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    Blackened Chicken | One of The Best Healthy Chicken Recipes

    by Joe Duff 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This blackened chicken recipe is one of the best healthy chicken recipes you'll make. It has a delicious blend of seasonings and spices that pair well with any dish & the chicken turns out so juicy and tender. Plus, it's super easy to make too! Just a few simple steps are all you need to follow to make some delicious blackened chicken!

    A white plate of one whole piece of blackened chicken and one sliced piece of blackened chicken set on top of leafy green lettuce. There are a few lemon slices on the plate with a fork at the edge of the bottom of the plate. A small white bowl of seasonings is behind the plate.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Blackened Chicken Recipe
      • Ingredients For Blackened Chicken
        • The Main Ingredient: Chicken
        • Can You Use Frozen Chicken To Make Blackened Chicken
      • How To Make Blackened Chicken
        • Step 1: Prep
        • Step 2: Season The Chicken
        • Step 3: Cooking The Chicken
      • Air Fryer Blackened Chicken
      • Storing Your Blackened Chicken
      • Wrapping It All Up
    • More Chicken Recipes
    • Blackened Chicken | The Best Healthy Chicken Recipe
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Notes
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Blackened Chicken Recipe

    Chicken breasts are one of the most versatile foods.

    And there are so many ways to make them, it can be hard to pick one

    Some chicken recipes are extravagant and involve a long process or complicated steps. 

    But, this blackened chicken recipe is one of the easiest chicken recipes you can make. You only need a few simple spices to make the blackened seasoning, and the chicken is done in under 20 minutes.

    So, I guess it's no surprise why it's become one of my go-to chicken recipes for lunch & dinner.

    And, it meal preps fantastically too!

    Seriously, all you have to do is pair the chicken with any of your favorite sides and some veggies, and you've got yourself a quick, easy, and delicious meal!

    If you need something to pair it with, I suggest making this four cheese pasta or trenette al pesto to go with it. It truly is the best main course cuisine that you can eat with literally anything you want.

    An overhead view of two whole pieces of cooked blackened chicken in a skillet. Five lemon slices are surrounding the chicken in the skillet. The skillet is on a wooden saucer. There is a white bowl of seasonings behind the skillet and everything is on a wood table.

    Ingredients For Blackened Chicken

    As I mentioned, the only ingredients you will need for this blackened chicken recipe are a few spices and seasonings to make the blacked seasoning -along with the chicken breasts, of course. 

    And the blackened seasoning uses some of the most common ingredients for cooking, so odds are you already have all of them on hand. 

    That said, here's what you'll need for this chicken breast recipe: 

    • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts 
    • 1 tablespoon paprika 
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 
    • ½ teaspoon Italian herbs seasoning 
    • ½ tablespoon onion powder 
    • ½ tablespoon garlic powder 
    •  ½ teaspoon salt 
    • pinch of ground black pepper 
    •  Lemon for garnish
    • 2 tbsp olive oil for frying

    Pretty common stuff, right?!

    Now, I highly suggest you use all of the ingredients to make the blackened seasoning for the full flavor profile.

    Oh, and this chicken is delicious on its own, but you can use it to make a blackened chicken salad with this spicy southwest salad recipe to create one heck of meal!

    Two pieces of cooked blackened chicken in a skillet. The piece of chicken in the back of the skillet is whole and the front piece is cut into strips. There are slices of lemon around the chicken. The skillet is on a wooden saucer on a wood table.

    The Main Ingredient: Chicken

    So, for this recipe, we are going to be using chicken breast to make blackened chicken. But, you can also use chicken thighs or any other chicken that you prefer. Chicken thighs honestly go really well with the blackened seasoning.

    That said, if your chicken breasts are thicker, slice them horizontally to reduce the cooking time.

    Also, to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly, I suggest flattening the chicken breast to be all the same size.

    To do this, place the chicken between two pieces of parchment paper, plastic wrap, or in a resealable bag. Then starting in the center, pound lightly with the flat side of a meat mallet, and work your way to the outsides until the chicken is even in thickness.

