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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This looks so so good!!! I can’t wait to make your recipe, I can’t wait!!! This is super good…The chicken looks crispy…yum….
Rosey
I have never tried to make blackened chicken at home. It’s worth a go though. I bet the fam would enjoy it.
Melanie E
I’ve never tried blacked chicken before. That does sound like a lovely recipe. The spices and herbs you used add so much great flavour. This would be perfect with salad.
Jack
This looks so yummy and I like to try new recipes. Cooking things differently. I will leave this one to try it. Thank you for sharing!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure! Enjoy!
Bryan
Spices certainly make all the difference with cooking meats. I like the assorted spices and the easy method of adding them to a small plastic bag and then shaking away. Reminds me of the old shake and bake product, but obviously much better!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Bryan! So glad that it worked out for you!
Sonia
This recipe sounds fantastic. I’ll try it out for dinner on Sunday.
Beth L
A healthy dinner in 20 minutes… sounds like a winner to me! Can’t wait to try this over a salad.
Beth Pierce
Sounds delicious! Enjoy!!
Leanne
This was so delicious! I love the blackened exterior and the spicy flavors. I had this on a bed of rice and I loved it!
Ben
Aww yeah. That chicken looks amazing. i love spicy food, and my favorite recipes usually involve the food being blackened. I can’t wait to try this one.
Kristen
Very simple & very good! I made it for blackened chicken Alfredo & it was amazing! Thanks for the recipe!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Kristen! So glad that you liked it!
Russ
Made this to top a Caesar salad. I used olive oil to cook instead of canola. The whole family enjoyed it. Looking forward to making some fettuccini alfredo with this on top.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Russ! So glad that you and your family enjoyed it. Great tips with the salad and fettucine.
Kelly
I used chicken tenders and served over mixed greens. I also shook the chicken in the bag with the seasonings. Worked great!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kelly! Great idea with the bag and quick clean up.
Beverley Tucker
Can you grill it instead of on the stove?
Beth Pierce
Yes. You sure can.
Katie
Would you recommend or say that pounding the chicken for a more even cook, would also be a good idea?
Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Yes you could if the chicken breasts are thick.
Drew
Why not just use a bowl for the spices? No need to throw away a perfectly good ziplock to avoid rinsing a bowl out afterwards. Otherwise, looking forward to making this, thank you.
Kay
I agree about using a bowl instead of a ziplock. I always use bowls when possible.
Gina
This is my favorite at restaurants on top of salads- love that I can make this at home now!