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Easy Jerk Chicken Recipe (Air Fryer, Oven or Grill)

  • EspaƱol
Portions: 6 servings

Calories: 616kcal

This quick and easy jerk chicken recipe is a friendly version of the famous Jamaican chicken. Let me show you how to enjoy this spicy, tasty dish. This flavorful and tender dish is one of the most famous Caribbean chicken dishes and the most famous Jamaican chicken recipe. This recipe gives you the choice of making this dish in an oven, air fryer, or grill.

Why I ā¤ļø it • Recipe • Ingredients • Video • Preparation

Easy jerk chicken recipe.

Easy jerk chicken recipe.

Why I ā¤ļø it

You can have a delicious Jamaican jerk chicken meal in less than an hour. The recipe and video show how to make this amazing dish bursting with the flavors of some fiery spices. You'll love how quick and easy this Jamaican jerk chicken recipe is, and perhaps get inspired to try it.

It is a very fiery dish, so if you don't like spicy food this may not be your cup of tea. You can still eliminate the cayenne pepper, and it will be tasty, but the defining characteristic of this dish is that it is SPICY! I was aiming for an easy, quick, simple recipe for the home cook. I think I got it.

Caribbean jerk chicken recipe

This free recipe contains Amazon affiliate links, and I receive a small commission when you purchase, at no cost to you. Thank you!

Learn how to make jerk chicken with this easy home cook-friendly version of the famousĀ JamaicanĀ dish. You'll love the amazing Caribbean flavors in it.

Course: Dinner, Lunch
Inspiration: Caribbean, Jamaican
Category: easy jerk chicken recipe, jamaican chicken, spicy chicken
Author: Clara Gonzalez

Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Total Time1 hr

Utensils and tools

  • Large bowl
  • Baking tray with wire rack
  • Meat thermometer
  • Grill, air fryer or oven
Jamaican jerk chicken.
Jamaican jerk chicken.

Ingredients

  • 12 bone-in chicken legs (thighs and drumsticks)
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 4 teaspoons of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of brown sugar (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon of ginger powder
  • 1 tablespoon of onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon of allspice powder
  • 1 tablespoon of dry thyme leaves
  • 4 tablespoon of soy sauce
  • 3 teaspoons of salt
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Video

Preparation

Before starting, please make sure you have all the ingredients and utensils ready.

Step 1: Making the rub

In a large bowl, combine lime juice, cayenne, sugar, garlic powder, ginger powder, onion powder, allspice powder, thyme, soy sauce and salt and stir to mix well. Rub this paste on the chicken, try to get some under the skin too. Drizzle the chicken with oil.

Seasoned chicken.
Seasoned chicken.

Step 2: To cook in the oven

Pre-heat oven to 375 ĀŗC (190 ĀŗC). Place on a baking tray with a wire rack (Amazon affiliate link) skin side up. Cook in the oven for 45 minutes, or until some of the skin has blackened. Remove from the oven. See notes for safety information.

Cooking jerk chicken in the oven.
Cooking jerk chicken in the oven.

Step 3: To cook in the air fryer

Cook in pre-heated air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes. First skin side down for 10 minutes, then skin side up for the remaining 10 minutes or until the skin is crispy and a bit blackened. See notes for safety information.

Cooking jerk chicken in air fryer.
Cooking jerk chicken in air fryer.

Step 4: To cook on the grill

Cook on medium-low (about 250°F [125 ºC]) for 45 minutes skin side down, rotate to skin side up and cook for another 45 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and a bit charred. See notes for safety information.

Grilling jerk chicken.
Grilling jerk chicken.

Jerk marinade

You can make a jerk chicken marinade (as opposed to a rub dry jerk seasoning). To do it, combine  2 Scotch bonnet peppers (or 4 habanero peppers), 5 garlic cloves, a teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves, Ā¼ cup of lime juice, 3 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground allspice, a pinch of ground nutmeg, a teaspoon of cinnamon, Ā¼ cup of olive oil, and a handful of green onions. Blend in a blender or food processor.

