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    Home » Budget Strategies

    Spicy Chicken Rub for Grilled Chicken

    Published: Aug 3, 2019 · Modified: Jul 19, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    Fire up the grill and enjoy an easy chicken dinner with this Spicy Chicken Rub. Making your own seasoning blend helps you avoid additives and will save you money!

    Grilled chicken with spicy chicken rub this …

    Do you ever find yourself in a pinch for what to make for dinner?

    Maybe you found a great sale on chicken but you’re stumped for how to season it.

    Or maybe you want to cook out tonight but you’re bored of the standard hot dogs or hamburgers.

    Or maybe you just need a quick, no-brainer, no-fail recipe to save the day.

    Good thing is that I have just the thing! A Spicy Chicken Rub that comes together in minutes and flavors your chicken in a mesmerizing way.

    I like to be organized at meal times, but despite all my best efforts, I still have the odd night when I’m staring into the fridge wondering what to make. That’s usually when the grill comes into play.

    If I can get a hold on something to throw on the barbie, dinner can come together pretty quickly. And so can you!

    This homemade spice rub is actually hearty enough to stand up to beef and pork, but doesn’t overpower chicken, either. It’s the all-purpose, perfect flavoring for all your meat-seasoning needs.

    platter of spicy chicken with tongs

    How can I make plain chicken taste better?

    Over the last few years, my grilling preparation has become more streamlined and simplified. Instead of taking time to make a lot of marinades, I’ve been relying on homemade spice blends to add flavor to chicken, fish, pork, and beef.

    It takes just minutes to mix up a spice blend, and I’ve found that it’s a very economical way to add great flavor to all our grilling cuts. That’s not to say I’ve abandoned the marinades. I still have my favorite marinade recipes.

    But, when I’m in a pinch, the spice rub comes to my rescue.

    What spice goes well with chicken?

    There are lots of great herbs and spices that go well with chicken. It really depends on what flavor profile you’re looking for.

    Cumin, oregano, and chile powder offer a southwest flavor while tarragon, thyme, and rosemary hearken to France. Cardamom, turmeric, cumin, and curry offer Indian flavors while garlic and five-spice powder will give it an Asian seasoning.

    This Spicy Chicken Rub, with a mix of spices from around the globe, has been a long-time favorite of ours. There’s a little bit of heat from the cayenne, but not enough to be overpowering.

    Spicy Chicken Rub seasoning

    How do you make a spice rub for chicken?

    Making your own spice mixes couldn’t be easier! Simply blend the herbs and spices together in a small bowl. Season your chicken, taking care not to get any moisture in the spice mix or to contaminate it with chicken juices. Then store the leftover spice rub in an airtight container in the pantry.

    You can mix up one batch at a time or make several batches at one time.

    It’s a wonder spice; what can I say? Keep it on hand for all kinds of quick seasoning jobs.

    chicken seasoned with spice rub

    Do you season chicken before or after cooking?

    I prefer to season the chicken before I cook it. It helps the spices to adhere better to the chicken and flavor it well.

    However, if you’d like to season cooked chicken after the fact, chop or shred the meat and toss it with a few teaspoons of the seasoning. This works really well with a rotisserie chicken.

    For a cooked chicken that may already be seasoned with salt, you may want to omit the salt from the spice recipe.

    Spicy Chicken Rub chicken on grill

    Make enough grilled chicken so that you can add it to salads and quinoa bowls throughout the week or freeze it for a later date. You’ll be so glad you did!

    If you don’t have a grill or aren’t in the mood for grilling, you can still use this Spicy Chicken Rub on chicken for baking, broiling, or sautéing.

    How do you store cooked chicken?

    To store for later: cool cooked chicken and package in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    If you’d like to freeze the chicken, chill it completely in the fridge before storing it in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

    dinner of spicy chicken with spice rub

    How to save money making this recipe:

    Here are some of the strategies I use to make this recipe more economical:

    • Meal plan around what’s on sale. Don’t decide to make this when chicken is $5/pound and you have none in the freezer. Next time you see chicken on sale, add this to your meal plan!
    • Do a price comparison. I know that ALDI is the best place for me to buy chicken when there isn’t a great sale elsewhere. It’s normally $1.89/lb! I keep track of prices so that I know who has the best deal where.
    • Buy spices in bulk. I regularly buy large containers of the spices I use most frequently, like pepper, salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and dill. I fill small containers to store in my spice cupboard and then store the excess herbs and spices in the freezer to extend their shelf life. It’s much cheaper to buy large amounts of spice this way. If you’re not sure you can use a large quantity, split it with a friend or Give Spice Mixes as Gifts.
    • Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. Buy extra chicken as well as spice ingredients and stash them away in your pantry so you can make this dish whenever you want.

    Tools you might need to make this recipe easy:

    This is a pretty straight-forward dish. You don’t need any fancy equipment. However, having some good basic kitchen tools can really make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. Over time, I’ve honed my collection so that they are perfect for my needs. Here are the tools that I like to use in this recipe.

    • plastic cutting boards – I have blue boards for veggies and white boards for meat.
    • Ergo Chef chef’s knife – I’ve had my set for several years and they work well for trimming chicken.
    • small dish or Mason jar with a lid – These are great for storing spice mixes.

    bowl of spice rub for chicken

    If you prepare this recipe, be sure to share a picture on social media and hashtag it #GOODCHEAPEATS. I can't wait to see what you cook up!
    bowl of spice rub for chicken
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    4.80 from 15 votes

    Spicy Chicken Rub

    Fire up the grill and enjoy an easy chicken dinner with this Spicy Chicken Rub. Making your own seasoning blend helps you avoid additives and will save you money!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 tablespoons
    Calories: 18kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon dried dill
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Store in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to use.

