Learn how to make grilled blackened chicken with your very own homemade blackening rub!
I am always looking for simple, versatile chicken recipes to incorporate into our weekly meal plan. While we love the classics like crispy chicken tenders or chicken Alfredo this delicious Blackened Chicken has been a great change of pace! It is not what I would classify as “spicy” instead the seasonings add an intense smokey flavor that is perfect on the grill!
One of our favorite ways to have this dish is with a garden salad, but it is also great with our favorite Chili Cheese Chips. Another idea is to serve over pasta with Alfredo sauce for a smokey spin on a classic!
What are Blackened Spices?
Blackened spices are a mix that originated in New Orleans and is packed with smokey, savory flavors. Generally Blackened spices feature paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and other spices. This rub can be used on any type of protein and is also great on vegetables. You can buy pre-made Blackened spices in most grocery stores, however it is very easy to make your own!
What ingredients do you need to make homemade a Blackened rub?
You may be surprised to know that you probably already have the ingredients in your spice cabinet. The spices you will need are:
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Garlic salt
- Pepper
To make the rub mix the spices together in a small bowl. After you make the Blackened Seasoning simply rub onto the meat until it is completely coated. You can either grill or pan sear your meat until it is cooked though and finish by brushing with garlic butter.
If you want to add this spice mix as a pantry staple you can store the mix in an air tight container and use it anytime. The recipe below will liberally cover 1 pound of meat or vegetables, or more if you want to go lighter on the seasoning.
What goes with Blackened Chicken?
This Easy Blackened Chicken is such a versatile dinner option. You can easily grill some on Sunday for a quick meal prep option to go on salads, wraps, or sandwiches. We have made this easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Recipe using this chicken and it was amazing! A really great flavorful dinner that doesn’t require a lot of work.
If serving for dinner these are some of my favorite side dish options:
- Grilled Bacon Wrapped Green Beans (keto)
- Asparagus Avocado and Tomato Salad (keto)
- Low Carb Dinner Rolls (keto)
- Chipotle Gouda Twice Baked Potatoes
- Mom’s Mashed Potatoes
How to Make Grilled Blackened Chicken
Ingredients
Blackened Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Chicken
- 1 pound chicken breast
Garlic Butter
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Heat a grill to high heat (approximtely 400 degrees)In a small bowl combine all the spice ingredients and mix well.
- Slice the chicken so they are uniform in thickness so they cook at the same rate. Sprinkle 1/2 of the seasoning mix on each side of the chicken, make sure to completely cover.
- Grill for 4-5 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Note: The cooking time will vary greatly on the thickness of the chicken.
- When chicken has reached the proper internal temp brush with garlic butter and serve.