Chicken is perhaps the most versatile piece of meat there is. From grilled chicken breast and a whole chicken from the oven to chicken thighs from the barbecue or a quick stir-fry: with the right herbs you can turn a simple dish into something special. But which herbs actually go best with chicken? And when do you use single herbs, a spice mix or a marinade?

In this complete guide you will discover which herbs pair well with chicken, how to best season chicken and which herb combinations suit different cooking methods. You will also find practical tips, frequently asked questions and recipe inspiration.

Why is chicken so suitable for seasoning?

Chicken has a mild flavor on its own. Because of that it absorbs herbs, spices and marinades well. With a few simple ingredients you can give the same chicken breast a completely different taste.

Think for example of:

• Mediterranean with oregano, basil and garlic
• Spicy Mexican with cumin, paprika and chili
• Asian with ginger, coriander and garlic

Chicken is actually always a good idea. But especially in nice weather chicken gains an extra dimension — on the barbecue, in the kamado or just quickly in the pan or airfryer.

That's when you want the flavor to be right. And more and more people are looking for ways to season chicken themselves: less dependent on ready-made mixes, more control over flavor and ingredients.

In this article we share two popular flavor profiles that are often searched for:

• Spicy chicken seasoning mix

• Smoky BBQ chicken seasoning mix

Perfect for long summer evenings, quick weeknight meals or a good BBQ session.

Recipe 1: Spicy chicken seasoning mix

Ingredients

• 2 tsp paprika powder (sweet)

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)

• 1 tsp chili flakes

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp cumin

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp salt (optional)

Method

1. Mix all the spices well together in a small bowl.

2. Taste and adjust the spiciness (more cayenne = hotter).

3. Store in an airtight jar or use immediately.

What to pair it with