Jamaican Jerk Chicken is a recipe that is authentic to Jamaican cuisine. Easy to make and full of flavour, the chicken is crispy and moist while the spices are a delicious blend!
Jerk Chicken
For more ethnic flair for your chicken dinner, try these amazing Chicken Enchiladas, or this Baked Hawaiian Chicken!
Before I went to Jamaica for the first time, everyone {and their dog} told me that i must try the Jerk Chicken. Not having tried it before, I was curious, and always game for a new chicken dish to fall in love with. So I did.
Yep, love at first bite.
Jamaican Jerk Chicken is and always will be a dish that reminds me of sweet Caribbean air, waves kissing the shore, sun and tropical bliss. Funny how some foods bring you back and memories take over.
Once home, and in the bitter cold Canadian Winter, my husband asked if I could make Jamaican Jerk Chicken. I’m sure it could be done, and I bet it takes really good. Yet, I was worried that it wouldn’t be the same. That without the founding beautiful location, having this here would somehow squash those memories where food meets memory.
Ultimately, my craving for this delicious chicken won. I had to get my Jamaican Jerk Chicken fix! So, I tried it …
Making Jamaican Jerk Chicken at home requires a few ingredients for the marinade. While there’s quite a few variations on the recipe, I focused primarily on the Sandals Lifestyle one, since I fell in love with Jamaican Jerk Chicken at Sandals Resorts Negril.
Yet, I did change around their recipe a little. I added some lime juice and real habanero peppers are so hard to come by in small city Alberta. Instead, I opted for a Red Habanero Hot Sauce which I picked up at a small and quaint Mexican shop downtown. Which, as a side note, might be one of my favourite shops now.
This Jamaican Jerk Chicken recipe calls for a lot of hotness in the form of peppers, onions, scallions, garlic, ginger, allspice. As a warning: your eyes will water when cutting, chopping and the action of just pouring the mixture over the chicken.
The house will fill with the warmest spice, who knew this alone could make you think that you are actually eating this hot mixture. It’s almost unbelievable.
In fact, all day I wondered if perhaps this could be too spicy hot for myself to enjoy, especially the kids. Again, I was worried.
Yet, here’s the saving grace – when done and you take a bite, it’s not intense and never too much. The hotness cuts down a lot and instead you are left with flavour. Great flavour.
It’s true, this Jamaican Jerk Chicken tastes very similar to the original. It’s not the same, to me at least, but it’s so close that I get that incredible feeling of nostalgia. If I close my eyes {and shush the kids}, I can envision myself on that beach patio. For a minute at least. Hey, I’ll take what I can get!
Next time I make this, it will be BBQ’ed though. I opted for oven-cooked this time, yet I’m sure it would be even closer to the real-deal if the chicken were grilled. Right now I’m adding ‘making Jamaican Jerk Chicken on the BBQ’ to my list of a billion things I love about Summer.
Here’s the full recipe and I urge you to give it a try. Again, don’t let the ingredients scare you away if you are more of a ‘mild than hot’ person. Trust me, I am that way most of the time and I LOVE this recipe!
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Jamaican Jerk Chicken is a recipe that is authentic to Jamaican cuisine. Easy to make and full of flavour, the chicken is crispy and moist while the spices are a delicious blend!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Red Habanero Hot Sauce
- 2 tablespoons stemmed fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground allspice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
- ¾ cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped scallions, using the white and the green parts
- 5 chicken pieces {leg with back attached is what I use}
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- Juice squeezed out of 3 Limes
Instructions
- Mince the first 8 ingredients {except for the soy sauce and chicken} in a food processor, until it's a fine mixture.
- Stir in the soy sauce.
- Place chicken parts into a baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Pour mixture over the chicken and make sure all sides of the chicken is coated.
- Marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, to overnight.
- Bring chicken to room temperate before cooking
- Cook at 375 for 1 hour and 25 minutes or until the outside is crispy and chicken is well cooked.
- Enjoy with fries and a salad if you wish {coleslaw or caesar}
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 1527mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 3gSugar: 9gProtein: 8g
Ellen Christian says
That really does sound amazing. I’ll have to see if I can find all the ingredients at our local store.
Tammi says
Substitute the habanero if you need to, that was the hardest for me to find. yet, we do live North… boo! lol
Cupcakes & Crossbones says
My husband would love this! def going to have to give this one a shot!
Tammi says
Let me know what you think when you do!! 🙂
Jennifer Soltys says
My husband has been getting into spices like this, so I bet he would love it! Normally I wouldn’t try this, but you have me sold!!
Tammi says
I normally don’t like a lot of intense spices, yet this is delicious. Definitely worth a try!!
Stacie says
I love spicy foods! This sounds delicious.
Tammi says
This ones for you then, Stacie!! 🙂
susan says
This looks amazing, I am a big fan of Jerk chicken, it is spicy and flavorful and yours looks so very good.
