Savory, spiced, and full of flavor, this rubbed Turmeric Chicken is ready in under 20 minutes and is incredibly versatile! Using just five ingredients to make a simple yet flavorful rub, this dish is a quick and tasty dinner recipe to add to your rotation.
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If dinner has been feeling kind of drab for you lately, I'm here today with an easy chicken recipe to save your day (or evening)!
After all, it can be so easy to get into a funk with dinner. I mean really, when you've been busy managing everything else in your life all day, it's so easy to lose your inspiration when you step into the kitchen come dinner time.
That's why I'm here, friends! To share the kind of healthy and quick dinner recipes that save you time and fuss while delighting every member of your dinner time crew.
This chicken with turmeric is perfect with so many side dishes and is a meal prep dream -- virtually begging you to add to your monthly meal list. Either way you enjoy this turmeric chicken breast, though, it's my hope that it adds a little spunk, flavor, ease, and time. The kind of time you can get back to tackle the rest of life and savor what you hold dear.If you want to explore cooking more dishes with turmeric you’ve got to try my turmeric granola recipe and turmeric roasted carrots next.
Why You Will Love This Turmeric Chicken Recipe
- A Unique Flavor. The simple rub makes perfectly spiced savory chicken that’s a bit earthy but simply bursting with flavor.
- Perfectly Cooked Chicken. This recipe always results in chicken that’s tender and juicy.
- Easy Dinner Meal. Using simple ingredients you can have dinner ready in just 20 minutes.
- Make Ahead. Cook extra chicken for meal prep to use throughout the week for easy meals.
- Versatile Chicken Recipe. This chicken can be sauteed, grilled, or baked. It's perfect served with rice and roasted vegetables, on top of salads, in quesadillas, on powder bowls and so much more!
- Gluten-Free Chicken. This turmeric chicken recipe contains no wheat or wheat-derived ingredients so it is naturally gluten-free!
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s a look at the simple ingredients you need to make this turmeric on chicken recipe. Many you may already have in your spice cabinet or you can easily grab them at most grocery stores. Be sure to check the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and the quantities of each one.
- Turmeric: This yellow spice has an earthy and slightly bitter aroma and flavor. It delivers many health benefits and has such a beautiful yellow color! You can buy turmeric at most major grocery stores, spice shops, Costco, and online at Thrive Market.
- Cumin: This spice is savory, herby, and with a touch of citrus flavor. It balances out the turmeric so nicely!
- Garlic powder: Relying on dried spices keeps the prep simple and garlic adds a more robust flavor to the chicken rub.
- Salt: Absolutely necessary in this recipe as it enhances the flavor of the rub and the chicken.
- Cracked black pepper: To add a kick of flavor.
- Chicken: You can use bone-in or boneless chicken breasts, drumsticks, or thighs! Turmeric chicken thighs are my favorite as they are easier to cook up nice and juicy.
- Lemon juice: Brightens up all the flavors of the seasoned chicken. The lemon juice makes this recipe sing so don't be bashful with it! Fresh lemon juice is better but bottled also works! You can also swap the lemon juice for lime juice instead.
- Cilantro: An optional garnish but the naturally herby-citrus flavor of the cilantro works perfectly with the turmeric spice rub.
Variations
- Try a Different Meat. The turmeric rub works especially well with chicken but is also great with pork chops, pork tenderloin, or a pork roast.
- Spicy. If you like an element of heat, you can add a pinch of crushed red pepper or cayenne pepper to the rub.
- Turmeric Grilled Chicken. If you prefer cooking the chicken on the grill it works great. Season the chicken as directed and then grill the chicken over medium or medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Make Turmeric Chicken
Step 1: Make the rub by mixing the spices together in a small bowl.
Step 2: Sprinkle the turmeric spice blend over both sides of the chicken.
Step 3: Saute or grill the chicken until the chicken is cooked through.
Step 4: Squeeze the lemon juice liberally over the chicken.
Step 5: Serve the chicken hot and enjoy!
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Use Fresh Spices. Fresh spices have a much more vibrant flavor, making this recipe even that much better. Most spices last about six months once opened so be sure to regularly check the expiration date on your spices for the best results.
