What are the Best Herbs for Chicken

Roasted chicken with herbs

So, you have a cut up fryer (which you don't intend to fry), a family pack of split breasts or some boneless chicken thighs. Now what do you do? Why, use the best herbs for chicken to make a memorable meal, that's what!

Chicken with Herbs Can Make a Meal

If you have chicken in your fridge or freezer, you're in good company. In 2013, chicken officially became America's favorite meat, surpassing beef for the first time. The average American consumed nearly 100 pounds of chicken in 2020, and that number has likely  grown as our consumption of beef has dropped.

Sometimes mild ingredients like chicken need a little help to shine, and because many of us eat a lot of this friendly fowl, it can present a challenge coming up with new ways to prepare chicken so it doesn't feel like déjà vu all over again. 

Herbs and spices do a great job of creating different flavor profiles for chicken. With hot or cold chicken, and even store bought rotisserie chicken as a base, there's no place you can't go. Think about it.  Try Asian dishes redolent with garlic, scallions and sesame oil and Tex Mex favorites rich with cumin and cilantro. After a little experimentation, chicken from your kitchen will never be bland again.

That's where herbs and spices come in. They provide the surprise in the mix -- an explosion, fusion or flood of flavor that enhances other ingredients.   Add a strategically placed sage leaf and you have Chicken Saltimbocca, marry pounded breasts with wine, thyme and mushrooms and you have Chicken Marsala. 

Sure, other ingredients, notably acidic ingredients that can travel deep into meat fibers taking a freight of herby, nutty, smoky, salty or sweet flavor with them, do help. But never forget that the simple addition of herbs provides the easiest, fastest and often most effective way to enhance chicken and create a pretty decent main course for the effort.

Published content about using herbs can seem a little backward to me, like a cook is going to head to the spice cabinet, pick a spice and then figure out what types of dishes he or she can make with it. 

The situation I usually find myself in is a little different: I open the fridge, remember I've defrosted chicken breasts and then try to discover some new way to prepare them that won't feel like just another ho-hum Wednesday night. At this point, I'm looking for the best herbs for these chicken breasts - now, because the clock is ticking.

Herbs add savory goodness to chicken.

Motivated and armed with herbs, it's an exploratory mission, and usually pretty fun, too. The best  herbs for chicken "tonight" may be different from the ones I chose last week. But my choices will still come from a curated selection of herbs that work well with the flavor and texture of chicken - chicken friendly herbs.

You'll recognize many of these herbs because they're likely staples in your spice cabinet right now. This year, try planting a few in your garden, too. Fresh is best -- but you probably already know that.

Sage leaf

The Best Herbs for Chicken Dishes

Basil - Basil is a classic companion to chicken, offering garden fresh, summery flavor  that's pungent and a bit lemony. Basil's versatility allows it to shine in both hot and cold chicken dishes.

Chives - With a mild onion flavor and delicate leaves, chives work well in almost any savory dish. Sometimes paired with chicken, a top dressing of sprinkled chives makes even fried chicken taste fresher and -- um, onionier.  For the best results, add chives just before serving.

Cilantro - Love it or hate it, cilantro is here to stay. A Tex-Mex staple, the flavor of cilantro wakes up recipes by helping to make the ingredients taste brighter, fresher and more complex than the addition of this frilly leafed green would appear to warrant.

Like many, I enjoy using cilantro -- sparingly.  A little of this herb goes a long way. If you're not sure how you, a family member or guest will respond to cilantro in a casserole, salad, salsa or other dish, cut the amount stated in the recipe in half. You can always add more. Why? To some people cilantro taste like soap.

Cilantro seed is known as coriander, which can be confusing. They are rarely used interchangeably. Cilantro is typically called out in Mexican, Tex-Mex and some Asian recipes, and fresh cilantro is overwhelmingly preferred over dried options. Once dried, cilantro loses most of its flavor and nearly all of its distinctive aroma.

If you're a fan, the idea of substituting something else for cilantro may seem like sacrilege, but cilantro detractors will typically substitute flat leaf parsley for a hint of green without the sour foretaste.

Cumin - Cumin brings a warm, earthy depth to recipes. It's a versatile choice for a variety of regional cuisines featuring chicken. It is often used with other chicken friendly herbs and spices like garlic, cilantro and paprika.

Dill - Dill's bright but somewhat sour flavor works well with chicken, especially when it's paired with lemon or other citrus.  Its peppery warmth also adds a refreshing, almost palette cleansing freshness to roasted chicken and sauces used with chicken that include cream or yogurt.

Garlic - What can we say; garlic isn't called the king of herbs for nothing. When paired with chicken, it brings out the natural sweetness of the meat. It also manages to turn what could be a one note bird base into a richer, more robust dining experience. Garlic can be used alone in hot and cold chicken dishes, or can be paired with favorites like thyme, sage, rosemary or tarragon. 

Lavender - While lavender might seem like an odd choice, its floral notes can complement chicken, particularly when paired with a sweet ingredient like honey.  With this herb, less is more as lavender can easily overpower a dish. When choosing lavender for the kitchen, always prefer a culinary grade product (or English lavender from your garden) as other options may have been treated with dyes or pesticides. 

Marjoram - A mild cousin to the more popular oregano, marjoram is a savory herb that's well-mannered enough to work well with chicken, and can be paired with other chicken friendly herbs like thyme and rosemary.

