In this post: If you want to kick up the flavor of your chicken or turkey, give this homemade poultry seasoning a go! A classic blend of spices that pair perfectly with any type of poultry or even white meat in general.
Want that extra kick in your chicken, turkey or other poultry dish? One tasty way to improve poultry’s flavor is to make your own poultry seasoning blend.
Table of Contents
What is poultry seasoning?
Poultry Seasoning is a simple herb and spice blend that brings out the best flavors in chicken, turkey and even veggies!
The main ingredients in most poultry seasonings are thyme and sage. But marjoram, rosemary, oregano, pepper and nutmeg are also often included.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s easy and quick to make
- You can save space by keeping a mixture of spices for poultry, rather than individual spices
- It can easily be adjusted to suit your individual tastes.
Poultry Seasoning Ingredients
- Sage – Sage has a sweet and bitter flavor and pairs well with chicken and other white meat.
- Thyme – Thyme has its own unique flavor and smell. You can adjust the amount in the recipe to suit your own tastes.
- Marjoram – Marjoram is very closely related to oregano and has similar pine and citrus flavors, although it’s sweeter.
- Rosemary – Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen herb that looks a bit like pine needles, but that tastes great with roasted veggies and meats especially.
- Nutmeg – Nutmeg spice is the ground powder a seed and is used in both sweet and savory dishes.
Variations on Poultry Seasoning
- You can change things up and add or subtract the seasonings you wish. For example, you can add:
- garlic powder for a garlicy flavor
- onion powder
- parsley for a little fresh taste
- black pepper or cayenne pepper for a little heat
- You can also make a finer poultry seasoning by grinding in a spice grinder or by using a mortar and pestle.
- Don’t be afraid of the nutmeg. This is a very common ingredient in many poultry seasoning mixtures you’ll find at the store. If you really don’t want to add the nutmeg, you don’t have to, but it will cut out one of the dynamic flavor components of the seasoning.
How to Make Poultry Seasoning
- Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
- Spoon into prepared jar and use to season your poultry as needed!
What is Poultry Seasoning Used For?
Poultry Seasoning is used for seasoning poultry, like chicken and turkey, of course. But you can also use it for flavoring vegan versions of white meat, stuffing, soups, stews, gravy or for vegetables too!
Tips
- I don’t add salt and pepper to my poultry seasoning mixtures because you’ll want to add that to taste per each dish. It will vary from meal to meal on how much salt and pepper you might need.
- I don’t have a specific amount to suggest as it varies for me per dish. Just add as much as you need, starting small and working your way up.
- Once you taste the seasoning, adjust the seasoning levels to your preferences. There’s no reason you need to stick with the exact amounts I list above.
Tools to Use:
- Spice jars with bamboo lids
- Minimalist spice jar labels
- “Picture Ledge” style shelves
Poultry Seasoning Recipe FAQs
Here are the answers to some commonly asked poultry seasoning questions.
What can I use instead of poultry seasoning?
If you have some of the herbs and spices in this poultry seasoning mix, you can just use those. For example, any combo of sage, thyme, rosemary and marjoram could work.
If you don’t have any of those, you could simply use garlic, salt and pepper. Although it won’t taste the same, it will still be delicious!
Does poultry seasoning have salt in it?
Some store-bought versions of poultry seasoning have additional ingredients like salt, and preservatives.
We don’t add salt to our poultry seasoning so you can add it if desired to your food while you’re cooking or after.
Is chicken seasoning the same as poultry seasoning?
Yes and no. There are loads of companies making seasonings and spice blends. So read your ingredients carefully if you’re buying store-bought mixes. Some chicken flavorings will actually have chicken-based ingredients in them like bouillon or chicken-flavored something.
What can I use if I don’t have sage?
If you’re making a recipe that calls for sage, you can substitute with poultry seasoning.
If you’re making poultry seasoning and you don’t have sage, unfortunately there’s not a good replacement and you’ll need to get some.
What can I use instead of marjoram?
As I mentioned above, dried marjoram is closely related to oregano. So if you don’t have marjoram you can substitute with oregano in your poultry seasoning.
Can I use Italian seasoning instead?
Yes, but you may want to also add some dried sage since sage is such a huge part of poultry seasoning (and Italian seasoning usually doesn’t include sage).
How to Store Homemade Poultry Seasoning
You can store your homemade poultry seasoning in an air-tight container in your pantry or on a spice rack. Any sealed jar will do. But I love these little spice jars.
If stored in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight, this poultry spice mix will keep for 6 months to a year. Although it’s potency may diminish the longer it’s stored.
Dietary Considerations
- Gluten-free (if gluten free spices are used)
- Dairy-free
- Vegan (although if you put it on poultry it’s not!)
More Homemade Seasoning For You To Try
Seasoning Recipe
If you want to kick up the flavor of your chicken or turkey, give this homemade poultry seasoning a go! A classic blend of spices that pair perfectly with any type of poultry or even white meat in general.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Sage
- 2 Tablespoons Thyme
- 1 Tablespoon Marjoram
- 1 Tablespoon Rosemary
- 2 Teaspoons Nutmeg
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a small dish and mix well.
- Use immediately or store in a sealed jar or dish in the pantry for up to a year.
Notes
- I don’t add salt and pepper to my poultry seasoning mixtures because you’ll want to add that to taste per each dish. It will vary from meal to meal on how much salt and pepper you might need.
- Don’t be afraid of the nutmeg. This is a very common ingredient in many poultry seasoning mixtures you’ll find at the store. If you really don’t want to add the nutmeg, you don’t have to, but it will cut out one of the dynamic flavor components of the seasoning.
- I don’t have a specific amount to suggest as it varies for me per dish. Just add as much as you need, starting small and working your way up.
- Once you taste the seasoning, adjust the seasoning levels to your preferences. There’s no reason you need to stick with the exact amounts I list above.
Have you made your own poultry seasoning from this recipe? If so, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
