Blackened Chicken is one of the most delicious ways to prepare this lean protein. Bursting with spices, it is super quick and easy to prepare - read more to see how to make this awesome dish!

This is one of my favorite easy recipes. The chicken cooks so quickly that you can easily get a delicious and healthy meal on the table in under 20 minutes! Since you rub the Cajun seasoning on the chicken and cook at very high heat, the result is tender chicken that has so much flavor! This is truly one of my healthy recipes for how flavorful it is - this is anything but boring chicken!

What is Blackened Chicken?

Blackened chicken is a flavorful and healthy dish made using boneless skinless chicken breasts along with various spices and dried herbs. The signature blackened color adds the wonderful charred flavor and is achieved using an extremely hot pan. The blackening spice is essentially a concentrated dry rub that creates the signature dark crust on the chicken. The result is a super flavorful piece of meat that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!

This blackening technique of cooking was created and perfected in New Orleans, Louisiana and is a classic in Cajun cuisine. It has quickly become popular across the continent and for good reason - this is a delicious method to achieve juicy chicken breasts!

What Do I Need to Make Blackened Chicken?

While the full ingredient checklist is available in the recipe card below, here are the key items you will need to prepare this easy blackened chicken recipe.

• Paprika
• Kosher salt
• Cayenne pepper
• Ground cumin
• Dried thyme
• Cracked black pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Boneless skinless chicken breast

How to Prepare Your Blackened Chicken Breasts

While the full recipe instructions are available below, here are some tips to prepare this classic Cajun recipe that the whole family will love!

• First, we will prepare our chicken. Let the chicken come to room temperature, approximately fifteen to twenty minutes on the counter. Cut your chicken breasts into roughly even halves. Using dry paper towels, pat the chicken dry. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness, so we want to make sure our chicken is as dry as possible before we cook it.
• In a shallow small bowl, whisk together the spicy dry rub spices and olive oil. In the bowl, coat chicken breasts in the oil and spice mixture. For the best results, we will heat a large nonstick skillet for up to five minutes over medium-high heat. Do not add oil to the pan. This is important, because if you add oil to the pan and heat it for that long before adding the chicken, it will smoke or catch fire. If you let the pan heat without anything in it, you will avoid this problem!
• Once you have an extremely hot skillet, place chicken in the pan. Do not move the chicken, let the sides of the chicken breasts sear to achieve that dark and flavorful outer crust. This will take approximately five minutes per side. Once the first side has cooked, flip and do not move it. Cook chicken for another five minutes. Your chicken is ready when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165 degrees F. Once cooked through, turn off the heat and remove the chicken from the pan. Serve topped with a drizzle of fresh lime juice and some lime wedges.

Tips for Using this Chicken to Meal Prep

I love using this recipe to meal prep! This would be great added to a chicken salad, or in tacos with sour cream. You could also serve this with potatoes or rice and green beans! There is no wrong way to use this - the seasoned chicken adds so much flavor to create a delicious and healthy protein-rich dish.

To save the chicken to eat later, simply refrigerate in an airtight container. Microwave without any lid to retain that glorious spice crust and enjoy!

What Should I Serve With my Chicken?

Here are some sides to serve with your classic Cajun chicken for a quick and simple meal!

• Simple Crispy Smashed Potatoes
• Sautéed Lemon Broccolini
• Healthy Scalloped Potatoes
• Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
• Healthy Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Other Delicious Chicken Recipes You Will Enjoy

Although I am crazy about this easy chicken recipe, I also love these other dishes for healthy eating!

• Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
• Easy Portuguese Chicken Mozambique
• Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Piccata
• Trinidadian Style Curry Chicken
• Mediterranean Braised Chicken with Cauliflower and Chickpeas