This oven-baked Jamaican jerk chicken recipe takes you right to the Caribbean, with the perfect blend of sweetness, heat, spice, and flavor! Mix up a big batch of this yummy jerk marinade to feed a crowd or freeze for an easy meal later. Pairs well with Coconut Lime Rice and Pan-Seared Broccoli.
Do you ever feel like you’re in a dinner rut?
That everything you make is boring and you need a massive burst of flavor?
Even though I’m always trying to come up with new, family-favorite (yet frugal!) recipes like Instant Pot Chicken Tinga and Chinese 5 Spice Chicken to share with you guys, I sometimes get in a dinner rut too, and I feel like I need to kick things up a notch.
Let me assure you – this Jamaican jerk chicken recipe is anything but boring!
WHAT IS JERK CHICKEN?
Traditionally, authentic jerk chicken is coated in spices and slowly cooked over a fire or grill. And there are different versions depending on which spices you use and where they originate.
Authentic Jamaican jerk chicken is flavorful, tangy, sweet, & juicy. It is full of delicious flavor and is far from boring. However, there are a few alterations I wanted to make when coming up with my own jerk chicken recipe that fits with how my family eats.
SUGAR IN JERK CHICKEN
Some recipes call for sugar, which I understand will combat the heat…but I really don’t want to add sugar or brown sugar to dinner if at all possible. We’re on a mission to quit sugar, and if we’re going to eat it, I want it to be in a dessert (like in Homemade Peanut Butter Cups or Black Bean Brownies).
SUPER HOT PEPPERS
There are some jerk chicken recipes that are crazy hot. And when I say hot, I don’t mean “spicy” in the traditional sense. I mean burn-your-mouth-I-cannot-eat-it-pass-the-milk type of heat. This definitely doesn’t work for sensitive palates or for most kids, in general. Many jerk chicken recipes use Scotch bonnet peppers or habanero chili peppers. My jerk chicken recipe still has some heat from jalapeno peppers, but it won’t send you running to cool your mouth down.
LACK OF FLAVOR
Some jerk grilled chicken recipes aren’t that flavorful. They have a great list of ingredients, the marinade smells great, and the chicken looks like it has good potential…but then you put it on the grill, and you take a bite, and the flavor just isn’t there. What a waste of ingredients!
BALANCE OF SWEET, HEAT, SPICE, AND FLAVOR
Finally, we have the perfect balance of sweetness, heat, spice, and flavor. That’s this Jamaican jerk chicken recipe, which will be the last marinade you ever try. Once you try this recipe, I promise you’ll never have boring chicken again!
WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS JERK CHICKEN RECIPE
As a food blogger, I have a “three times” rule. This means I don’t share anything with you guys that my family has not successfully eaten and enjoyed at least 3 times.
In the case of this jerk chicken recipe though, we’ve made it no less than 10 times. Seriously.
And you know you have a winner when a certain person (me!) asks for this for her birthday dinner.
This jerk chicken recipe is:
- Easy. The level of work involved is minimal.
- Great for leftovers or feeding guests. This recipe uses 5-6 pounds of chicken. You can definitely halve the recipe if you have less meat on hand.
- Well balanced. I love that it isn’t too spicy or sweet, it is just right!
- Frugal. Generally, when meat is the main component of a meal, it doesn’t qualify as frugal. But drumsticks are one of the cheapest cuts and they work really well on the grill or in the oven.
INGREDIENTS FOR JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN RECIPE
This ingredients list might look long, but it’s mostly stuff you likely have in your pantry. If you don’t have it, you can probably substitute it with something that’s pretty close.
- Chicken legs, thighs, or breasts
- Garlic cloves
- Onion
- Jalapeno peppers (or habanero peppers for extra heat)
- Lime juice
- Soy sauce (we use liquid aminos)
- Olive oil
- Honey
- Dried thyme
- Ground cloves
- Ground nutmeg
- Cinnamon
- Salt and ground black pepper
Psst! If you’re going to add salt, I highly recommend Ava Jane’s Kitchen. You may think all salt is created equal, but unfortunately, 90% of the salt produced around the world contains microplastics (gross, right?). Ava Jane’s Kitchen is an exception. Their salt is 100% microplastic-free, and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!)
HOW TO MAKE JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN
Step 1. Combine everything but the chicken in a high-powered blender (I use this Blendtec) or food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth.
Step 2. Combine the jerk sauce and chicken in a large bowl with a lid, airtight container, or zip-top bag, and marinate in the refrigerator overnight, or as long as possible.
Step 3. Preheat the oven to 400F and place chicken pieces in a large, shallow baking dish. Discard any extra marinade. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until juices run clear. You can also cook the chicken on the grill over medium high heat.