Top tips

  • This recipe, though I've tried to keep it as close to the authentic Jamaican jerk, is not necessarily the traditional one, bearing in mind that in Jamaica --like everywhere-- there are countless ways home cooks make the same dish. 
  • Chicken will be safe to eat when a meat thermometer reads 165°F (75°C) in the middle, or when cut all the juices run clear. I always recommend using a thermometer.
  • This is SPICY! If you don't like food that is very spicy you may dial down the spiciness level of the jerk seasoning by using just a quarter of cayenne pepper powder.
  • Bone-in chicken legs or drumsticks are preferred, but you can use other chicken pieces like wings or chicken breasts.

What to serve with jerk chicken

If you are wondering what side dish to serve with Jerk Chicken, I suggest that you serve it with rice with beans (which, not surprisingly, has its own equivalent in Jamaican cuisine called "rice and peas").

Caribbean jerk chicken.
Caribbean jerk chicken.

Nutritional information

Calories: 616kcal - Carbohydrates: 9g - Protein: 38g - Fat: 47g - Saturated Fat: 11g - Cholesterol: 221mg - Sodium: 1235mg - Potassium: 605mg - Fiber: 1g - Sugar: 2g - Vitamin A: 1575IU - Vitamin C: 9.1mg - Calcium: 33mg - Iron: 2.5mg

More chicken recipes

  • stuffed cubanelle peppers.
    Stuffed Cubanelle Peppers Recipe
  • Lemon garlic chicken.
    How To Make the Easiest Lemon Garlic Chicken
  • Chicken breast rolls.
    Baked Bacon-Wrapped Spinach Stuffed Chicken Rolls Recipe
  • Creamy chicken vegetable soup.
    Easy Creamy Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe

See more: chicken recipes main dish recipes lunch recipes

FAQs

What is jerk chicken sauce made of?

Jamaican jerk chicken sauce is made of a number of spices and seasonings. The main flavor comes from Scotch bonnet peppers, a tiny Caribbean hot pepper. Other spices are nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, garlic, dried thyme, and others.

What is traditionally served with jerk chicken?

Jerk chicken is traditionally served with plantains, "bammy" Ā (fried yuca patties) and sometimes rice and peas, a dish of beans and rice combined.

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Easy Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe + Video

Ingredients

  • 12 of chicken legs (thighs and drumsticks)
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 4 teaspoons of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of brown sugar (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon of ginger powder
  • 1 tablespoon of onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon of allspice powder
  • 1 tablespoon of dry thyme leaves
  • 4 tablespoon of soy sauce
  • 3 teaspoons of salt
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

Step 1: Making the rub:

  • In a large bowl, combine lime juice, cayenne, sugar, garlic powder, ginger powder, onion powder, allspice powder, thyme, soy sauce and salt and stir to mix well. Rub this paste on the chicken, try to get some under the skin too. Drizzle the chicken with oil.

Step 2: To cook in the oven:

  • Pre-heat oven to 375 ĀŗC (190 ĀŗC). Place on a baking tray with a wire rack (Amazon affiliate link) skin side up. Cook in the oven for 45 minutes, or until some of the skin has blackened. Remove from the oven. See notes for safety information.

Step 3: To cook in the air fryer:Ā 

  • Cook in pre-heated air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes. First skin side down for 10 minutes, then skin side up for the remaining 10 minutes or until the skin is crispy and a bit blackened. See notes for safety information.

Step 4: To cook on the grill:Ā 

  • Cook on medium-low (about 250°F [125 ĀŗC]) for 45 minutes skin side down, rotate to skin side up and cook for another 45 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and a bit charred. See notes for safety information.