Tammi says
Thanks Susan!!
Stacey @ Cheap is the New Classy says
With the hot sauce and allspice, my husband would be in love with this recipe! I’m not very good with spicy meals, but I would definitely make this for him!
Tammi says
Let me know how it goes!! 🙂
Amber Edwards says
I absolutely LOVE Jerk Chicken! I have to try this Jamaican version! It sounds amazing! I never would have thought allspice would be included.
Tammi says
Truthfully, I’ve never made anything with Allspice, I had to buy some. What else can I use it for?
Anne Taylor says
Thanks for the recipe! My husband would absolutely love this!
Tammi says
You are very welcome Anne!
kristin says
Oh wow this looks so delicious!!!
Tammi says
Thanks Kristin, let me know if you try it!!
Jennifer @TheRebelChick says
Your jerk chicken recipe looks delicious! I am going to have to try this, we love jerk chicken!
Tammi says
Nice! Jerk Chicken lovers unite!!! 🙂
Brenda Roy says
That does sound absolutely delicious; Kudos to you for making it!
Tammi says
Thanks Brenda!! 🙂
kristin says
This looks so good. I’m going to have to try it for dinner soon!
Tammi says
🙂
Brett says
Love me some jerk. One day I will have some in Jamaica!!
Pam says
My husband loves to grill, so this would be a great change-up for our usual burgers and hot dogs! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Tammi says
Fantastic!!
Nicole B says
Yum my mouth is watering. We’ll have to try this jerk chicken.
Tammi says
🙂
Dawn Lopez says
Ooh yummy, I’ve always been curious about Jamaican Jerk Chicken.. but never got around to making it. Sounds like I have a new recipe to try. This sounds delish!
Tammi says
It’s easier than I thought too! Glad I tried it!
Nancy Lustri (StyleDecor) says
Looks wonderful! I love Jerk Chicken and will definitely want to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Tammi says
You are very welcome!! 🙂
Tess says
I would love to try jerk chicken. Looks very good!
Tammi says
🙂
Lisa says
I’m thinking marinade it overnight and let that flavor explode!
Tammi says
For sure!!
Sarah @ Must Have Mom says
MMM this sounds amazing! What a wonderful memory you have associated with it!
Tammi says
I tried Jerk Chicken in the best place possible, great memories indeed!
Ashley - Embracing Grace says
Yea, that looks absolutely amazing! I’ll have to try and make this soon.
Tammi says
🙂
Liz Mays says
This sounds so good and whether the cuts down a little or not, I’ll love it. I do love a bit of fire.
Tammi says
Pile it on then Liz!! 😉
Mama to 5 BLessings says
That sounds delicious! I have never had anything jerk recipe related before,
Tammi says
I’ll try Jerk Shrimp next I think!
JaimeeM says
Never had jerk chicken, must try it!
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion says
I have never been to Jamaica, but maybe someday.. Delicious recipe:)
Catherine says
This looks so delicious, thank you for sharing!
Shelley N says
I fell in love with Jerk Chicken at a Beaches in Jamaica so I will definitely have to try this. I have been using jerk seasoning from the Bulk Barn and it is tasty but does match what we had in Jamaica. Thanks for sharing.
Lynda Cook says
Sounds very good, and ya that was my biggest concern was the spicy and hotness of this dish, but after reading your post and I will trust you that it’s not to hot after all, I am going to make this as I too am always looking for new ways to jazz my chicken up a bit…thanks for sharing!
Stefani says
This sounds really good! I am always looking for new ideas for chicken. YUM!
Judy C (Judy Cowan) says
I have never tried Jerk Chicken but I have heard amazing things about it, may have to give your recipe a try once we get the BBQ up and running.
Susan T. says
I love super spicy so jerk chicken is one of my favorites too. I can’t wait for BBQ season!
kathy downey says
i am going to make this, hubby will love all the spices,since he does not eat salt,thanks
Jo-Anna says
This recipe looks so good! I’ve never made or even tried Jamaican Jerk Chicken! Where have I been?!
Dawn says
Love to try this
Emily Chui says
this looks absolutely mouthwateringly delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe, pinned to try for later!
BarbFS says
This sounds awesome Tammi! I will have to try it. We, also stayed at Sandals Negril and fell in love with the Jamaicans and their beautiful country! Do you drain off the marinade before baking? Thanks for doing the work to make and share this recipe. 😀
Lisa says
I love Jerk Chicken! One of my faves! Yours looks so good!
Terra Heck says
Sounds delicious. I’ve never had Jamaican Jerk Chicken but looks yummy.
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I’ve never eaten Jerk anything before..and you definitely have convinced me it’s something I need to make now!
Ana says
And now you made me courious about trying it!! Guess I will be hosting a. Jamaican themed dinner this weekend
Brenda Roy says
would absolutely love this; I know!!!