Description
This Blackened Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts seasoned with a bold blend of smoked paprika, cumin, and herbs, then grilled to perfection with a flavorful char. Perfect for a quick and easy dinner served alongside vegetables or salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or paprika
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (increase to ¼ teaspoon for more heat)
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1–1 ¼ lbs), cut in half and pounded to ½ – ¾ inch thick
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil
Instructions
- Preheat the Grill: Preheat an outdoor grill to 400℉ or place a grill pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat to get it hot and ready for cooking.
- Combine Seasonings: In a small bowl, stir together smoked paprika, salt, cumin, thyme, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Set this spice mixture aside.
- Prepare the Chicken: If the chicken breasts are thick, slice them into cutlets by cutting each breast in half crosswise or butterfly them, then pound with a rolling pin or meat mallet to ½ – ¾ inch thickness. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Season the Chicken: Brush or rub avocado oil onto both sides of each chicken cutlet. Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over both sides, then use your hands to massage the spices into the meat ensuring an even coating.
- Oil the Grill: Lightly oil the grill grates or grill pan using cooking spray or a small amount of oil to prevent sticking.
- Grill the Chicken: Cook the chicken on the hot grill or grill pan until fully cooked and blackened, about 4–7 minutes per side depending on thickness. Confirm the internal temperature reaches 165℉.
- Rest and Serve: Remove chicken from heat and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing to retain juices. Serve warm.
- Storage: Place any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Notes
- This blackened chicken adds bold flavor to simple chicken breasts, making them perfect for weeknight meals.
- Serve alongside roasted vegetables or over a fresh salad like a BBQ ranch chopped salad for a complete meal.
- You can use either an outdoor grill or a stovetop grill pan depending on your available equipment.
- To increase spiciness, add more cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- Make sure to rest the chicken after cooking to keep it juicy and tender.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 ounces cooked chicken
- Calories: 165 calories
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 213 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 87 mg