    Two pieces of blackened chicken on a white plate with leafy green lettuce underneath the chicken. The piece of chicken at the front of the plate is cut into slices and the other piece of chicken at the back of the plate is whole. There are four slices of lemon on the side and back of the chicken. A white bowl of seasonings is behind the plate of chicken. The plate is on a wooden sauce and everything is on a wood table.

    Can You Use Frozen Chicken To Make Blackened Chicken

    One way to always have this recipe as an option if you need a quick meal is to keep frozen chicken on hand. 

    If you are using frozen chicken, there are two ways to go about thawing it. 

    One way is to move the chicken from the freezer to the refrigerator. Then, allow up to 2 days for the chicken to completely thaw, depending on how big a piece of chicken it is.

    Also, another way to thaw the frozen chicken is in a bowl of cold water.  To do this, place the chicken in a leak-proof, zip loc bag to avoid any water from entering. Then, submerge the bag in the bowl of cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. And the thawing process will take up to an hour per pound of chicken.

    All that said, after the chicken thaws, it will remain safe for a day or so in the refrigerator - so cook it soon after you thaw it.

    An overhead view of a whole cooked piece of blackened chicken and a sliced cooked piece of blackened chicken in a skillet. Five lemon slices are surrounding the chicken in the skillet. The skillet is on a wooden saucer on a wood table.

    How To Make Blackened Chicken

    So, to make our blackened chicken, we will be cooking it in a cast iron skillet. And cast-iron skillets can go from the stovetop right into the oven, making this recipe a seamless process. 

    The combination of searing and baking is what gives the blackened chicken its unique flavor. 

    That said, make sure you have an oven mitt on hand to move your skillet from the stovetop to the oven. The handle of the skillet will be just as hot as the surface.

    Ok, now let's get cooking!

    Step 1: Prep

    First, you'll want to preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C).

    Then measure out the cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs, and smoked paprika, mix all the spices in a small bowl, and set them aside.

    Then, heat your cast iron skillet over high heat and add your olive oil to cover the surface of the skillet. 

    Step 2: Season The Chicken

    While the cast iron skillet is heating up, brush the chicken breasts lightly with olive oil on each side. 

    Then, spoon the seasoning mixture evenly over one side of the chicken.

    Press the chicken breasts with your hands to make sure the seasonings stick, then do the same thing to the other side. 

    Step 3: Cooking The Chicken

    Now, once the cast iron skillet is smoking hot, add your chicken breasts. 

    Cook them for about 1 minute on each side in the hot pan to prepare the blackened chicken breast. This will also ensure that the chicken will cook evenly in the oven.

    Then, transfer the cast iron skillet into the heated oven to finish cooking for about 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). 

    Now, once you have the cooked chicken, take it out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, and then garnish with lemon and serve.

    An overhead view of two pieces of blackened chicken a white plate. One piece is whole and the other piece is cut into slices. There is a leafy green piece of lettuce under the chicken with a a few slices of lemon on the plate. The plate is on a wooden saucer on a wooden table.

    Air Fryer Blackened Chicken

    Ok, so making the best blackened chicken recipe in an air fryer is just as easy - if not, easier - than making it in a skillet & oven.

    So, to make this recipe in your air fryer you'll want to preheat it to 360°F (175°C) for 5 minutes. 

    Then, while the air fryer is preheating, you'll want to follow the same steps above to season your chicken breasts. 

    Now, once the air fryer is heated and your chicken breasts are seasoned, place your blackened chicken breast in the air fryer basket, and cook them on each side for 10 minutes apiece.

    Two whole pieces of cooked blackened chicken in a skillet. Five sliced lemons are surrounding the chicken. A small white bowl of seasonings is set behind the skillet with two lemon halves next to it. Everything is on a wooden table.

    Storing Your Blackened Chicken

    Ok, so you made the best blackened chicken ever, you ate it, you loved it, and now you have some leftover and need to store it.

    Well, after the chicken is cooked, you can store it in the fridge in an airtight container - or sealable bag - for up to 4 days. 

