We all know the saying that chicken is the most versatile piece of meat. A nicely crafted ad line, but there is certainly some truth to it. With chicken you can go in many directions! A whole chicken from the oven, grilling a chicken breast, or chicken satay skewers from the BBQ - the possibilities with chicken are endless.
Chicken on its own has a fairly neutral flavor. That's why you naturally want to season your piece of chicken well to make it tasty. But how do you go about that? And do you want to use the same spice mix for every cooking method? The nicest option is of course to make your own spice mix. That way you have full control over the flavor you give the chicken. Will you go for an Asian variant? Or would you rather be inspired by Italian cuisine? Additionally, by composing your own spice mix you can choose, for whatever reason, to make one without salt. Or you can omit one of the standard spices - like paprika powder - because you're not a big fan. Nice freedom and flexibility. But even if you're short on time and prefer to buy a ready-made spice mix, we're sure this blog can help you prepare a really tasty piece of chicken. Ready to read along?
Delicious chicken in 3 different ways
Below we'd like to walk you through how you can approach seasoning a piece of chicken. We give you 3 different ways to season and prepare chicken, which we hope will inspire you to get cooking. In addition, we want to give you enough tips and tricks to make chicken not only the most versatile but also a really tasty piece of meat!
Recipe 1: A whole chicken from the oven
A wonderful way to prepare chicken is to put it whole in the oven. A spice mix you can use for this is a mix of paprika powder, dried thyme, dried rosemary and garlic powder. Put a heaping tablespoon of each of these spices into a small bowl, stir well, and you have a solid base to turn your chicken into a feast. To this base you can then add half a tablespoon of onion powder, salt and black pepper to balance the flavor of the spice mix.
By then adding a couple (2) tablespoons of olive oil to the spice mix you will get a paste-like consistency. You can then rub this evenly into the chicken. A tip from us: rub this spice mix both on top of and under the skin for an extra dimension of flavor. This ensures the flavors can penetrate deep into the chicken. No doubt you will really surprise your guests with this!
Depending on the size of the chicken, it takes about 1.5 hours to cook a whole chicken in the oven. Do this in a preheated oven at a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius, and you’re good to go. If you have a thermometer you can check after 1.5 hours whether the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 75 degrees Celsius. Because then it is cooked. (Tip: insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken so you never get unpleasant surprises.) Has the chicken reached an internal temperature of 75 degrees Celsius? Then we can sit down at the table! Let it rest a little before carving so all the juices are retained, and you will surely have a dish you can fully enjoy with your friends and family.
Recipe 2: Spice mix for a grilled chicken breast
If you don't have the time to wait 1.5 hours for a whole chicken from the oven, or don't feel like deboning a whole chicken before you can enjoy it, you can of course also grill a chicken breast in a grill pan. For this we would slightly adjust the above spice mix to make your chicken breast a true culinary treat.
By making a mix of paprika powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin powder, salt and black pepper you have a nice base for a delicious chicken breast. To add the aromatic flavor of dried green herbs we recommend using oregano whole, dried thyme and dried basil . Your chicken breast immediately gets a nice Mediterranean touch! As with the whole oven-roasted chicken, it's convenient to add a splash of olive oil to this spice mix to create an even spice paste. And another tip from us: add a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice to this spice paste once; this adds sweetness and acidity to intensify the chicken breast's flavor and elevate it to the next level.
Rub this spice paste evenly into the chicken on both sides of the fillet. Then it's a matter of grilling. 6 to 8 minutes on each side in a grill pan over high heat and your chicken breast should be ready to use in your dish. Or to serve as is. Just check that the chicken is fully cooked inside, of course, but we probably don't need to tell you that. Want those nice grill marks on your chicken breast? Then only flip your chicken breast once. You eat with your eyes as well as your taste buds, and the nicer your chicken breast looks, the tastier it is!
Recipe 3: Spices for an Asian chicken satay
Prefer a delicious Asian-style piece of chicken? Then you might try making an authentic spice mix for chicken satay. This mix includes a few more spices than the mix for the whole oven-roasted chicken or the grilled chicken breast, but the result is certainly worth it.
