Blackened chicken is one of my favorite chicken recipes and it is so easy to make and so full of flavor. This blackened chicken recipe has the most delicious blackened seasoning that coats the chicken and gives it that beautiful blackened crust that makes a perfect blackened chicken. This recipe definitely deserves a spot on your dinner table and I promise it will impress anyone who tries it.
This blackened chicken recipe was a dish I came up with many years ago when I was looking for a new chicken recipe that had lots of flavor, was not difficult and that everyone would love. I wanted an easy chicken recipe that I could serve to my family for a quick weeknight meal and also serve to guests when they visited.
This blackened chicken recipe checks off all those boxes and it has become a family (and guest) favorite for years. This chicken recipe is smokey and deep flavored and goes so well with so many side dishes.
The blackened chicken seasoning in the recipe is a blackened dry rub meaning you mix the spices together and press the chicken into it before cooking.
One off my favorite things about this blackened chicken is since it cooks in olive oil on the stove top, the blackened spices blend together with the oil when cooking and it produces the most delicious spiced olive oil to drizzle over the chicken before serving and to drizzle over any sides that you are serving with it.
Ingredients for Blackened Chicken
- Boneless chicken breasts. I prefer chicken breasts when making this recipe but you could also use chicken thighs.
- Olive oil. Any olive oil will work well. You do not need extra virgin olive oil.
- Blackened Chicken Seasoning: Paprika, Chili Powder, Cayenne pepper (the amount used in the recipe won't be too spicy. You can add more cayenne pepper if you want it spicy), kosher salt.
There are not many ingredients needed for this easy blackened chicken recipe but I promise the flavor is out of this World. I always get great feedback whenever I make this recipe and I make it a lot.
How To Make Blackened Chicken
- Step 1: Mix all of your blackened chicken seasoning spices on a plate making sure it is mixed well.
- Step 2: Take your butterflied chicken breasts and place it in your dry rub making sure to coat all the chicken on both sides.
- Step 3: Cook your chicken in a hot pan with some olive oil until browned on both sides.
What to serve with blackened chicken:
I really love serving a fluffy rice with it because the rice soaks up that blackened flavor so well. I also love to serve it with my sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Lemon or my Chopped Kale Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing.
These blackened chicken side dishes are the best friends to this chicken recipe because those greens and lemon flavor compliment the blackened chicken well.
Tips:
The dry rub does not take too much time to make but if you want to plan ahead, you can make the rub ahead of time and also butterfly your chicken ahead of time as well.
I do not recommend adding the dry rub to the chicken beforehand. Try to leave this step for right before you are ready to cook.
If you prefer to make blackened chicken tenders, chicken tenders will work really well with this recipe. If you do opt for using chicken tenders, you do not need to butterfly them.
Just press them into the dry rub and cook the same as you would the chicken breasts.
About the blackened seasoning in this recipe
Blackened seasoning is a mix of dried spices that are pressed on to meat before cooking. The spices blacken when cooked, giving it its name blackened seasoning.
Normally, blackened seasoning has oregano in it which I have never liked for this type of recipe. I do love oregano, just not in my blackened seasoning.
This blackened seasoning is not too spicy. It just has an incredible blackened flavor without too much heat. If you like really spicy, my spicy Blackened Spice Rub Seasoning can be used for this recipe as well.
More Recipes You May Like:
- Chicken and Andouille Gumbo
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Chicken Fajitas Tacos
- Easy Fajitas From Leftovers
- Coconut Chicken with Hot Honey
- Sheet Pan Za'atar Chicken and Veggies
- Southwest Chicken Bowls
- Sausage Jambalaya
- Venezuelan Arepas
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
- Chicken Tarragon
The Best Blackened Chicken Recipe
Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless chicken breasts butterflied and each breast cut into two.
- 3 tablespoon Olive oil
Blackened Seasoning
- ¼ cup Sweet paprika
- 3 tablespoon Chili powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon kosher salt
- pinch of cayenne pepper for spicier blackened chicken add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add all of your spices on to a plate and mix well.¼ cup Sweet paprika, 3 tablespoon Chili powder, 1 ½ tablespoon kosher salt, pinch of cayenne pepper
- Butterfly your chicken by cutting the chicken breast in half lengthwise with a sharp knife, and cutting the two sides apart (making 2 pieces of chicken from one breast.)2 large boneless chicken breasts
- Press your chicken into your dry rub making sure to coat both sides.
- Add the olive oil to a medium sauté pan over medium heat.3 tablespoon Olive oil
- When heated, add your meat to the pan and cook until meat is nice and browned, about 4-5 minutes.
- Now flip the chicken over to cook the other side for 4-5 minutes until it is browned and cooked all the way through (no pink juices are visible when cut).
- Serve immediately and spoon some of the flavored olive oil from the pan over the meat.
Nutrition
Nutrition Values are estimates only.
See full nutrition disclaimer here
Jen says
This was really tasty!
Melissa says
Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Ken says
This chicken was delicious!
Melissa says
I am so glad you enjoyed it Ken 🙂
Nancy says
Everyone loved it. There were no leftovers at all 🙂
Billie says
It came out great and was not too spicy. We added a bit of cayenne after they were cooked but the flavor was amazing.