Servings
Font
Back
0 from 0 votes

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

This easy Jamaican jerk chicken recipe is tender and juicy thanks to a spicy, citrusy marinade. Grill it or bake it, it's always a hit!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
5 hrs
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Calories: 612 kcal
Course: Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine: Jamaican

Ingredients

  • 5 to 6 pounds bone-in, skin on chicken pieces or 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 4 green onions
  • 6 cloves garlic roughly chopped
  • 2 Jalapeno peppers seeded and cut into a few big pieces
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. If using bone-in pieces, with a sharp knife poke a few holes in the chicken so the marinade can better penetrate. If using boneless, pound any chicken breasts into an even thickness; with the tines of a fork poke holes in the chicken. Pat the chicken dry, then place in a ziptop bag, a large bowl, or a baking dish sized to hold the chicken snugly.
  2. