How Much Seasoning Do You Use Per Pound of Meat?

Use about 1 tablespoon of seasoning blend per pound of meat. That works for steaks, roasts, pork chops and chicken. Ground meat for tacos takes more, about 2 tablespoons per pound, and fish and vegetables take less, about 1 to 2 teaspoons per pound. Start there, cook, taste, and add more at the end if it needs it.

That is the short version. Below is a chart you can keep, the reason some foods need more, and what to do when you have already gone too far.

The quick chart

These amounts are for a seasoning blend that already has salt in it, which is most of them.

What you are cooking	Seasoning per pound
Steak, roasts, pork chops	1 tablespoon
Chicken pieces and wings	1 tablespoon
Ground beef or turkey for tacos	2 tablespoons
Burger patties	2 teaspoons, on the outside
Fish and shrimp	1 to 2 teaspoons
Vegetables and potatoes	1 to 2 teaspoons

A tablespoon is 3 teaspoons. If all you can find in the drawer is the teaspoon, count to three and carry on.

Why 1 tablespoon per pound works

A tablespoon per pound sounds like a lot until you spread it out. A pound of chicken thighs has a top, a bottom and a good many edges. By the time the seasoning covers all of it, you have a light, even coat, and that is what you want.

The easy way to check is to look at it. You should see seasoning on every side, with a little meat still showing through. If it looks like a snowdrift, that is too much. If you have to squint to find it, that is too little.

For everyday cooking we use The OG, which is salt, pepper and garlic and nothing else. A tablespoon per pound on a chuck roast, pork chops or a tray of chicken thighs is our starting point every time. For steak, we walk through the timing in How to Season a Ribeye Steak.

When to use more

Ground meat for tacos, chili and sloppy joes. The seasoning is not sitting on the surface here. It gets stirred through all the meat, and usually through tomatoes, beans or a splash of water too. That is why taco meat takes about 2 tablespoons per pound. It is how we use Rock Yo' Taco: brown the meat, drain it, stir in 2 tablespoons per pound with a little water, and simmer a few minutes. The same amount works in a pot of chili, which we cover in Can You Use Taco Seasoning in Chili?

Big, thick cuts. A 4-pound roast is mostly inside, and the seasoning is all outside. Stay at 1 tablespoon per pound, but put it on early, the night before if you remember, so the salt has time to work its way in.

Food headed for the smoker or a long braise. Long cooking mellows spices. Season at the start, then taste at the end and add a pinch more if it has gone quiet.

When to use less

Burgers. Sprinkle about 2 teaspoons per pound over the outside of the patties right before they hit the pan or grill. Do not knead it into the meat. Salt worked into ground beef makes a burger tight and springy, more like sausage.

Fish and shrimp. They are thin and mild, and they cook fast. Start with 1 teaspoon per pound and go up to 2 if you like it bolder.

Vegetables. Toss a pound of cut vegetables or potatoes with a little oil and 1 to 2 teaspoons of seasoning before roasting. The oil helps it stick.

Anything you plan to sauce. Barbecue sauce, soy sauce, store-bought broth and gravy mixes all bring salt of their own. Go a little lighter on the seasoning and taste once everything is together.

Bone-in chicken and wings. A pound of wings is partly bone, so 1 tablespoon per pound is plenty. Pat them dry first so the skin crisps and the seasoning stays put. Anything With Wings is our poultry blend, made for wings, thighs and a whole roast chicken.

Check the label, because salt changes the math

Every amount above assumes your blend has salt in it. Turn the package over and read the ingredients. They are listed from most to least.

• Salt is listed first. The blend is mostly salt. Start a little under the chart and taste.
• Salt is in the middle or near the end. The chart works as written.
• No salt at all. Use the same amount of seasoning, then salt the food yourself, a pinch at a time.

One more thing to look for: fillers. If a blend lists things like maltodextrin, corn starch or silicon dioxide, part of every tablespoon is not seasoning, and you may need more to taste anything. Our blends are USDA Certified Organic with no MSG, no fillers and no anti-caking agents, so every tablespoon is all seasoning.

All three blends above come in a 5 oz resealable pouch. When you are measuring by the tablespoon, the pouch is the one we would buy.

Quick answers

How much seasoning do I use for 2 pounds of ground beef?

For tacos, chili or sloppy joes, use about 4 tablespoons, which is ¼ cup. For burgers, use about 4 teaspoons and sprinkle it on the outside of the patties just before cooking.

How much dry rub do I use per pound of chicken?

About 1 tablespoon per pound. Pat the chicken dry, coat every side, and get some under the skin if you can. For a whole 4-pound chicken, that is about 4 tablespoons.

What do I do if I used too much seasoning?

Make the dish bigger. Add more of whatever is unseasoned: another can of tomatoes or beans, plain rice, potatoes, or unsalted broth. A squeeze of lemon or a spoonful of sour cream on top helps too. For a steak or chop, scrape off what you can and serve it with something plain.

That is the whole rule: a tablespoon per pound, more for taco meat, less for fish and vegetables, and always one taste before it goes to the table. Free shipping kicks in at $25 if the seasoning shelf is running low.