What Can I Add to Plain Chicken to Make It More Flavorful?

Chicken is a versatile protein that can be prepared in endless ways. However, plain chicken breast or thighs on their own can be a bit bland and unexciting. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to jazz up plain chicken to make it more flavorful and interesting. In this article, we’ll explore different seasonings, sauces, rubs, and other mix-ins that can take plain chicken from boring to delicious.

Dry Spice Rubs

Combining spices and herbs to create a fragrant rub is an easy way to infuse flavor into otherwise plain chicken pieces. Here are some spice rub ideas to try:

• Italian seasoning – A blend of oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme adds an Italian flair.

• Jerk seasoning has allspice, thyme, garlic, and chili powder, which make it spicy and full of flavor.

• Moroccan spice mix – Contains warm spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and paprika

• Taco or fajita seasoning – Southwestern flavors like chili powder, cumin, garlic, and oregano.

• Herbes de Provence -Features thyme, rosemary, sage, and lavender popular in French cuisine

• Lemon pepper seasoning – Bright citrus and peppery notes.

• Cajun seasoning – A spicy blend packed with paprika, garlic, onion, and cayenne pepper.

Mix the spices you want to use to make a rub, and then generously season plain chicken pieces before cooking. The rub will form a flavorful, aromatic crust.

Marinades

Marinating chicken for 30 minutes up to overnight infuses it with lots of extra flavor. Yogurt- or oil-based marinades also help keep the chicken extra moist. Here are marinade ideas to experiment with:

• Greek yogurt marinade – Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs.

• Tandoori marinade – Spices like coriander, cumin, paprika, ginger, and garlic plus yogurt.

• Teriyaki marinade – Soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger.

• Pesto marinade – Homemade or store-bought pesto with its fresh basil flavor.

• Mojo criollo – A citrusy Caribbean marinade with olive oil, orange juice, garlic, and spices.

• Italian dressing marinade – Packed with robust Italian flavor.

• Coconut curry marinade – Coconut milk and Thai red or green curry paste.

Putting chicken in a zip-top plastic bag to marinate makes it easy to cover the whole thing. Remember to refrigerate it while marinating.

Savory Sauces

It tastes great when you pour sauce over plain chicken that has been cooked or bake the chicken right in the sauce. Here are some easy sauce ideas:

• Barbecue sauce – Classic, bold, and slightly smoky.

• Teriyaki sauce – Sweet and salty glaze.

• Soy-ginger sauce – Soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, brown sugar.

• Tomato-based pasta sauce – Hearty marinara or creamy alfredo sauce.

• Coconut curry sauce – Creamy and full of Thai spice flavor.

• Peanut sauce – Tangy ginger, garlic, and peanut butter based sauce.

• Mole sauce – Rich Mexican sauce made with chili peppers, chocolate, spices.

• Buffalo wing sauce – Buttery cayenne pepper hot sauce.

• Honey mustard sauce – Honey, mustard, and mayo or Greek yogurt.

• Cranberry chutney – For an autumnal twist.

The sauce can be poured over the cooked chicken or try baking chicken thighs in a baking dish coated with the sauce for it to fully permeate the meat.

Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs are an easy way to wake up the flavor of plain chicken with very little effort. Try these fresh herbs:

• Basil – Robust sweet flavor perfect for chicken.

• Thyme – Earthy lemon-pepper flavor.

• Rosemary – Piney and robust herb.

• Sage – Savory and slightly peppery.

• Tarragon – Licorice-anise flavor.

• Cilantro – Bright fresh flavor.

• Mint – Cool and refreshing tasted.

• Chives – Delicate onion flavor.

• Oregano or marjoram – Warm and aromatic.

Herbs pair especially well with chicken. Simply tuck sprigs of fresh herbs under the skin or sprinkle them chopped over the cooked chicken right before serving.

Compound Butters

Flavorful compound butters are easy to make at home and they melt over hot chicken, coating it with herbal flavor. Here are tasty compound butter ideas:

• Lemon dill butter – Fresh lemon zest and dill.

• Rosemary garlic butter – Minced garlic and fragrant rosemary.

• Chipotle lime butter – Smoky chipotle and bright lime.

• Honey mustard butter – Honey, mustard, and parsley.

• Tapenade butter – Black olive tapenade and herbs.

• Harissa butter – North African chile paste and cumin.

To make compound butter simply blend softened butter with your choice of herbs, citrus, spices, etc. Chill the butter then slice off a pat to melt over plain cooked chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks.

Cheese and Cream

Melting cheese or stirring in cream makes chicken extra rich and luxurious. Consider these cheesy ideas:

• Mozzarella – Fresh mozzarella baked or layered until melted over chicken.

• Feta – Briny, tangy crumbled feta.

• Parmesan – Sharp and nutty shaved Parmesan.

• Cheddar – Sharp cheddar for a classic flavor.

• Blue cheese – Pungent crumbled blue cheese.

• Goat cheese – Creamy, tangy goat cheese crumbles.

• Heavy cream – Simmer chicken in heavy cream or stir in before serving.

• Pesto – Stir spoonfuls of creamy pesto into pan sauces or chicken salad.

The cheese or cream melt into the chicken, forming a luscious coating for added richness and moisture.

Nutty Accents

Nuts and seeds lend chicken great crunch and flavor. Try these nutty ideas:

• Chopped roasted almonds

• Toasted sesame seeds

• Coarsely chopped toasted walnuts

• Slivered toasted almonds

• Crushed roasted peanuts

• Diced roasted pistachios

• Toasted pine nuts

Sprinkle the nuts over cooked chicken or stir them into chicken salads. You can also use nutty olive oil or nut-based sauces like peanut or almond sauce.

Tangy Extras

Bright, tangy ingredients help balance the savory chicken flavor. Some acidic extras to try include:

• Lemon or lime juice and zest

• Chopped pickled jalapeños

• Pomegranate seeds

• Crumbled feta cheese

• Diced tomato

• Apple cider vinegar

• Orange segments or cranberries

• Diced mango or pineapple

• Greek yogurt

A quick squeeze of citrus juice over plain chicken can really lift the flavor. Or, toss chicken salad with diced tomatoes, feta, jalapeños, and fresh herbs for a punch of brightness.

Easy Veggie Add-Ins

Veggies lend moisture, vibrant color, textures, and plenty of flavor. Here are tasty veggie mix-ins for chicken:

• Sautéed bell peppers and onions

• Roasted butternut squash cubes

• Caramelized fennel wedges

• Roasted cauliflower florets

• Steamed green beans

• Sautéed spinach or kale

• Roasted carrots and parsnips

• Grilled zucchini planks

Simply sauté, roast, or steam your veggie of choice then mix with shredded or diced chicken. The veggies’ natural juices will moisten the chicken.

You can take plain chicken from bland and boring to new heights of flavor with the right herbs, spices, sauces, cheeses, veggies and more. All of these mix-ins are easy enough that you can jazz up weeknight chicken on the fly. With endless combinations, you can customize the flavor profile to match any cuisine. So don’t settle for plain chicken when you can amplify its flavor with delicious marinades, compound butters, nutty toppings, and bold sauces. Get creative in the kitchen and take your chicken to flavortown!