Grilled chicken is a backyard barbecue staple. But plain grilled chicken can be bland and boring. The secret to juicy, flavorful chicken off the grill is all in the seasoning. With the right mix of herbs, spices, citrus, and more, you can take your grilled chicken from ho-hum to dynamite.
In this article we’ll explore 12 delicious seasoning ideas to liven up your grilled chicken. From zesty lemon pepper to smoky paprika rubs these flavors will make your tastebuds sing. We’ll also share tips on how to properly season for maximum flavor. Let’s get cooking!
Why Season Your Grilled Chicken?
Seasoning is key for several reasons:
-
Enhances flavor – Herbs, spices, citrus, and more impart big flavor.
-
Keeps chicken juicy – Rubs and marinades lock in moisture.
-
Boosts texture – Acidic marinades tenderize the meat.
-
Allows customization – Cater to individual tastes with unique seasoning blends,
Proper seasoning takes grilled chicken from bland and dry to succulent juicy, and packed with flavor. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spice combinations until you discover your go-to grilled chicken seasoning blend.
12 Mouthwatering Seasoning Ideas
Here are 12 delicious ways to season your chicken for the grill:
1. Lemon Pepper
This zesty combo of lemon zest and cracked black pepper is a quick and easy way to liven up grilled chicken. The citrus brightens while the pepper adds just the right bite.
2. Italian Herb Blend
For fresh herb flavor, try an Italian spice blend of oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary. You can buy a pre-made blend or make your own. This seasoning adds instant Tuscan flavor.
3. Cajun Spice
For fans of heat, a Cajun seasoning blend with paprika, garlic, cayenne, and other spices brings on the fire. The intensity plays nicely with the mild flavor of chicken.
4. Jerk Spice
Transport your tastebuds to the Caribbean with the spicy, tangy flavors of a homemade or store-bought jerk spice rub. It contains chili peppers, allspice, thyme, and more for an island-inspired kick.
5. Chili Lime
Fresh lime juice, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and cilantro make for a zesty, Tex-Mex inspired marinade your tastebuds will love. The bright acidity of the lime keeps the chicken extra juicy.
6. BBQ Rub
For quintessential barbecue flavor, coat your chicken in a sweet and smoky dry rub. Paprika, brown sugar, garlic, onion, chili powder, and cumin are classic rub ingredients.
7. Greek Yogurt and Herbs
Skip bottled dressings and mix up a super simple marinade with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and chopped fresh herbs like parsley, mint, and dill. The tangy yogurt tenderizes the chicken beautifully.
8. Soy Ginger
Asian flavors shine through in this easy marinade. Soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and red pepper flakes add a tasty umami kick along with a touch of heat.
9. Tandoori Masala
Indian tandoori chicken gets its signature red hue and complex flavor from a spice blend called masala. Garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, cinnamon, and paprika transport your chicken to new dimensions.
10. Apple Cider Vinegar
The bright acidity of apple cider vinegar makes it an excellent choice for a grilled chicken marinade. Whisk together olive oil, mustard, garlic, onion, vinegar, and herbs for a tangy kick.
11. Beer Lime
Use an ice cold beer like a Mexican lager as the base for a fun and tasty grilled chicken marinade. The beer keeps the chicken extra moist while lime juice and spices add flavor.
12. Coffee Rub
This unexpected blend of flavors is a treat for the taste buds. Ancho chili powder, brown sugar, garlic, cumin, and ground coffee makes for an awesome southwestern dry rub. The coffee adds richness.
Tips for Maximum Flavor
Now that you’ve got some seasoning inspiration, here are some tips to take your grilled chicken to the next level:
-
Rub it in – For dry rubs, gently press the seasoning directly onto the chicken to help it adhere properly. Don’t forget to season under the skin too.
-
Marinate it – Let chicken soak in a flavorful wet marinade for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight for more intense flavor.
-
Rest it – Let seasoned chicken rest at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before grilling. This helps the seasoning permeate the meat.
-
Get even coverage – Apply seasonings evenly over the entire chicken surface so each bite pops with flavor.
-
Don’t overcook – Pull chicken off the grill when the internal temperature hits 165°F. Overcooking dries out all that flavorful juice!
