Easy Jerk Chicken Recipe + Video

Name: Easy Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe + Video
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
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

Portions: 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 ❤️ it • Recipe • Ingredients • Video • Preparation

Easy jerk chicken recipe.

Why I ❤️ 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 famous Jamaican 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

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Utensils and tools

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.

Step 2: To cook in the oven

Pre-heat oven to 375 ºC (190 ºC). 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

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

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.

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, ¼ cup of lime juice, 3 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground allspice, a pinch of ground nutmeg, a teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ 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").

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

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" (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 ºC (190 ºC). 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:

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:

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.

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

By Tia Clara, published Aug 12, 2011 on Tia Clara

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

Why I ❤️ it

Caribbean jerk chicken recipe

Utensils and tools

Ingredients

Video