    Notes

    Note: To use spice rub, brush chicken pieces or other meat with olive oil. Season liberally with chicken rub. Rub in gently. Cook over a hot grill until done.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 585mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1828IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @goodcheapeatsblog or tag #goodcheapeats!

    A bunch of food on a plate, with Chicken and salads

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    Comments

    1. Sarah

      August 22, 2016 at 4:11 am

      This sounds exactly like the kind of spice mix my husband has been looking for. We use Jamie’s Spice Mix frequently when we grill, but he likes a lot of variety and spice – so we will give this a try! Thank you.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        August 27, 2016 at 4:09 pm

        I hope you all enjoy it!

        Reply
    2. Beth Werner Lee

      June 30, 2016 at 8:27 pm

      Garlic and Oregano, and if playful lemon or lime first, or if feeling asian, soy sauce. That’s for pieces with skin on: douse, sprinkle, bake on a foil lined sheet for an hour at 375 or 400 (if big pieces).

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        August 27, 2016 at 4:09 pm

        Sounds yummy and easy!

        Reply
    3. Carolyn - A Purpose Driven Home

      May 05, 2011 at 7:31 pm

      Always looking for some great new chicken recipes!! Can’t wait to try some of these out!

      Reply
    4. Rivki Locker (Ordinary Blogger)

      May 05, 2011 at 6:07 pm

      I love spice rubs. Can’t wait for warmer weather!!!

      Reply
    5. Aimee

      May 05, 2011 at 9:54 am

      Thanks for hosting! I love grilling…and the sun is shining today!

      Reply
    6. Sarah

      May 05, 2011 at 8:44 am

      Can’t wait to start grilling chicken… if the rain/snow stops around here! 🙂

      Reply
    7. Tammy @ Skinny Mom's Kitchen

      May 05, 2011 at 8:33 am

      I have so many chicken recipes I love but I decided to link up to my whole wheat chicken parm. It is a family favorite and the perfect comfort food.

      Also your rub looks fantastic. I am having a barbeque for my staff in a few weeks and starting to compile recipes and I may just add this one. You made a shortbread with whipped cream and fruit a week or so ago that I am going to try and make for the dessert. When I do I will be sure to share pictures. I just love your blog.

      Reply
    8. Nora

      May 05, 2011 at 7:19 am

      Looks so good, I love grilled chicken

      Reply
    9. Mary Ostyn

      May 05, 2011 at 7:15 am

      The recipe I shared is a double batch– serve one, freeze one for later. Love all the ideas here!
      Mary, mom to many

      Reply
    10. Mindy @ The Purposed Heart

      May 05, 2011 at 7:11 am

      Yummy! I love spice rubs and will definitely have go give this one a try. Thanks! Mindy

      Reply
    11. Pary Moppins

      May 05, 2011 at 6:54 am

      Cold roast chicken, a lovely salad plate, and plenty of pickles.

      Reply
    12. Marion

      May 05, 2011 at 5:58 am

      Your chicken looks so wonderful. I will have to try your rub soon. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
      ~ Marion

      Reply
    13. Susie's Homemade

      May 05, 2011 at 5:52 am

      I have a whole slew of chicken recipes:-)

      Reply
    14. [email protected] Balance Sheet

      May 05, 2011 at 4:29 am

      We grill a lot too. It is so much easier and my husband, who isn’t much of a cook, doesn’t mind it when he is the grillmaster.

      Thanks for the link up.

      Reply
    15. Adrienne @ Whole New Mom

      May 05, 2011 at 4:03 am

      I shared my newfound penny pinching aid in the kitchen….Homemade Taco Seasoning. Enjoy!

      Reply
    16. Micha

      May 04, 2011 at 8:15 pm

      That’s my kind of chicken. I will have to try that because everything I’ve made that has been a recipe from you has turned out great.

      Reply
    17. Kimarie @ The Cardamom's Pod

      May 04, 2011 at 7:53 pm

      That looks like a delicious rub! My husband is kind of “in” to meat rubs lately. I was just going to start researching how to make our own and then I saw this post. Thanks! 🙂

      Reply
    18. Kristin

      May 04, 2011 at 7:37 pm

      I just finished blogging a whole week of chicken recipes after reading this post: http://parentingthetiniestofmiracles.blogspot.com/2011/01/prepping-five-meals-from-five-chicken.html . I never knew how to break down chicken like this. The savings are amazing.

      I’m excited to try your rub. It looks like you use it on boneless skinless breasts. Have you tried it on chicken with skin?

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        May 05, 2011 at 7:36 am

        Thanks for your persistence in commenting. Since you linked to a permalink in the url field of the comments, it took it to spam. All’s well now. 🙂

        Reply
        • Kristin

          May 05, 2011 at 9:22 am

          @Jessica Fisher, Good to know for the future!

    19. Allison @ Alli 'n Son

      May 04, 2011 at 7:31 pm

      Ohhh, this sounds delish. I love grilling out.

      Thanks for hosting!

      Reply
    20. Crystal @Mrs Happy Homemaker

      May 04, 2011 at 7:27 pm

      This sounds like a great rub recipe!

      Reply
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