The Best Dry Rub for Chicken

Summer time means getting out the grill! When I’m cooking out I usually like to stick to the basics, nothing too fussy. This often means I have to pick up a chicken and toss some rub on it before grilling it.

I like making my own spiced rub because I can control what goes into it and customize it to my own taste. Keeping a pre-made batch of the rub in the pantry will get dinner ready in no time.

What’s in this spice mix

This chicken rub uses lots of paprika, along with granulated garlic and onion powder. It also has herbal notes with the addition of oregano and dried thyme. The coriander adds a floral citrus note that pairs well with the neutral flavor of chicken.

Customize your rub

As with all spice rubs, you can adjust the mix to your own taste.

• Omit the cayenne pepper if you don’t like it spicy.
• Consider adding more pepper or reducing the salt to suit your palate.
• Add herbs and spices such as dried basil, parsley, marjoram or sage to give the rub a more pronounced herbal green note.
• Lemon, lime or orange zest add a citrus note.
• Porcini powder gives the mixture an earthy-spicy umami kick. You can find it in upscale grocery stores and online.

Use fresh spices and herbs

Edible herbs and spices do not go bad, but they lose their strength and taste. It is best to use fresher dried herbs and spices for the best flavor with this rub.

Pro tip: use an airtight glass jar to mix the ingredients and you’ll save yourself the cleanup!

How long does this rub last and how should I store it?

Store this spice rub in an airtight container in the pantry with the remaining herbs and spices, clearly dated. If you use fresh spices, the rub should last a full two years. If your spices aren’t quite as fresh, the rub won’t last as long.

What it is to be used for

This seasoning mix is ​​great for any chicken part – breasts, thighs, legs or wings. You can even sprinkle it on a whole chicken for grilling or roasting. It’s also delicious on fried potatoes or as a condiment for vegetables in general.

how to use it

Drizzle a little oil over the chicken, then sprinkle as much rub over the chicken as you like. Rub the spice mixture in with your fingers. Then grill or roast in the oven as usual! You can even use this rub to make dinner in a sheet pan, meaning you’ll have dinner ready in no time.

Five more ways to use the Rub

• Fried chicken with carrots is easy enough that you can adjust the approach.
• Rub the chicken with this mixture and then load it with garlic for this Roasted Garlic Chicken.
• Instead of salt and pepper, try using equal parts of this mixture for Air Fryer Fried Chicken.
• Spice up your chicken tenders by adding some of the spices to the breading in these Goldfish Chicken Tenders.

Three more frictions you should know about

• The best dry rub for fish and seafood
• The best dry rub for steaks
• The best dry rub for ribs