Note: Costco has the best price locally for organic chicken, but if you can’t find organic meat in your area, I recommend Butcher Box for your chicken. You can read my honest review of their products here.
JERK CHICKEN MARINADE TIPS
- After testing various marinating times, I achieved the best results after marinating the chicken overnight. It produces the best flavor!
- If you forget to pull the chicken out in time for dinner, make this jerk chicken marinade and set this aside for tomorrow, and make something else that’s quick and easy, like Weeknight Mushroom Pasta, Vegetable Fried Rice, or Mexi-Lentil Macaroni.
- Another option is to make the jerk chicken marinade as-is and use half for dinner now, and the remaining marinade for dinner later. Just stick the marinade and chicken in a freezer-safe container and the sauce will do its magic as the chicken thaws.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN
A perfect side for this recipe is our Coconut Rice with its bright citrus flavor. Try adding Pan-Seared Broccoli as your veggie and top it all off with our amazing Fresh Mango Salsa and Citrus Black Beans!! YUM!
JERK CHICKEN RECIPE FAQS
Is jerk chicken wet or dry?
Some recipes use a dry rub of jerked chicken seasoning. This jerk chicken recipe uses a wet marinade overnight for a bold, sweet, and spicy flavor.
Is Cajun seasoning the same as jerk seasoning?
Cajun seasoning and jerk seasoning are different in taste. They cannot be substituted for each other.
Cajun seasoning is mild in flavor, as it is mostly a blend of different herbs, and contains little heat. Jerk seasoning is hot and loaded with flavor, plus a bit of sweetness from the cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Can I use a different meat instead of chicken?
I usually use chicken drumsticks for this jerk chicken recipe because they’re the most frugal option, but you could also use other cuts of chicken like thighs or chicken breast, or try it on pork, beef, or fish. Cook times will vary depending on which meat and which cut you choose.
MORE TASTY CHICKEN RECIPES
- Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma
- Chinese 5 Spice Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Tinga
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
- Sweet and Sticky Chicken
- Almond Crusted Chicken
WATCH HOW TO MAKE JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe
This oven-baked Jamaican jerk chicken recipe takes you right to the Caribbean, with the perfect blend of sweetness, heat, spice, and flavor! Mix up a big batch of this yummy jerk marinade to feed a crowd or freeze for an easy meal later. Pairs well with Coconut Lime Rice and Pan-Seared Broccoli.
- Prep Time: 8 hours
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 5–6 lbs 1x
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp garlic (about 4 large garlic cloves)
- 1 onion, halved
- 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved (keep seeds and membranes for added heat)**
- ¼ cup lime juice (about 2 large limes)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce (we use liquid aminos)
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ Tbsp salt
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp ground cloves
- 2 tsp black pepper
- ¾ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 5–6 pounds of chicken, rinsed and dried (we’ve used thighs, breasts, and drumsticks)
Instructions
- Combine everything but the chicken in a blender or food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth.
- Combine marinade and chicken in a container and keep in the fridge overnight. If you can’t marinate overnight, marinate for as long as possible for the best flavor in the end.
- Cook chicken on the grill using your preferred method, OR preheat the oven to 400F and place chicken pieces in large, shallow baking pans. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until juices run clear.
Notes
** If you like the extra heat, use habanero instead of jalapeno.
Adapted from Epicurious.
Nutrition
- Calories: 500
Made this for guests for their welcome dinner to my home. Terrific hit! Next evening everyone wanted the chicken a second time instead of going out for dinner! They loved it so much. All left with the recipe and have heard it’s a hit with their families! So, what a wonderful recipe to share and enjoy!!! Thank you!
I want to thank you so much for sharing this fabulous recipe.
This is definitely a go to recipe for my husband an I. It smells so amazing while cooking and tastes amazing. Just the right amount of heat.
Love that it is quick and easy to make with the proper preparation, and healthy ingredients.
Will continue to make this recipe again an again!
Jamaican Jerk Chicken with rice makes a great stuffing for small pumpkins or winter squashes.
Also Berbere Chicken is an awesome North African stew usually served over rice. Berbere is a spicy hot and sweet herbal blend that includes cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger cardamom, turmeric, hot peppers, onion, cumin and coriander.
TY for posting this! Our family loves spicey food & I can’t wait to make berbere chicken for them. This sounds so delicious!
You are most welcome Dee! 🙂
You’re most welcome, Noemi!
What a great marinade. We have been to Jamaica twice, years ago . This sauce is about as close as you get in Jamaica . My husband absolutely loved this . Perfect . Have you had it on anything besides chicken ?
Not yet Robin!