This one-skillet Easy Blackened Chicken is just the ticket for those who like their chicken flavorful yet tender and juicy. This Cajun recipe is simple enough for the novice chef and is ready in about 20 minutes. I love to serve it with Bacon Asparagus Cajun Pasta and Cauliflower Au Gratin.
I have always believed that I can never have too many good chicken recipes. Chicken is easy on the budget, cooks up fast, and is so versatile. This dish takes less than 20 minutes and it gives you delectable juicy flavorful chicken breasts. Because of its ease and short cooking time, this is the perfect chicken recipe for busy families. Make it a super quick and simple meal and serve it with buttered angel hair pasta and a garden salad.
How do you make Blackened Chicken?
First, mix all your blackening spices together in a bowl or shake them up in a sandwich bag. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Then brush your chicken with a little vegetable oil or canola oil. Alternatively, you can spray it with cooking spray. Now sprinkle both sides of each chicken breast with the spices. Use your hands to evenly spread the seasonings over the chicken.
Now heat a little bit of canola oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet or cast-iron skillet over medium to medium-high heat until it is smoking. Cook until the chicken is golden brown (almost black) on both sides and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and cover with a loose aluminum foil tent and let rest for 10 minutes.
How do you make Blackened Seasoning?
It really is amazingly simple and odds are pretty good that you already have these spices in your pantry. Simply grab a small bowl or better yet a sealable sandwich bag and mix the spices together. These quantities are enough for this recipe but feel free to double, triple or quadruple this recipe for future use. Just store it in an airtight container at room temperature.
- 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (this is the hot one so you can tame it back if need be)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Recipe notes and helpful tips for blackened chicken
- Use a Ziploc sandwich bag to mix your spices. You can shake it to combine the spices and throw away the bag when you are done. Happiness equals no extra bowl and spoon to wash.
- These days chicken breasts are just huge so slice them in half lengthwise. They will still be a healthy portion and they cook more evenly.
- Let the chicken breasts come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the pan just until the oil begins to smoke. Add the chicken and sear in those juices and spices. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and browned.
- After cooking cover the chicken loosely with an aluminum foil tent and let rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Other chicken recipes to try!
Easy Blackened Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper this is the hot one, so you can tame it back if need be
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced in half lengthwise
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
Instructions
- Combine the smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, oregano, and salt in a Ziploc bag. Shake to combine.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Brush chicken breasts lightly on both sides with oil or spray with baking spray. Use your hands to spread the seasonings evenly over the chicken.
- Heat one tablespoon of canola oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it is smoking. Cook chicken until it is golden brown (almost black) on both sides and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet. Cover with a loose aluminum foil tent; let rest for 10 minutes.
Notes
- Use a Ziploc sandwich bag to mix your spices. You can shake it to combine the spices and throw away the bag when you are done. Happiness equals no extra bowl and spoon to wash.
- These days chicken breasts are just huge so slice them in half lengthwise. They will still be a healthy portion and they cook more evenly.
- Let the chicken breasts come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the pan just until the oil begins to smoke. Add the chicken and sear in those juices and spices. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and browned.
- After cooking cover the chicken loosely with an aluminum foil tent and let rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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Erika
I’m loving all these seasonings. I can’t wait to try this chicken!
Sandhya
A delicious recipe with so many wonderful spices. Love the fact, it is so simple too!
Natasha
It was a great chicken recipe! It only took me less than 30 minutes to cook this and it came out so juicy and tasty. I highly recommend that you try this too.
Trang
Totally agree with you on how you can never have too many chicken recipes (especially this one)! This is our family go-to,
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! So glad that you like it!
Eden
This turned out SO good! We all loved it and can’t wait to make it again!
Paula
This sounds like the perfect weeknight meal! Love how delicious this looks
cyndy
This was so easy and delicious! I made another batch of the spice mix but tripled everything so I could have it on hand for a super quick dinner next time. Hurray for spicy chicken – would be amazing in a salad or wrap.
Jamie
The combination of spices give this chicken so much flavor! Definitely a favorite for dinner in our house!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
The spice blend sounds absolutely fab! Thanks so much for sharing
Sam
Thank you for the recipe, it was absolutely delicious and we all loved it!
Diane
This was so easy and delicious! I used a small bowl to mix the spices. I think next time I might double the spices because for me there was barely enough to cover 1 1/2 pieces of chicken breast. Served with rice and veggie the first night, and used the leftovers for enchiladas. This will definitely be on my go-to list!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it! It is a quick, easy and tasty meal.
Valerie
The outside of this chicken looks perfect, and the recipe is nice and easy. Semi related, the first time I heard the term blackened chicken I thought it was another way of saying burnt LOL.
Irina
I was intrigued and skeptical when I read that the recipe could be made within 20 minutes. I made it: the hands-on time is quick, the taste is exceptional!
Andrea Metlika
What a fantastic chicken dish. Love the seasonings on this and can’t wait to taste it!
Kechi
I love how simple and flavorful this chicken recipe sounds and looks! Next on my list of things to make!
soniya
Yum! This blackened chicken looks and sounds super delicious 😋 can’t wait to try it