17 Easy Ways to Add Flavor to Chicken Without Extra Calories

This is my favorite chicken seasoning. It’s simple, quick, and great for giving a midweek meal a lot of flavor. Who feels like chicken tonight?.

There are probably millions of ways to season chicken with dry rubs, brines, marinades, and sauces. That being said, it’s always handy to have a simple but tasty chicken seasoning powder on hand.

This spice blend is a delicate mix of aromatics and heat and is perfect to use on wings, breasts, legs, and thighs. It’s become my go-to, low-effort way to add flavor and color to my chicken when I need a delicious dinner in a hurry. And if you’re after another bold blend that works great on chicken and veggies, try my fajita seasoning. It’s another staple on my spice rack.

Dare I say it – this is the best seasoning for chicken out there. It can also be changed to fit your needs; just use any spices you have on hand to make a homemade chicken seasoning you’ll love. One of my favorite ways to use it is on grilled chicken breast—so simple, but so good.

Chicken can often seem bland and flavorless on its own While baking or pan-frying chicken breast produces a healthy protein, the taste leaves much to be desired. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to add flavor to chicken without adding extra calories or fat

Seasonings

Adding spices to chicken is a quick and easy way to make it taste better without adding any calories. Try rubbing or sprinkling chicken with:

Salt and pepper – These basic seasonings enhance the chicken’s flavor Go light on the salt to reduce sodium,
Italian seasoning: For a strong Italian taste, this mix usually has basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme in it.
This seasoning is made of paprika, garlic, onion, and cayenne pepper. It gives chicken a spicy kick.
Chili powder – For a Tex-Mex inspired flavor, use ancho or regular chili powder.
Cumin – This earthy spice is perfect for Mexican and Southwest cuisine.
When you don’t have fresh garlic or onions, garlic powder and onion powder improve the taste.
Paprika – For a touch of smokiness without any effort, use smoked paprika.
Poultry seasoning – Sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and nutmeg make a classic seasoning blend for all poultry.

Herbs and Spices

Using fresh or dried herbs and spices is an easy way to add flavor to chicken recipes:

Rosemary – This pungent, slightly piney herb is great in chicken dishes like pasta or roasted potatoes.
Thyme – For an earthy flavor, use thyme in chicken soups, stews, and skillet dishes.
Oregano – With its zesty, peppery taste, oregano shines in Greek and Italian chicken recipes.
Basil – Its sweet yet minty taste brightens up chicken salads, pizza, and pasta.
Cilantro – This flavorful herb is a must for Mexican and Southwestern cuisine.
Chili peppers – For spicy chicken, use peppers like chipotle chilies in adobo sauce or dried chilies.
Ginger – Fresh or ground ginger adds warmth and brightness to chicken stir-fries or curries.

Acidic Ingredients

Ingredients like citrus, tomatoes, and vinegar brighten up the flavor of chicken without extra calories:

Lemon – Lemon juice or zest gives chicken a fresh, vibrant taste. Use in marinades or sprinkle zest on top.
Lime – For Mexican dishes, add lime juice and zest to chicken fajitas or tacos.
Orange – Orange juice, zest, or marmalade provide a sweet tangy flavor to chicken.
Tomatoes – Fresh, canned, sun-dried, or cherry tomatoes add juiciness and rich umami.
Wine vinegar – Red or white wine vinegar marinades tenderize chicken.
Rice vinegar – Its mild acidity and touch of sweetness flavors Asian chicken recipes.
Yogurt – Plain Greek or regular yogurt makes an excellent marinade and keeps chicken moist.

Aromatics

Onion, garlic, shallots, and other aromatics infuse chicken with flavor:

Onion – Sauteed, grilled, or caramelized onions complement chicken in a variety of cuisines.
Garlic – Use garlic powder, fresh garlic, or jarred minced garlic for an flavor boost.
Shallots – These mild, onion-garlic hybrids add sweetness to chicken in sauces or dressings.
Ginger – Fresh or ground ginger adds a peppery bite to chicken, especially in Asian cooking.
Lemongrass – This floral, citrusy herb is delicious with chicken in Thai and Vietnamese dishes.