Oregano - Oregano brings an earthy, almost rustic touch to chicken, making it a perfect choice for bolder dishes. It's a staple in many Mediterranean chicken recipes, and it features prominently in grilled chicken rubs and marinades as well as tomato-based sauces that feature chicken, like marry me chicken, chicken parmesan and chicken cacciatore.

Rosemary and garlic

Paprika - This red pepper with (often) European attitude has more going for it than you may realize. It's probably your default garnish for deviled eggs, but paprika releases much of its rich flavor when it's heated, not sprinkled on cold. That's one reason your fried chicken flour mixtures, chicken barbecue sauces and rubs should contain this complex but not overpowering herb (spice, whatever). 

If you've ever wished for a hearty, peppery presence in a recipe, but without the breathtaking heat, give paprika (Hungarian, smoked or Spanish) a try.

The best herbs for chicken can be light and delicate or warm and earthy!

Parsley - Parsley is a mild herb often used as a garnish. It's known as a makeshift breath freshener (just chew a few leaves), and as a colorful accompaniment to potatoes and stuffing. Parsley isn't the most exciting of herbs, but it has an interesting ability to bring out the flavors of other ingredients without making a strong statement on its own. I like to add it to the last few minutes of cooking time for stews, soups and sauces that feature chicken, pork or beef. It looks good, smells good and doesn't interfere with the stronger aromas and flavors of herbs like tarragon, sage and rosemary. When added to soups that are heavy on legumes or grains, it has a garden fresh appeal, too.

If I'm experimenting with a recipe for the second time (the first time I follow the directions), I always keep fresh or dried parsley out on the countertop just in case my efforts appear too bland. Flat leaf varieties are preferred. Oh, and parsley has a useful freight of vitamins, minerals and other goodies to offer. They include: calcium, copper, fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, protein, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamins (A, B6, C, E, K) and zinc. Making parsley a go-to herbs wouldn't hurt.

Rosemary is a popular herb for chicken.

Rosemary - You love it on roasted fingerling potatoes, but the resinous aroma of rosemary can be one of the best herbs for chicken. Especially tasty with skin on chicken recipes, rosemary helps cut the fat and gives chicken (and often gamier dark meat pieces like thighs and legs) an unexpected richness not often found with fowl. Use it under the skin when roasting whole chickens, and try using rosemary stem skewers when grilling chicken or turkey kabobs.

Saffron - Saffron's flavor is refined and unique. It is sometimes referred to as "luxurious,"  in part because of its steep price tag. Saffron infuses chicken with a delicate, grassy and subtly bitter taste that enhances even the simplest chicken dishes.  Pound for pound, saffron is the most expensive spices in the world, but it's actually easy to grow. What makes it so costly is the fact that the three red stigmas in each flower that constitute saffron spice, must be painstakingly harvested by hand ideally within 24 hours of the flower opening. 

Sage - The go-to herb for sausage and stuffing recipes, sage and chicken are blissful plate mates. The woody taste and somewhat sharp aroma of sage marries well with the neutral flavor of chicken, turkey and game hen, so much so that most chicken seasoning blends include at least a little ground sage. 

Chicken saltimbocca is a classic chicken and sage recipe that uses the whole sage leaf for a pop of flavor. It’s a dramatic example of why these two ingredients work well together to produce dishes that are: mild, woody, subtly rich, tender and juicy. You'll find sage in powdered, rubbed and fresh forms. With this herb, it's often best to use whichever version a recipe recommends.

Tarragon, French - (Artemisia Dracunculus) - I came to tarragon late in my herb sampling career. I've never been a lover of ingredients that taste like licorice, especially when they're used in savory dishes.  Tarragon is different though: the licorice is a whisper, and includes earthy notes that are mildly like thyme. Where I thought tarragon would overpower chicken, it actually enhances chicken's natural creaminess, especially when preparing thighs, probably because of their higher fat content. 

I'm a big fan of tarragon these days, especially in cold chicken dishes and those paired with mustard, mayonnaise or wine. Tip: A little fresh tarragon is delicious with rotisserie chicken salad.

Fresh thyme

Thyme - Pungent and slightly minty, thyme is often used to flavor fish, eggs, pork, poultry and vegetable garden staples like tomatoes and squash. Because it's so versatile, it's easy to forget how important thyme can be for bringing out the earthy qualities of the ingredients it's paired with.  A bit of a chameleon, it can be hard to pick out the flavor of thyme in a recipe, but you'll notice when it's not there. Consider using thyme in any chicken dishes that call for wine or include mushrooms, tomatoes and onions.

Although we've hit the highlights, it's important to mention that the best herbs for chicken are the ones you (your family or your guests) like most -- and that's just fine. If you want to expand your repertoire though, start with a few of the herbs above. You won't be sorry.

 Photos:

Thyme - By THOR (Leeks and Thyme) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALeeks_and_Thyme.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Leeks_and_Thyme.jpg


Tarragon - By Veganbaking.net from USA (Vegan Garlic Tarragon Bread Spread) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Vegan_Garlic_Tarragon_Bread_Spread_%286495779399%29.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AVegan_Garlic_Tarragon_Bread_Spread_(6495779399).jpg

Rosemary - By Lan Bui (Flickr: Garlic and rosemary) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Garlic_and_rosemary.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGarlic_and_rosemary.jpg