The Best Grilled Chicken Around

Meet the chicken seasoning that inspired the hit song featured in the Karate Kid.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Ingredients

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon basil dried
1 teaspoon rosemary dried and crushed
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon thyme dried
¼ teaspoon parsley dried
⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
Black pepper to taste

Instructions

Mix all spices together well.
Sprinkle seasoning over chicken (will cover 1-2 pounds depending on how much seasoning you like).
This is best on the grill (hence the title The Best Grilled Chicken Around) but you can also roast it (375°F for 20-25 minutes for boneless breast or thighs).

Keyword chicken, easy chicken recipe, easy recipe, weeknight dinner

If you like this recipe, check out Umami Chicken – also fantastic on the grill and served over salad!

Obligatory Fictional Backstory:

Fun fact, I was once considered for the part of Kreese in the movie The Karate Kid, but during my audition I suffered a severe nosebleed and lost the role. However, the directors knew I could cook, so they offered me a position cooking for the cast and crew, which I gladly accepted.

One day I served this grilled chicken and caused Joe Esposito to exclaim “This is the best – AROUND!” and thus inspired the inspirational and iconic song “You’re the Best” that is featured in the original (and only one worth acknowledging) Karate Kid movie. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as Joe did and that it inspires you to write your own synthesizer-laden hit song!

If you have not been blessed to hear the song yet, click here.

Real Talk

My hubs started taking salads to work every day a few years ago in an effort to get healthier, and he likes grilled chicken on his salad so we make this pretty frequently. It works well with most salad dressings (he uses Caesar – mainly so he can say “Ave. True to Kaiesar” like in Fallout New Vegas every time he makes a salad.)

Lyrics:

Try to be best
‘Cause you’re only a man
And a man’s gotta learn to take it
Try to believe

Though the going gets rough
That you gotta hang tough to make it
History repeats itself
Try and you’ll succeed
Never doubt that you’re the one
And you can have your dreams!

Fight ‘til the end
Cause your life will depend
On the strength that you have inside you

Ah you gotta be proud
Starin’ out in the cloud
When the odds in the game defy you

Try your best to win them all
And one day time will tell
When you’re the one that’s standing there
You’ll reach the final bell!

You’re the (best grilled chicken)!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the (Best grilled chicken)!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the (Best grilled chicken)!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the (best grilled chicken)!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the (Best grilled chicken)!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down
You’re the (Best grilled chicken)!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down