Sauces and Condiments

Drizzle sauces over chicken or use small amounts while cooking to add lots of flavor:

Soy sauce – Use regular or low-sodium soy sauce in stir-fries, marinades, and dipping sauces.
Fish sauce – This pungent Thai condiment adds an umami flavor when cooking chicken.
Worcestershire sauce – For savory depth, marinate chicken or add to pan sauces and gravies.
Hot sauce – A few splashes of hot sauce spices up chicken wings, tacos, and enchiladas.
Barbecue sauce – Brush on grilled or baked chicken for easy barbecue flavor.
Teriyaki sauce – The sweet Japanese sauce doubles as a marinade and glaze.
Honey mustard – Drizzle sparingly on chicken sandwiches, wraps, and salads for tangy sweetness.

Cooking Techniques

How you prepare chicken makes a big difference in maximizing its flavor:

Grilling – Charred, smoky grilled chicken is full of flavor. Try using a dry rub or marinade first.
Roasting – Roasting concentrates flavors and makes chicken extra juicy.
Pan-searing – Browning chicken pieces in a skillet really boosts flavor. Deglaze the pan to make a sauce.
Poaching – Gently simmering chicken in flavorful poaching liquid infuses it with taste.
Braising – Slow, moist heat tenderizes chicken and lets it absorb surrounding flavors.
Brining – Soaking chicken in a saltwater brine seasons it throughout and keeps it incredibly moist.

With just a little creativity, you can turn bland chicken into something crave-worthy and delicious using simple, low-calorie ingredients. What are your go-to ways to add flavor to chicken?

what can i add to chicken for flavor

How to Season Chicken

Add all your ingredients to a small bowl or a jar, adjusting amounts based on your taste. Mix or whisk well.

If you’re using straight away, there’s a simple way to infuse your chicken seasoning blend with your meat:

Dry your chicken with a paper towel and put it in a clean bowl or dish. Contrary to what most people think, you don’t need to wash your chicken. It can splash germs that are bad for you onto your sink and other surfaces.
Cover the meat with the chicken seasoning. Carefully rub it into the meat with your hands, gloves or not. For every pound of chicken, I use 1 tablespoon of seasoning mix. You can use more or less, though, based on your taste.
If the chicken still has skin on it, add some to the inside to make it taste better. It tastes great poured over a whole chicken before roasting after being mixed with some melted butter.
If you can, leave it for up to two hours. At least 15 minutes is enough time for the flavors to blend. It will make the chicken taste great and turn it a beautiful deep red color.

Cook and enjoy! This chicken seasoning will work with most cooking methods – whether you’re roasting, grilling, pan-frying, or air frying.

What Do You Season Chicken with

The best spices for chicken tend to use a balance of both herbs and spices, brought together to enhance the flavor of the meat specifically. Depending on your palate, you can lean more toward an aromatic blend or a smoky, subtly sweet flavor. You could buy it at the store, but I think making a simple seasoning at home is better because you can control what goes into it, especially how much salt is in it.

The best spices for chicken seasoning, I find, are:

Salt and Pepper,
They can be smoked, hot, or mild, but they all work in this recipe.
Dried Oregano: You can also use dried thyme, basil, parsley, or rosemary. For the best flavor, I like to dry oregano from fresh. You can also buy them already dried at the store.
Spices like garlic powder and onion powder have strong smells and can be used to make chicken taste better.

And here are some optional add-ins I sometimes love adding:

White or brown sugar works well with chicken seasoning to make it sweet and caramelized.
Different amounts of heat can be achieved with white pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder, or celery salt.
For more spiciness: ground mustard seeds, or ground cumin.

For this seasoning, you want the most flavor, so make sure your herbs and spices are as fresh as possible. Over time, they lose some of their flavor.

The Best Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe ❗️

FAQ

What can I add to chicken to make it more flavorful?

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure. This Middle Eastern spice rub is delicious when charred on the grill.

How do you add flavour to chicken?

Consider fresh rosemary and lemon slices. Or white wine and rosemary. Or sprinkle spices (paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper . or paprika, and a touch of cinnamon, and ginger, plus some salt and black pepper). Chinese spices, soy sauce, etc. Middle Eastern flavors. Or bake it with BBQ sauce.

How to make a chicken extra tasty?

Use a brine: Brining your chicken is a foolproof way to make your roast taste better and keep it from getting too done. The brine is mostly made up of salt, sugar, and water. To make it taste better, we love adding garlic, herbs, or whole spices like fennel and cumin.

How to increase chicken taste?

The best way to enhance that flavor is with salt, which is a crucial flavor potentiator. So it helps to brine the meat with some kind of salt water solution, eg: Brining. If the brine contains other water-soluble flavors, such as liquid smoke, or soy sauce, they can penetrate through the meat.