- Don't Under Season Your Chicken. It may seem like a lot, but sprinkle about a teaspoon of the seasoning blend on each side of your chicken. You'll be glad you did!
- Be Liberal With the Lemon Juice. Squeeze lemon juice liberally over the chicken after it’s cooked. This final squeeze of lemon juice brings out all the delicious flavors in the chicken, rather than tasting sour or tart.
- Avoid Substitutions. While I usually share ingredient substitutions to give you options for using ingredients on hand, this recipe, especially the turmeric rub, is best with all the ingredients listed.
- Turmeric Stains. While turmeric adds a bright yellow color to the chicken it also may leave a yellow residue on your cooking pan and storage containers. Make sure to wash your skillet well after cooking and store leftovers in a glass container that won’t stain.
Serving Suggestions
This chicken recipe is perfect for quick weeknight dinners, an easy meal for guests, and great for meal prep!
You can easily make a batch (or 2 or 3!) at the beginning of the week and enjoy the chicken in different meals throughout the week. Just multiply the ingredients by your desired amount and follow the recipe as directed!
- Repurpose Leftovers or Extras. Use turmeric chicken on top of rice bowls, roasted vegetables, salads, quinoa bowls, and pasta salads.
- Enjoy With Side Dishes. This turmeric black pepper chicken is great with a side of Dutch oven sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes without butter, blistered green beans, and air fried zucchini.
- Use It In Sandwiches. Shred it the chicken and use it as a flavorful addition to quesadillas, wraps, or sandwiches.
Storage Directions
Allow the chicken to cool all the way and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. I don’t recommend freezing it as this chicken doesn’t freeze well.
Reheat the chicken in a skillet on the stove over medium heat or in the oven on a baking sheet at 350°F. Alternatively, you can enjoy the chicken chilled added to salads and bowls.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use bone-in chicken breasts, thighs, or other chicken pieces. If you use bone-in breasts, thighs, or drumsticks, you will need to cook the meat longer, however, or until the chicken reaches a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the meat.
Yes, you can bake this chicken! To start, preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and spray your baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Add the seasoned chicken to the pan and cover with aluminum foil. Then, bake the chicken for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake the chicken for another 10 minutes, or until it's cooked through and has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. When it’s ready, squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken and enjoy!
Yes, it is! Turmeric has an earthy and mild flavor profile that’s complemented by warm and lightly sweet cumin, and savory garlic powder creating a dish that’s full of a multitude of flavors but is not spicy. It’s the perfect way to season chicken.
The best way to determine when the chicken is cooked is to use a thermometer and insert it into the thickest part of the chicken. When it registers 165° F, your chicken is ready!
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More Chicken Recipes
- Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry
- Rotisserie Chicken Salad
- Crispy Herbed Panko Chicken
- Sheet Pan Apricot Chicken
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
- Peanut Butter Chicken Curry
- Sheet Pan Cuban Mojo Chicken
Tools Needed to Make This Recipe
- Small mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Citrus juicer
- Non-stick pans: I love this one and this one!
- Heat-safe no scratch spatula
- Meat thermometer
Rubbed Turmeric Chicken
Savory spiced and full of flavor, this Rubbed Turmeric Chicken is ready in under 20 minutes and incredibly versatile!
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons turmeric
- 1 ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs and/or breasts
- 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice or the juice of 1 medium lemon
- CIlantro leaves to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, mix together the cumin, salt, turmeric, garlic powder, and black pepper until combined.
- Sprinkle each chicken piece a heaping teaspoon of the seasoning blend. Gently rub the seasoning blend into the meat.
- Preheat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and heat until it sizzles when flicked with water.
- Add the chicken to the skillet, being careful not to overcrowd the pan, and cook for 8-12 minutes (depending on the thickness of your chicken), turning the chicken every 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Squeeze or drizzle the lemon juice over the chicken pieces. Serve hot!
Notes
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
- Spray your baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
- Add the chicken to the pan and cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake the chicken for 10 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake the chicken for another 10 minutes, or until it's cooked through and has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken and enjoy!
Perfect color and flavor! Leftovers worked well on a salad next day.
So glad to hear that you liked it, Babs! Thanks so much for sharing and reviewing!
Chelsea