Homemade Poultry Seasoning

Poultry Seasoning is a must-have in every home! It’s used to flavor chicken, turkey, stuffing, gravy, and much more. It’s tasty and easy to make using just a few simple ingredients. And since it’s homemade, it’s actually healthier than store-bought blends and helps you save some money.

This poultry seasoning is vegan, gluten-free, keto, paleo, and Whole30 compliant.

What is Poultry Seasoning?

It’s an aromatic blend of dried herbs usually used to season chicken, turkey, stuffing, and gravy.

However, this seasoning can be used for much more than just poultry. You can use it to season meat, soups, casseroles, rice, salads, stocks, sauces, breads, and even vegetables, vegetarian burgers and tofu. It’s gives them a really delicious flavor.

What Is It Made of?

The original recipe is made with sage and thyme, but it’s also often made with marjoram, rosemary, nutmeg or celery seed, and black or white pepper.

I used the following herbs and spices for this tasty poultry seasoning blend, but feel free to add other herbs and spices to make your customized variation based on your preferences (more on that in the section below):

• Sage – it has a strong flavor so use 2 teaspoons of dried leaves which will significantly shrink in size after grinding it.
• Marjoram – it’s a type of oregano but a bit milder in flavor. If you don’t have it, you can substitute it with dried oregano leaves but use just half the amount. So for this recipe, use half a teaspoon of oregano in substitution for one teaspoon of marjoram.
• Rosemary and Thyme – to give a homey taste to your food.
• Nutmeg – use freshly ground, or just ground nutmeg to flavor this seasoning. However, if you don’t have it, it can be omitted.
• Black pepper – just ground black pepper.

Variations on Poultry Seasoning

You can change things up a little and add other herbs or spices. They are often ground using an electric grinder or a pestle and mortar to a fine consistency.

Ideas for herbs and spices to be added to the seasoning:

• Parsley – can be substituted by chervil.
• Cloves – give a strong, sweet and pungent flavor.
• Allspice – to give sweet, savory and warm flavors.
• Dried basil – to give a hint of mediterranean flavor.
• Ginger – for a warm and little sweet aroma.
• Dried mustard – to add a touch of heat.
• Dried onion – for a toasty slightly sweet flavor.
• Garlic powder – for a garlicky flavor.
• Cayenne – for a spicier blend.
• Lemon peel – adds a zesty flavor.

Is Chicken Seasoning The Same as Poultry Seasoning?

Yes, but don’t confuse chicken/poultry seasoning with chicken bouillon. You can totally grind up a chicken bouillon cube to season a chicken, but remember that it already contains salt (unless it says low-sodium on the package, then it probably doesn’t contain too much salt). But be careful with the salt amount, as you might end up with a very salty meal.

How to Store Dried Herbs and Spices

• Spices and dried herbs lose flavor over time, so I recommend that you consume any spice blend within 6 months and preferably within 3 months.
• Never store spices near your stove or in open containers or racks, instead, store in sealed containers in a dark place.

For ideas on how to use this homemade poultry seasoning recipe, check out this simple Crockpot Shredded Chicken recipe, Instant Pot Whole Chicken, Air Fryer Whole Chicken and Instant Pot Turkey Breast. You can also use it to marinate Grilled Chicken Tenders.

If you try this recipe, please don’t forget to rate it and share a picture on social media, tagging NourishPlate in your posts. I would really love to see your creations. Bon appetit!