In just minutes you'll have perfectly seasoned grilled blackened chicken. It can be served as a main dish or made into tacos, nachos, sandwiches or as a salad topping.
Grilled foods are tops around here and only rivaled by our love for Cajun and Creole dishes, so we've naturally combined the two in this easy recipe.
With just a few ingredients that probably are already in your pantry you can stir up your own blackening seasoning. This homemade blackening spice mix is great on all kinds of dishes, like Fried Turkey Breast, Spicy Chicken Pasta, and Cajun Gravy.
If you love the flavor of blackened dishes you'll want to also make Blackened Pork Chops, Blackened Ribeye Steak, Blackened Salmon, Blackened Grouper and Blackened Corn. Then fire up that grill until it's good and hot.
You'll brush the chicken with a little oil, add the spice rub and then quickly cook it on both sides. That's it! How easy is that?
The result is a versatile grilled chicken with a flavorful blackened crust that can be used in a variety of ways!
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Alternate Cooking Technique
We love the flavor you get from a good grilling recipe (like in our Smoked Chicken Thighs). But if you don't have a grill (or it's just not grilling weather) this blackening technique can also be used in a skillet on the stovetop.
We prefer our cast iron skillet, but you could use any heavy skillet that you've sprayed with cooking spray or added a little oil to.
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Ingredient and substitution notes
- Boneless chicken breast is what we typically use for this recipe. You could make it with chicken tenders, but you'd need to use a grill mat or basket so the tenders don't fall through the grill. Boneless thighs could also be used, but the dark meat needs to cooks a little longer than the boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Smoked paprika - if you only have regular paprika you could use it, but we highly recommend keeping smoked paprika in your spice cabinet.
- Coarse kosher salt or sea salt. If plain table salt is all you have, that's fine.
- Black pepper - standard out of the box is okay, but freshly ground is always best.
- Garlic powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Pepper - This is where the heat comes from so cut it down or leave it off altogether if you don't like the kick.
- Oregano - Adding this herb gives a nice balance to the spices.
Check the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Grilled Blackened Chicken
- Mix the spices and herbs together in a small bowl to create the seasoning blend.
- Use a mallet to pound the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness, about ½ inch thick.
- Brush the chicken with oil on one side and then sprinkle with the blackened seasoning.
- Pat the rub into the chicken breast.
- Turn the chicken over and repeat.
- Cook on a pre-heated grill (medium-high heat) about 4 minutes per side. You can also cook it in a skillet for about the same amount of time. Let the delicious blackened chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.
That's it! How quick and easy is that? This is quickly becoming our favorite spice mix for our Cajun recipes. We use the same mix for Cajun Gravy and Chicken.
Recipe Tips
- The most important tip is to pound the chicken to an even thickness - about ½ inch. This ensures that the meat will cook evenly. We like to put ours in a sturdy zip-lock bag and then pound it with a mallet. We typically cut the chicken breast into two pieces afterward.
- Also, it's very important to not overcook it! You can test for doneness by piercing with a fork. If the juices run clear (not pink), it's done. Start checking after 3 minutes per side so you're sure to get juicy chicken. You can also use a digital thermometer (our favorite) and cook to 165 degrees.
What to Serve with Blackened Chicken
This is the fun part! Since the whole concept of blackened seasoned fish and meat originated with Chef Paul Prudhomme you can bet it would be great with Creole and Cajun dishes.
Our favorite suggestions are Cajun Hush Puppies, corn soufflé casserole, Red Beans and Rice, Oven Roasted Cajun Potatoes and Dirty Rice. Then wash it all down with a Hurricane Cocktail.
But you can definitely think outside that box and use your blackened chicken to make nachos, tacos, chicken salad or make it into a sandwich. You can also add it to your favorite salad with some Cajun Salad Dressing or try it in this Southwestern Salad.
A restaurant favorite is blackened chicken alfredo, so grab a jar of alfredo sauce (or make your own) and some pasta. This is also great on nachos with some Creamy Poblano Sauce or by itself with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce.
Our favorite way to use it is sliced up and on top of a salad. Pasta Salad with Asparagus and this Clementine Salad are two excellent choices.
Recipe FAQ's
Full of flavor? Yes! Spicy? It totally depends on you and your family's preference. If you don't like any heat you can add just a touch of cayenne for the flavor it gives, but you can definitely cut back on it. If you and yours love a good kick then go all out with that cayenne! In fact, on most tables in Louisiana you will find at least one bottle of hot sauce. That way everyone can customize their own dish
Grilled just refers to food that is cooked on a grill. It can be flavored or seasoning any number of ways, or even left unseasoned. Blackened means it has been highly seasoned with a blend that will turn a dark brown (almost black) color when cooked.
This is a great lean protein option. It can be served as a main course with vegetables and other sides, or added to a salad to make it a complete, good-for-you option for a meal.
📖 Recipe
Grilled Blackened Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dry oregano
- ½-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt coarsely ground recommended
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Stir all spices and seasonings together in a small bowl or shake them together in a tightly closed bag.
- Pound chicken with a mallet until uniform thickness of about ½ inch. Cut each piece into two smaller pieces if desired.
- Brush each piece of chicken with oil on one side and then sprinkle with seasoning blend. Pat seasonings into chicken with hands.
- Turn chicken and repeat the oil and seasoning process.
- Cook on preheated grill (medium high heat) for approximately 4 minutes per side, checking for doneness after minutes per side. Juices should run clear when pierced with a fork, or digital thermometer reads 165 degrees.
Andrea says
My family loved this grilled chicken recipe. I'm exciting to use it more this summer especially for memorial day and 4th of july!
Emily says
This recipe is perfection. Everyone loved it! I will make it again this weekend and put it on salad!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! Perfectly flavorful and crispy; a great family friendly recipe!
Shadi+Hasanzadenemati says
This is such an easy and delicious recipe, I cannot wait to make it again!