Seasoning Basics
How to properly season chicken
December 09, 2022
Whether grilled, stir-fried or roasted, not many things are more widely eaten around the world than chicken. Versatile, rich in protein and delicious, it’s no surprise that it’s such a staple of many diets!
However you cook your chicken, there’s no getting around the fact you’ll need to add a decent helping of seasoning to avoid a bland meal. How you season your chicken is a matter of taste, but depends a lot on three things:
In this article, we’re going to look at how to season chicken and the herbs and spices that go well with it.
At the end, you can find ideas for chicken recipes in the Just Spices recipe collection. This contains all kinds of quick and easy dishes using our versatile range of spice blends.
Best spice blends for chicken
HOW TO BRING OUT THE FLAVOUR OF YOUR CHICKEN
Should I season my 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. Just be careful to keep it a safe temperature though!
Should I take my chicken out of the fridge before seasoning it?
Again, this is a good idea too. We recommend bringing the meat to room temperature by placing it on the counter prior to cooking. The exact length of time will depend on what you’re cooking. A cut such as a breast or thigh will require roughly 30 minutes, while a whole chicken needs around an hour. It should remain covered while you wait.
How should I prepare my chicken for seasoning?
Before adding your seasoning, you should first pat your chicken dry with a paper towel. Why? Because this will help your seasoning stay in place. If the chicken is too damp or soggy, then it could slide right off and you’ll lose all that delicious flavour!
How do I marinate chicken?
For maximum flavour, you’ll want to make sure your seasoning can penetrate the surface of the chicken. By slicing small cuts into the skin, you can apply the seasoning mixture deeper inside so that you keep more of the taste within it.
PS: If you do forget to season your chicken before cooking, then all is not lost. You can sprinkle on seasoning afterwards, but be careful because dried herbs can be quite overpowering when added to cooked food.
Tip: Many people find it useful to cover their chicken in some salt (a process known as “salting”) before applying other seasonings. This can help create a further barrier to prevent moisture from escaping. If you decide to do this, you’ll need roughly one teaspoon per 500 g of chicken. Why not use our Fine Rock Salt for this?
WHICH HERBS & SPICES GO BEST WITH CHICKEN?
Generally speaking, you can experiment as much as you like with chicken seasonings. However, it’s true that some herbs and spices are better suited to the job than others.
Aside from classics like salt, pepper, basil and garlic, you could try using chilli powder, ginger, cumin, cayenne, paprika, oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme.
These are just some of the options available, and you should adapt your choice based on whether you prefer milder or spicy dishes. Try our new Lemon Herb Chicken Mix for a deliciously mild, Mediterranean-style spice mix. Alternatively, our bestselling Chicken Seasoning is always a winner.
POPULAR CHICKEN SEASONINGS
Here are some popular chicken seasonings arranged by cooking method to get your taste buds tingling. Read our short explanations and get some inspiration for your next chicken dinner with our recipes which you can prepare with the help of different spice blends from Just Spices.
ROAST CHICKEN SEASONING
There's nothing tastier than a good old-fashioned roast chicken, right? With the right herbs and spices, you can make your next Sunday roast even more interesting and enjoyable.
Some of the spices that go well with roast chicken are paprika, rosemary, thyme, sage, turmeric, fenugreek or clove powder.
Whatever you opt for, the key to getting the maximum aroma and flavour from these spices is to combine them with olive oil. That way, you can also create a spectacular sauce for side dishes such as oven-roasted vegetables.
Tip: We recommend mixing your spices with a little olive oil and lemon juice and using a kitchen brush to glaze the chicken with the mixture. You can also add a sprig of thyme or rosemary to your chicken, as well as hiding a few cloves of garlic in different parts of it. With this method, you can be sure you’ll get impressive aromas and flavour!
You'll love this: At Just Spices we love roast chicken, which is why we’re so proud of our Chicken Seasoning, a great option that contains all the essential spices to go with roast chicken!
GRILLED CHICKEN SEASONING
Another popular way to eat chicken is by giving it a spicy finish on the BBQ or grill.
Chilli peppers in their different forms and varieties can be a great ally for this, as well as ginger or sumac. Simply crush dried peppers and mix them with other spices such as smoked paprika or chive powder to achieve a spectacular flavour.
If you don’t have the time for all this, we’ve got you covered! With our Extra Spicy Seasoning – featuring jalapeños, crushed chillies and smoked salt – you’ll have everything you need to give your chicken a tasty kick in one go.
You’ll love this: Like your chicken a bit milder? Then try out these grilled chicken wings made using our Chicken Curry Seasoning.
STIR-FRIED CHICKEN SEASONING
In a rush? Then a quick and easy way to prepare delicious chicken is to stir-fry it. Just cut some chicken breast into small cubes and fry it in a wok for 5–7 minutes, making sure that the juices run clear and that there’s no pink meat left. Spices that work particularly well here include garlic, red pepper, ginger, chilli and fennel.
This method of cooking works well when you pair your chicken with noodles or rice.
You’ll love this: If you’re a fan of Asian cuisine, you’ll love our Chinese Allrounder with its unique sweet-and-sour flavour.
BEST SPICE MIXES FOR CHICKEN
Now that you know how to season chicken, all that’s left is to get cooking at home.
We know that it’s not always easy to find all the different spices you need in the supermarket, so we’ve put them all together into ready-prepared natural spice mixes that will work wonders on your cooking.
Here are just a few that will help you fill your chicken with flavour in a flash.
Lemon Herb Chicken Mix: Lusciously lemony zing for all sorts of chicken recipes.
Chicken Seasoning: For cooking roast chicken like a pro.
Italian Chicken Seasoning: For unforgettable natural flavour.
Chicken Curry Spice Mix: Spices up curry in an instant.
Mild Fajita Mix: For authentic Mexican flavour.
Extra Spicy Seasoning: To give your chicken a serious kick!
Garlic Pepper: The perfect seasoning for so many dishes.
BEST CHICKEN RECIPES
Feeling hungry? Then here are three classic chicken recipes that use some of our different spice mixes for quick and easy meals with family or friends:
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Chicken breast with tomatoes and olives: The perfect way to give your chicken an Italian twist courtesy of our Italian Chicken Seasoning.
- Roasted red pepper chicken: A delicious feast for you and your friends that’s ready within an hour. Just add 3 pinches of our classic Chicken Seasoning for best results.
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Madras chicken curry: A classic Indian-inspired dish that’s easily prepared in just half an hour with the help of our Curry Madras spice mix.
FIND THE RIGHT SPICE MIXES FOR YOU
In this article, we’ve talked all about chicken, but there are of course many other types of dishes that you can prepare with our different spice mixes. Find out in less than three minutes which seasonings are best suited to your tastes and type of diet with the help of our product finder.