Notes

Chicken will be safe to eat when a meat thermometer reads 165°F (75°C) in the middle, or when cut all the juices run clear. I always recommend using a thermometer.
This is SPICY! You've been warned, if you don't like food that is very spicy you may have to reduce the cayenne pepper powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 616kcal

Publicado por Tia Clara - Aug 12, 2011

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  1. Katherine

    April 27, 2021 at 6:32 am

    5 stars
    I found this recipe on Pinterest, great taste, easy to make. I will do it agian.

    Reply
  2. Yohan

    April 30, 2020 at 11:41 pm

    5 stars
    Me gusto mucho

    Reply
  3. Ma. Norita

    March 08, 2020 at 5:41 pm

    5 stars
    I am Dominican and this was a little more spicy than I am used to. Ok, more than a litttle. šŸ˜‰ But it was really good. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  4. Ana H.

    September 10, 2018 at 7:06 pm

    5 stars
    Loved it! I liked that you were not afraid of going spicy, thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  5. Mary

    May 23, 2018 at 8:39 pm

    4 stars
    I made this and HOLY MOLY it was TOO HOT.

    Reply
  6. April

    November 29, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    5 stars
    Wow, this was fantastic! I made it it was so quick and easy. The chicken had so much flavor and was absolutely delicious. Thanks so much for this great recipe!!

    Reply
    • Tia Clara

      December 03, 2015 at 12:41 am

      I am glad to hear you liked it. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Monica

    November 04, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    How to make the Jamaican rice?

    Reply
    • Tia Clara

      November 13, 2015 at 1:17 pm

      I don't have that recipe. Sorry. But the closest I can offer is our this recipe for rice and beans.

      Reply
  8. Sharon

    November 26, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    This looks amazing!

    Reply
  9. Jaime

    November 20, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    5 stars
    I've wanted to try this for sooooooo long!! Thank you for the recipe!!

    Reply
  10. Carolsue

    January 18, 2013 at 7:02 am

    This would be pretty awesome to try.

    Reply
  11. Agnes

    January 06, 2013 at 11:32 pm

    5 stars
    This is awesome! Thanks so much!

    Reply
  12. Catherine Tactuk

    January 06, 2013 at 12:31 pm

    That looks nice Tias!

    Reply
  13. Christina Lamano

    April 23, 2012 at 10:32 am

    would love to have

    Reply
  14. Vivian

    April 20, 2012 at 2:38 pm

    5 stars
    beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  15. Rita

    April 17, 2012 at 2:27 pm

    5 stars
    I found your recipe on Pinterest. It looks great.

    Reply
  16. carmen

    April 15, 2012 at 10:38 am

    5 stars
    Tia a mi me gustan tanto estas recetas faciles, son un exito...... Por cierto tia sus recetas me han salvado el dia en muchas ocasiones.

    Reply
  17. Minorka

    April 13, 2012 at 2:43 am

    Love it!!

    Thank You

    Reply
  18. Icelsa Mejia

    August 21, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    One of my favorites, I always cook Dominican and Jamaican, I can make my own Jerk sauce thanks to my Jamaican husband. Para chuparse los dedos.

    Reply
  19. Marta

    August 18, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    I have been hesitant to try the Jerk Chicken, but you have inspired me! Yay!!

    Reply
  20. Liz

    August 17, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    The chicken looks amazing. This is a must for me. Gracias!

    Reply
  21. Ana L. Flores

    August 14, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    Super, super easy and must taste delicious!

    I used the Jamaican Jerk marinade to make grilled shrimp skewers and everyone loved the taste. Very flavorful

    Reply
  22. Jenny

    August 13, 2011 at 6:52 am

    Oh gosh, I want to lick my screen. The chicken looks scrumptious!

    Reply
  23. Denyse

    August 12, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    5 stars
    I love jerk chicken......delicious...

    Reply

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Hi, I'm TĆ­a Clara! I have been a recipe developer, and recipe writer for 20+ years, and here I share my easy recipes you'll love.

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