Baked Chicken Seasoning

It's hard to think of a food more versatile than chicken. Not only can it be cooked in all sorts of ways, it lends itself well to all sorts of flavors too! 

One of the easiest ways to prepare chicken is to bake it. It's a hands-free cooking method that - if done right - produces tender, juicy results. 

That being said, some people do struggle a little when baking chicken, ending up with dishes that are dry rather than juicy! If this sounds like you, you'll be happy to hear we've got your back!

Follow our guidelines for How to Bake Chicken Breast and How to Bake a Whole Chicken, to ensure that dry chicken becomes a thing of the past.

Ideas for Baked Chicken Seasoning

For each recipe, simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl.

Rub the chicken generously with olive oil, then sprinkle on your prepared seasoning of choice!

Leftover seasonings should be stored in a cool, dry place in a sealed container, where they will last for up to 6 months.

Spicy Seasoning Rub

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon chili powder

This recipe makes enough to season 4 breasts.

Italian Seasoning Rub

• 3 teaspoons parsley
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper, to taste

This recipe makes enough to season 12 breasts. 

Jerk Baked Chicken Seasoning

• 4 teaspoons allspice
• 4 teaspoons cumin
• 4 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons sage
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cayenne

This recipe should provide enough sweet and spicy flavor for several chicken dishes. 

Baked Chicken BBQ Rub

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon onion powder

Who doesn't love the smokey taste of BBQ chicken? This make-ahead mixture will season several chicken dishes!

Curry Seasoning for Baked Chicken

• 1 tablespoon ground coriander seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

This simple curry mixture is great with pork and fish too!

Other ways of seasoning baked chicken

There are lots of ways of adding flavor to baked chicken, besides using a rub.

You can marinate it - for a healthy option, try using a marinade of chicken broth or seasoned fruit juice and allow the chicken to marinade overnight. 

Keep it simple - add a pop of flavor with simple ingredients like lemon zest, chopped fresh herbs or very finely chopped hot peppers.

Brine it before cooking - dissolve half a cup of salt and half a cup of brown sugar in a gallon of water, then leave the chicken immersed in the mixture overnight. It adds flavor and makes the chicken juicier after cooking.