    And, if you want to store this chicken for longer, you can keep it in the freezer in an airtight container - or in a freezer-safe bag - for up to 4 months. 

    That said, if you do freeze the chicken, just make sure to eat it within 3 days after it's defrosted. 

    Wrapping It All Up

    That is how to make blackened chicken that has a whole lot of flavor with simple ingredients.

    Having a deliciously quick and easy chicken recipe is something every home cook should know. And this easy blackened chicken recipe is just that. 

    It's so versatile and can pretty much be eaten with anything you want. And you can even cook it on the grill when the weather is warm for a different chicken breast experience. 

    Anyway, I think this is the best blackened chicken recipe, and I hope you love it as much as I do.

    And, as always, if you make it, I'd love to hear what you think about it in the comments below.

    More Chicken Recipes

    Now, this blackened chicken is one of the easiest chicken recipes you can make.

    But these are right up there, and you should definitely give them a try:

    • Carrabbas chicken bryan 
    • Olive Garden grilled chicken margherita
    • Cheesecake Factory truffle honey chicken
    • Huli Huli chicken 
    • Million dollar chicken casserole
    Print

    Blackened Chicken | The Best Healthy Chicken Recipe

    Two pieces of blackened chicken on a white plate with leafy green lettuce underneath the chicken. The piece of chicken at the front of the plate is cut into slices and the other piece of chicken at the back of the plate is whole. There are four slices of lemon on the side and back of the chicken. A white bowl of seasonings is behind the plate of chicken. The plate is on a wooden sauce and everything is on a wood table.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    This blackened chicken recipe is one of the best healthy chicken recipes you'll make. It has a delicious blend of seasonings and spices that pair well with any dish & the chicken turns out so juicy and tender. Plus, it's super easy to make too! Just a few simple steps are all you need to follow to make some delicious blackened chicken!

    • Author: Brendan Cunningham
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop/Oven
    • Cuisine: Chicken

    Ingredients

    Scale

    2 boneless skinless chicken breasts 

    1 tablespoon paprika 

    ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 

    ½ teaspoon Italian herbs seasoning 

    ½ tablespoon onion powder 

    ½ tablespoon garlic powder 

     ½ teaspoon salt 

    pinch of ground black pepper 

     Lemon for garnish

    2 tbsp olive oil for frying

    Instructions

    1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C).
    2. Measure out all of your spices and seasonings and mix them in a small bowl. 
    3. Heat your cast-iron skillet over high heat and add your olive oil to cover the surface of the skillet. 
    4. While the skillet is heating up, brush the chicken breasts lightly with olive oil on each side, and then sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over one side of the chicken.
    5. Press the seasoning into the chicken breasts with your hands to make sure it sticks, and then do the same thing to the other side. 
    6. Now, once the cast-iron skillet is smoking hot, add your chicken breasts.
    7. Cook them for about 1 minute on each side to blacken.
    8. Transfer the skillet into the heated oven to finish cooking for about 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). 
    9. Once the chicken is cooked, take it out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, and then garnish with lemon and serve.

    Notes

    The scale up function does not change the gram measurements.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 piece
    • Calories: 130
    • Fat: 1.5
    • Carbohydrates: 2
    • Fiber: 0
    • Protein: 25

    Keywords: Blackened chicken, how to make blackened chicken, gluten-free chicken recipe, easy blackened chicken recipe, blackened chicken recipe, keto chicken, easy chicken recipe, dinner recipes, chicken dinner recipe, blackened chicken easy, quick chicken recipe, air fryer chicken recipe, seasoned chicken, simple chicken recipe, chicken dinner, chicken recipe,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Megan

      June 11, 2022 at 8:35 pm

      Really my favorite chicken recipe right now. Goes great with pasta and salads.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Ken

      June 12, 2022 at 2:09 pm

      Fantastic chicken repine.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Nick

      June 12, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      Chicken turned out juicy and spiced were 5/5

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Rodney

      June 13, 2022 at 9:13 am

      Tasted delicious cooked in the air fryer. I cooked it at 400 fahrenheit for 8 minutes and flipped the chicken at the 4 minute mark.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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