There are many herbs that go with chicken. To choose the best herbs for your chicken dish check out our list below. Choose herbs that pair well together, and with the other flavors in your dish. Get creative and enjoy!
What are the best herbs for cooking with chicken?
Fresh herbs are a wonderful addition to many delicious chicken dishes. However, if you don’t have fresh herbs, dried herbs will be a good substitute in most cases.
Many of the common culinary herbs go well with chicken because it has a mild flavor. The herbs that are the best will depend on the type of cuisine you are cooking.
You can get creative with the seasoning for your chicken and try a different combination of herbs, but it’s important to select herbs that are compatible with each other. Our list below includes recommendations for herbs that pair well together, and other flavors to use the herb with.
Herbs that go with chicken
This popular herb is a great match for any Italian or Mediterranean dishes. It has a strong peppery, minty flavor and is often used in Italian and Greek dishes. Pesto made with fresh basil goes extremely well with chicken, and is probably the only flavoring you need to make a delicious chicken dish. Similarly, you can make a simple yet very tasty herb seasoning for you chicken by just using basil, salt and black pepper. Basil pairs well with: marjoram, mint and citrus flavors.
Bay leaves
Bay leaves have a wonderful aromatic almost woody flavor. The flavor is a rather subtle, but it adds a depth of flavor to a recipe that you just can't achieve with other herbs. Add a couple of bay leaves whole to soups stews or sauces - just remember to remove them from your dish before you serve it! Bay leaves pairs well with marjoram, oregano, parsley, and thyme.
Cilantro/ coriander
This fresh herb used in many Asian cuisines and is also great with Mexican food. Cilantro goes well with chili and with lime, so try adding it to any dish that uses those ingredients. Also pairs well with: parsley, mint, chives and basil.
Dill
Fresh dill leaves (aka dill weed) have a mild zingy flavor. Dill works well in sauces and soups. Add to your cooking right at the end of the cooking time to keep the flavor fresh. Pairs well with basil, cilantro, lemon, parsley, and tarragon.
Marjoram
This herb has a woody citrus flavor. It is related to oregano, but has a sweeter flavor. Fresh marjoram should be added to a dish towards the end of the cooking time to preserve the delicate flavor. Pairs well with: basil, oregano and parsley.
Oregano
Oregano has a similar flavor profile to sweet basil, but with a more mild flavor. This herb is great with chicken in any Italian or Mediterranean dishes. It pairs well with basil, garlic, lemon and pepper.
Rosemary
This herb has a woody flavor that goes well with roasted chicken or grilled chicken. It has quite a strong flavor, and so should be used sparingly and carefully paired with flavors that complement it. Remove fresh rosemary leaves and chop finely before using, or add a whole spring to your cooking (remember to remove it before serving). Pairs well with thyme, garlic and parsley.
This herb is great in sauces, soups and stuffing for chicken, but sage is a good option for many types of chicken dishes. This is another herb with a strong flavor that will need to be used sparingly and paired carefully. Fresh sage should be chopped finely before use.
Tarragon
This herb is great in sauces. It has a pungent, almost licorice flavor, and goes with dishes containing vegetables like tomatoes, onions and peppers. To use, chop the leaves finely, or add whole springs to your cooking.
Another Mediterranean herb, thyme is often used in chicken recipes as it has delicate aroma that adds a layer of flavor to the dish rather than overpowering the other flavors. Thyme pairs well with basil, parsley, rosemary, oregano, garlic, pepper, tomatoes and peppers. Remove leaves from fresh thyme before using or add whole sprigs to your dish.
Herb mixes
Here are some popular herb mixes that go great with chicken. It is easy to make your own herb mix, and you can vary the proportions to get a combination that you like.
Italian seasoning
Make your own Italian herb mix from:
- oregano
- basil
- thyme
- garlic powder
Herbs de Provence
This mix of herbs was traditionally used in the Provence region of France (as you might guess from the name). It is great with chicken, but also vegetables, beef, pork, and seafood. Just about anything really 😉
Make your own herbs de Provence mix from:
- Marjoram
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Savory
Herbs for roast chicken
- Rosemary, thyme, and salt (or garlic salt)
- Lemon, thyme, salt and black pepper
- Sage, thyme, paprika, celery flakes, garlic powder and onion powder
- Crushed garlic, parsley, rosemary, thyme, black pepper, salt
- Sage, oregano, thyme, garlic powder
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