A mix of turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, paprika powder, salt and pepper form the base of the satay paste with which you can coat the chicken. Then add some garlic powder, ginger powder and onion powder. Adding a pinch of sugar gives you that wonderfully crispy crust we all love. Instead of mixing this mix only with oil, we also add a generous splash of soy sauce to give it that authentic Asian note. And do you like it spicy? Then you can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper to this marinade. Lovely to add a bit of extra heat to your chicken satay.
Then cut the chicken breast or thigh fillet into cubes and put them in a large bowl. Add the satay marinade afterwards, then let the marinade do its work for about 30 minutes. The marinated chicken cubes can then be threaded onto satay skewers for delicious barbecue satay skewers. But cooking these cubes in a pan also works perfectly fine! A quick turn on the BBQ or in the pan, and it's time to enjoy.
Ready-made spice mixes
Above we gave you three timeless ideas to make something really tasty the next time you prepare chicken. But sometimes you really don't have the time or inclination to make a spice mix yourself. Yet you still want to enjoy a tasty piece of chicken. Understandable.
For a faster and easier way to season your chicken, we therefore offer in our shop Rosemary’s Chicken Rub ! This spice mix is specially made for chicken and wonderful to use when you grill or BBQ your piece of chicken. But even if you use it to season a whole chicken that then goes in the oven, you will be amazed by the result. The dried rosemary is the star in this spice mix, complemented by paprika powder, garlic powder, cumin powder, dried thyme and a pinch of chili powder for some extra heat. This mix also contains salt and sugar, but of course much less than in regular rubs to keep it as healthy and natural as possible.
In addition to Rosemary’s Chicken Rub, we also have a number of more generic spice mixes for chicken, for a wide range of applications. For example, we have the chicken spice mix exellent for a real flavor explosion, but also variants with a responsible amount of salt and even a low-sodium version. So if you're short on time and want to eat low-sodium, you can find something with us as well.
The most versatile piece of meat
Above we tried to show you that the possibilities with chicken are endless. A whole chicken from the oven, a grilled chicken breast or delicious chicken satay skewers from the BBQ - with chicken you can really go in all directions. Which variant is your favorite?
Even if you're short on time you don't have to settle for a bland chicken breast. There are plenty of ready-made spice mixes you can use to put a delicious piece of chicken on the table in no time. Try, for example, Rosemary’s Chicken Rub. Or the chicken spice exellent. It can be that easy! Will you choose one of the ready-made spice mixes? Make the whole oven-roasted chicken with the spice mix we've described above? Or will you let your culinary creativity run free and create your own unique spice mix for the perfect piece of chicken? Whatever you decide - enjoy cooking.
We hope this blog has given you some useful tips and inspiration to get back into the kitchen. Enjoy these delicious dishes with your family and friends, and of course: bon appétit!
Frequently asked questions about making chicken spices yourself
1. Which spices are in chicken seasoning?
A classic chicken spice mix usually contains paprika powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt and sometimes thyme or oregano. Depending on taste, you can also add cayenne pepper, turmeric or cumin for extra depth.
2. How do you make chicken seasoning without salt?
Want to use less salt? Leave salt out of your spice mix and add it during cooking to taste. You can enhance the flavor with extra spices such as smoked paprika, garlic, lemon zest or chili.
3. How much chicken seasoning do you use per kilo of chicken?
On average, use 15 to 20 grams of spices per kilo of chicken. Preferably mix the spices with a small splash of oil so the flavor distributes better and adheres well to the meat.
4. How long can you store homemade chicken seasoning?
Store your spice mix in an airtight jar in a dry, dark place. This way the mix remains flavorful for about 6 to 12 months. Always check the smell and color before using the mix.
5. Can you use chicken seasoning for other dishes?
Yes, absolutely. Chicken seasoning is also delicious on potatoes, roasted vegetables, on tofu or in a marinade. By slightly adjusting the mix you can even use it for wraps, rice dishes or barbecue dishes.
