12+ Poultry Seasoning Substitutes for You to Try
If you prepare your poultry with seasoning, if you find you are out, it can be tempting to change the menu. But you don’t have to eat plain and boring chicken; nor do you have to adapt your dishes just because there is no seasoning at hand.
You can always find alternatives in the store near your house or in your cupboard. What can you replace poultry seasoning with, you’re wondering? Plenty! But first…
What is Poultry Seasoning? What Does it Contain?
Before you get your creative juices flowing, you should know what chicken seasoning contains. Poultry seasoning is usually based on a couple of aromatic herbs:
- Sage
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Marjoram
Besides these ingredients, poultry seasoning can be completed by:
- Pepper
- Garlic
- Nutmeg
- Basil
Poultry seasoning encompasses minty and pine-like flavors, flowery, herbaceous scents, deep, earthy, nutty undertones, hints of sweetness, just like it has bitter finishes, and aromatic, rich touches, and a vibrant spicy feel.
12 Poultry Seasoning Substitutes
Simply rubbing the skin and flesh of the poultry with these spices and aromatic herbs before cooking will make the meat tender, full of flavor, and provide it with a rich, delicious crust.
With so many advantages to poultry seasoning, you may find yourself panicking if you don’t have the mixture around. Still, here is how to substitute poultry seasoning without skipping on all the goodness.
1. Oregano
This Mediterranean herb is one of the best substitutes for poultry seasoning. While it’s not usually found in chicken seasoning, it works perfectly with white meat.
Oregano combines minty tones with earthy vibes, fresh aromas with herbaceous-aromatic undertones, and a touch of bitterness. Oregano give chicken a round, robust flavor.
2. Herbs de Provence
While it contains a different variety of herbs, Herbs de Provence can be one of the best poultry seasoning substitutes. With thyme, rosemary, and parsley, this herbal mixture will remind you of poultry seasoning. If you have it around, go for it.
Herbs de Provence works great if you are searching for a substitute for poultry seasoning, and no sage involved.
Extra info: sometimes, Herbs de Provence mixtures contain fennel seeds, tarragon, chervil, and bay leaves. Sure, as more aromatic herbs are found in a blend, the tastier the food will be.
Just keep in mind that extra ingredients will modify the taste. So while you’re getting a fabulous dish, you will be enjoying something different from your expectations.
3. Turkey Rub
Turkey rub is made from many ingredients. Most of the compounds in this blend of spices are found in poultry seasoning as well. However, remember that turkey rub also has some spices and condiments that may alter the flavor you’d usually associate with poultry seasoning.
Coriander, ginger, and roasted red peppers will give your meat an extra kick of heat and a warming feel, which will enrich the dish, although it will change its flavor profile.
4. Rosemary
Rosemary is a key-ingredient in chicken spice blends. Aromatic, minty, pine-like, intense, quite pungent, herbal, and fresh, rosemary comes with an earthy touch and a bitter hint.
That’s why this Mediterranean staple can be a fabulous poultry seasoning replacement. The camphor-like aroma of rosemary reminds you of eucalyptus, and you’ll enjoy feeling this vibe in addition to chicken.
5. Italian Seasoning
Rich in flavor, Italian seasoning is a powerful and aromatic poultry seasoning alternative. It’s usually made with many of the ingredients found in poultry seasoning.
Rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and oregano are featured in Italian seasoning most of the time, so the aroma comes quite close to poultry seasoning.
6. Za’atar
With oregano, thyme, and marjoram, za’atar, the Middle-Eastern condiment, provides chicken with a tasty, intense flavor. This blend is not as similar in terms of flavor to poultry seasoning. However, it can be a good poultry seasoning alternative, offering your dish a nutty, earthy, rich aromatic palette of tastes.
To be fair, when using za’atar you can get a slightly sour, fruity, cirusy, tangy aroma due to sumac, a plant found in this oriental blend.
7. Marjoram
A well-known and well appreciated herb in Oriental dishes, marjoram can be a suitable poultry sub if you can’t find anything else. It will boost the flavor of the chicken and be mild enough not to overwhelm it.
8. Thyme
Another component of poultry seasoning, thyme is quite a popular herb so you might have it lying around. If that’s the case, make sure to use it as it emulates some of the flavors found in the herbal mixture dedicated to poultry. Thyme is equally minty, fresh, piney, woodsy, earthy, flora, herbaceous, sweet, and quite bitter.
Not as sharp as rosemary, not as pungent as oregano, thyme is a delicate option, not quite as overwhelming as other aromas. Thyme is, actually, a fine option to complete and enhance the flavor of the dish while not trying to become the star of the show.
9. Sage
Sage is one of the components in chicken spice mixes. So it’s no wonder it can be one of the best poultry seasoning substitutes. It has earthy, woodsy tones, with minty, fresh undertones, with citrusy touches, and a slightly bitter touch provide the dish with a robust, dense, rich, full taste.
Sage compliments poultry quite well. In fact, it’s a great addition to most meats, as you might already be aware since it’s a basic ingredient in turkey stuffing, for instance.
10. Garlic
While it will not have the same rich bouquet of herbal tones, garlic can make a delicious poultry seasoning replacement. Garlic goes great with meats, not that it doesn’t compliment potatoes or veggies, for that matter.
It’s even tastier when combined with the other herbs we’ve already mentioned. Even a touch of pepper and extra salt with garlic can change the bland taste of poultry.
11. Plain ol’ Salt ‘n Pepper
And speaking of the basics, salt and pepper mixed together make for a great sub for poultry seasoning. You won’t be getting the most aromatic flavors, but you will enjoy a tasty classic.
12. Citrus Blend
Poultry seasoning contains some aromatic plants with a mildly citrusy aroma: sage, marjoram, thyme. Adding some actual citrus will enhance the aroma of the chicken. We’ve all tried (and loved) lemon chicken, right? Well, a blend made with lemon or orange zest and juice, a touch of salt, pepper, a sprinkle of some aromatic herbs, and a touch of butter, and yum! FYI: a little garlic and some heat from paprika or chili will make everyone forget about poultry seasoning.
How to make your own poultry seasoning at home
What to use instead of poultry seasoning? How about you prepare your own mixture? A homemade blend of spices will last longer, and you can adjust the amounts of the ingredients you like or would like less of.
If you are a big fan of DIY, you can get the dried herbs and spices we mentioned in poultry seasoning, and you can mix them in your kitchen.
- You can add extra salt and keep the powdered blend in a jar in your cupboard.
- Or you can mix these herbs and condiments with olive oil or veggie stock or meat stock and create ice cubes. Such a recipe goes great with chicken soups, sauces, curries, and stews.
- And for the roasts, fried goods, baked goods, fabulous crusts, mix your blend of seasoning with butter. Scoop a little whenever you roast some chicken, and voila! P.S.: for a fine crunch and a crispy texture, add poultry seasoning to bread crumbs and egg wash before frying it. Yum!
Seasoning is highly important when it comes to making food taste better. When it comes to poultry, seasoning is vital for making the meat tender and providing an enhanced aroma. But, as you could discover from our suggestions, you can obtain a delicious meal even when you add poultry seasoning substitutes.
