This works beautifully on both boneless and bone-in pieces. I like to pat the seasoning in with my hands, so it really adheres. For even more flavor, you can drizzle the chicken lightly with olive oil before seasoning, or let it sit for 15–30 minutes (or up to overnight in the fridge) to let the spices soak in.
Cook – From there, I cook the chicken however I’m craving—grilled, baked, air fried, or pan-seared. It’s a simple blend, but it adds so much flavor!
Ways To Cook Seasoned Chicken
I love to grill chicken, particularly during the spring and summer. There is just nothing quite like that extra bit of smoky flavor and lightly charred grill marks!
For perfectly grilled chicken, I first preheat the grill to medium heat, about 350-400°F.
- Cook boneless, skinless breast and thigh pieces for 4-6 minutes on each side, depending on thickness.
- Bone-in skinless thigh and breast pieces must cook for 12-15 minutes per side.
If you don’t have a grill – or don’t want to use one – nothing else beats juicy and tender oven-baked chicken. Bonus: You don’t even need to flip the chicken! I place the seasoned pieces on a lined baking sheet or baking dish, and pop them into the oven.
For baked chicken, preheat the oven to 400°F for boneless or 425°F for bone-in chicken breasts or thighs.
- Cook thighs or breasts for 20-25 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat.
- Bake bone-in chicken breasts or thighs for approximately 40-45 minutes.
Variations
This spice rub is perfect for all types of chicken recipes, but if you want to lean in a specific ethnic direction, I’ve provided spice blend variations in the recipe form below!
Storage Notes
Place the homemade chicken seasoning in an airtight container, such as a jar, and store it in a cool, dry place, like a pantry. Use it within 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
The key to making the most perfectly flavorful, moist, and tender chicken is to A) season thoroughly and B) cook properly. Chicken meat is rather mild on its own. So you want to be very generous with the spices and coat the meat evenly and completely.
The internal temperature of chicken breast and thigh pieces needs to be 165 degrees F to safely eat. Any lower than that, and you run the risk of raw chicken, which is, of course, both icky-tasting and potentially harmful. However, overcooking results in dry and tough meat. Not so icky, but definitely unpleasant. So cook according to the recipe instructions, and always use a meat thermometer to check the temperature at the low end of the cooking time.
Yes, you always want to generously season the meat with spices before cooking chicken. Sometimes I add a little extra after cooking, but it’s not necessary.
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Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
Instructions
- Set out a small bowl. Measure and mix the herbs and spices together.
- Sprinkle over boneless chicken pieces or bone in chicken pieces.
- Cook chicken as desired. See links below for suggestions!
Notes
- 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
thank you for each of these, was running around the other day trying to find Mexican marinaded chicken but a dry rub would have worked just as well, and can use the other 2 as well, so much appreciated
I tried this with some of the chicken I was making and it turned out to be the best I have ever made.
This is perfect!! Thank you so much for sharing this!! We cook a lot of chicken & these make the chicken so tasty!! Love the variations!!
This is such a good recipe to have on hand! I love how versatile this chicken is for everything.