Enjoy Your Perfectly Seasoned Chicken
The possibilities are endless when it comes to seasoning your grilled chicken! Start with these 12 ideas and experiment with creating your own signature blend. A flavorful rub or zesty marinade ensures your chicken comes off the grill moist, tender and packed with taste. Grill up a batch this weekend and get ready to wow your family and friends.
Secrets to the Best Grilled Chicken
- Use a marinade. Marinating chicken breasts both adds flavor and helps to make the meat tender. The marinade used in this recipe is one of my favorites and you’ll need only a few ingredients to make it.
- Pound the chicken to an even thickness. Pounding your chicken is an essential step to making tender, evenly cooked chicken breasts. When you buy chicken breasts at the store, they are often thicker on one side and thinner on the other. You want to pound them to an even thickness so that they cook evenly. The pounding process also tenderizes the meat. This is crucial!
- Clean the grill. You want to start with clean, oiled grill grates for the best grill marks.
- Grill over moderate heat. This ensures that your chicken won’t burn or dry out.
- Use an instant read thermometer. Do not overcook your grilled chicken! Overcooking is a surefire way to dry it out. The best way to tell when chicken is done is to use an instant read thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the meat.
- Let the grilled chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing or serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. If you slice the chicken right when it comes off the grill all of the juices will run out onto your cutting board, which is definitely not what you want.
This grilled chicken recipe uses a simplified version of my most-loved Chicken Marinade. Here’s what you’ll need for the marinade:
- Lemon Juice: The lemon juice adds zippy, fresh flavor and tenderizes the chicken. You can add the zest of two lemons to your marinade for more lemon flavor. When you marinate chicken in lemon juice, you don’t want to marinate for more than 2 hours or the acid will start to make the chicken tough. I recommend marinating your chicken for at least 30 minutes and no more than 2 hours.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil is essential in a good marinade because it keeps the meat moist and helps to transfer the flavors of the marinade to the chicken. It also balances out the acidic lemon juice, ensuring your grilled chicken has that perfect tender, juicy texture.
- Garlic: You can’t beat the flavor of fresh garlic!
- Dried Oregano: Italian seasoning also works great here.
- Chili Powder: Adds a little extra flavor to the marinade, but it does not make the chicken spicy.
- Salt and Pepper: For flavor.
You can season the chicken to your tastes by adding other herbs that you enjoy, fresh or dried, to your marinade. Or try some Dijon mustard for extra flavor. This Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken recipe is another one of my favorites!
This is it. The very best grilled chicken.
Grilling season is here and I couldn’t be happier about it! There’s nothing I love more than throwing dinner on the grill and enjoying a cold beverage outside while the kids play in the yard. These long summer days are glorious!
This grilled chicken is our current grilling obsession. It’s just so good! The marinade is so simple and it gives the chicken such incredible flavor. And if you’re like me and sometimes forget to plan ahead, you’ll be happy to know that even just a 30 minute soak in the marinade is enough to tenderize and flavor the meat.
Having suffered through dry, tough grilled chicken in the past, I was determined to create a grilled chicken recipe that produces juicy, tender chicken, every time. This is that recipe. And I’m sharing all of my secrets to making the best grilled chicken breast you’ve ever eaten. Let’s do this!
How To Make Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken: Healthy And Delicious Chicken #chicken #food #healthyfood
FAQ
What seasonings are good with grilled chicken?
Place chicken breasts into a large resealable plastic bag and pour in olive oil. Seal and shake bag to coat chicken with olive oil; add rosemary, thyme, oregano, garlic, salt, and black pepper to the bag, seal, and shake again to coat chicken with herbs.
How to season chicken before putting on the grill?
Lightly brush grill with oil. 2In a small bowl, stir together paprika, chili powder, cumin, thyme, salt, garlic powder and pepper. 3Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl, sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken and toss to coat. 4Grill the chicken until it is just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
How to add flavour to grilled chicken?
A faster way to add flavour is to simply brine your chicken in salty water prior to cooking. This will help tenderise the meat and add extra flavour.
What seasoning can you put on your chicken?
Aside from classics like salt, pepper, basil and garlic, you could try using chilli powder, ginger, cumin, cayenne, paprika, oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme.