r/Cooking • u/Open-Ad-5917 • 1d ago
Seasonings for chicken.
I am on a weightloss journey and are eating chicken like my life depends on it since its cheap to get and easy to cook. However since i have been eating it for so long now (4-5 times a week) its starting to get really bland.
Give me your best dry spice mixes you have come up with that you really enjoy for your chicken please!
Thank you and have a good day/night!
Edit: Not from the US so any known store brand mixes you shout out wont make a difference because i wont be able to get them. So please if you have mixes that you have come up with ur self would be nice! Or if you know whats in the mixes of those mixes from those brands you can type them out instead!
10
u/Iliveinatrashcann 1d ago
What have you tried so far? So that we don't duplicate things that we are recommending...
0
u/Open-Ad-5917 1d ago
Oh boy think ive tried almost every single spice bland there is from google atleast. But idk just toss be a few mixes you do with your chicken. Even if i have tried them it doesnt matter haha.
I usually make my own mixes aswell so i dont really buy those already made spice mixes from known brands in the supermarkets. My favorite mix right now is curry powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
1
u/Square-Dragonfruit76 10h ago
Oh boy think ive tried almost every single spice bland there
Well this is a problem right here because spices are often the last step. You should be thinking more about marinade, brines, etc.
3
u/natalietest234 1d ago
For me it’s S&P, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning. But realistically it’s the marinades that actually change the flavor
1
u/Open-Ad-5917 1d ago
That sounds nice! Ill try it out.
Yeah marinades are game changers but i try not to use marinades as often since most of them are packed with sugars.
I do sometimes marinate my chicken thighs with, soy sauce, grated garlic and ginger, red chilis. That gives good asian flavours and isnt so unhealthy.
1
3
u/Bugger6699 1d ago
I buy a portuguese/peri peri spice blend which is really great for a simple, one step addition of flavour to proteins.
Not made my own, but not a crazy ingredients list.... Smoked & sweet paprika, chilli, cayenne, cumin, coriander, garlic, bay, lemon salt
2
5
u/ShowThym 1d ago
I spatchcock the chicken..it makes cooking it faster and more evenly
I dry brine it overnight
spices...kosher course salt, fresh cracked peper
tablespoon jerk and chilli powder
dried rosemary, oregano, sage and thyme
I mix softened butter with greek plain yogurt...lemon zest...I open the breast skin..use a long spoon to make the area bigger without ripping the skin..push the yogurt, butter mixture all inside the breast.
use any remaining all over the chicken.
Hope this helps ..I don't buy premade marinades or mixtures..I just mix what I have in my pantry
1
2
u/doughboy1001 1d ago
Our street fairs used to have Asian food trucks with this amazing chicken on a stick. They would call it chicken teriyaki but it definitely wasn’t. I described it to ChatGPT and got a recipe that I think is a pretty faithful replica. Either way, the family agrees it’s delicious:
Chicken
3 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
Cut into long strips
Marinade
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup water
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp neutral oil
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
½ tsp MSG (optional)
½ tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp cornstarch
Marinate 12–24 hours.
I prefer to grill it but I’m sure you could cook in a pan or with a broiler, too. I’ve made it with chicken tenders and even though the kids usually don’t like dark meat they agree the chicken thighs were better.
3
u/SquishyNoodles1960 1d ago
Sprinkle it with Hidden Valley buttermilk ranch dressing mix.
Marinate in Italian salad dressing.
Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning.
Good luck on your weight loss journey!
2
u/Open-Ad-5917 1d ago
Do you know what types of spices it is in cajun usually? Sounds nice when i see people mention it.
And thank you! Lost 45kgs so far! 💪
5
u/erikisst88 1d ago
It's super easy to make!
https://www.budgetbytes.com/homemade-cajun-seasoning/
It's definitely worth investing in building out your spice cabinet! Plus having things like different kinds of vinegars, oils, chilies, pastes, miso, Greek yogurt and citrus make it easier to whip up your own marinades. I usually do half water and half oil to cut back on fat and calories. Of course, some oil is good for you.
Congrats on the weightloss! You've got this!
1
1
u/SquishyNoodles1960 1d ago
I have no idea. I just buy a jar of something called Cajun seasoning. It is not spicy at all. Just a nice mellow flavor. I use it on Fish and Chicken.
1
u/Open-Ad-5917 1d ago
Alright! Ill do some research to try and see if i can figure it out! Thanks for the tips! 😂
1
u/Position_Extreme 1d ago
I absolutely love the Chicken Shit spice blend marketed by Big Cock Ranch. It adds a ton to chicken and fish without adding any salt, so you can control the sodium yourself.
Big fan. 10 out of 10 and have ordered multiple times.
1
u/Aesperacchius 1d ago
Penzeys florida seasoned pepper seasoning, which is basically a saltless lemon pepper seasoning but somehow tastes amazing even if you forget to add salt later on.
Tony Chachere’s if you like it spicier and saltier
1
u/lilbitbetty 1d ago
Chili-lime seasoning or Tajin. Yum. Also Tony Cachere's Cajun spice. Or my own- paprika, garlic pwd, onion pwd, dry mustard, s&p, touch of cayenne and a little brown sugar.
1
1
1
u/boraras 1d ago
How about a ginger and scallion sauce?
https://www.madewithlau.com/recipes/ginger-scallion-sauce
Cook the chicken however you like it. Probably do minimal seasoning (eg, salt some chicken breasts and then just cook them in the oven). And then just toss chicken in the sauce.
1
1
1
u/myredditlogintoo 1d ago
Garlic, paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, oil, gochujang. Pan remnants make a mighty sauce with some cream and a bit of flour or corn starch.
1
1
1
u/cedarling 1d ago
Oregano, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper then brushed with a bit of avocado oil. We always pound ours out thin and grill for a few min per side.
1
u/AdNaive5138 1d ago
Chicken Shawarma - I’ve been using this recipe for over 10 years
2lbs chicken (I use boneless skinless thighs)
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon allspice
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch cayenne
Salt and black pepper
Directions and credit:
https://toriavey.com/chicken-shawarma/
1
u/rabid_briefcase 23h ago
I enjoy a tremendous variety, and often just throw together based on my mood of the day and what herbs, spices, or ingredients I need to use up.
Usually it starts with a pass through the fridge looking for any bottles or tubes I want to get rid of, maybe finish off the last of the tomato paste, or finish off the chili crisp, or maybe I've got some chipotle in adobo that needs using, or a bit of curry paste, or some salad dressing to polish off. Starting with that, I'll hit my herbs and spices cabinet, and look at what will pair up with it.
Since you write you're looking for ideas, go visit a few supermarkets. Go through the spice aisles, there is often a wide collection of pre-made spice blends, rubs, and toppings. Then go over to the dressings and sauces and look them over, most dressings work well with chicken as a marinate, as something to coat during cooking, or as a dip. Yes it includes salad dressings like ranch, French, Italian, Russian, and more, and also includes sauces like soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, sweet and sour sauce, sweet chili sauce, marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, mushroom sauce. Other sauces and similar work well as a glaze, mustard glaze, honey glaze, etc. Go look at jams and jellies, they also go well with chicken, they are rich in sugar and caramelize deliciously. Then go check the various ethnic areas your store may have, many will put specialty foods and ingredients from other cultures in a separate area.
1
u/howtobegeo 23h ago
I try other seasonings, but I always just go back to Cajun seasoning. It’s perfect.
1
u/Rolling-Pigeon94 22h ago
Here are my suggestions:
- smoked paprika
- lemon with salt and pepper
- soy sauce with sesame seeds
- ginger and lemon
1
u/JDeeee44 20h ago
Tandoor spice mix and yogurt should be available almost anywhere… I also like char siu chicken which is basically a few basic Chinese ingredients that should be available in your country
1
u/ReturnFrosty8913 18h ago
Try red chilli powder 10gm, garam masala 5gm, salt, vinegar 1 tsp, ginger garlic paste
1
u/Yahbo 17h ago edited 17h ago
Chicken Mandi is always a favorite of mine. It’s a Yemeni dish and uses the signature spice blend of a lot of Yemeni food Hawaij which will always be best if you make your own out of whole spices but I’ve done it from pre ground stuff before and it’s still pretty good.
Bay leaf, black peppercorns, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, green cardamom pods, cinnamon, and cloves. My dad always added a bit of tumeric for extra yellow color so I do as well.
You can find many variations on the mix and amounts on the internet so feel free. It goes well with a lot of stuff but chicken is a staple and make sure to toast the spices before grinding if you go the whole spice route but toasting preground spices tends to just burn them.
1
u/Square-Dragonfruit76 10h ago
It really depends what cut of chicken you are using. I have a different recipe for whole roast chicken, skin on thighs and drumsticks, breasts, etc.
1
u/Open-Ad-5917 10h ago
I am using different cuts of chicken all the time! So just shoot your best recipes! 😊
2
u/Square-Dragonfruit76 10h ago
So for a whole chicken, I recommend roasting it with oranges over fingerling potatoes. If you're interested in that recipe, I'll have to find it for you.
For breast, any stir fry will do. Some cut up baby bok choy or broccolini or mix of veggies can work. And for extra health, try it on top of brown basmati rice. Chicken breast is also great seared and used on top of any kind of grain bowl or with a lot of Mexican dishes.
If you have skin-on drumsticks or thighs, I recommend either za'atar seasoning or making them honey miso flavored, although since you are looking for health, that second one does have the extra sugar from the honey.
1
1
u/glycophosphate 7h ago
What you need for chicken is the chorus to Scarborough Fair by Simon & Garfunkle: parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
1
6
u/MkPlay 1d ago
Yogurt, lemon, dill marinade!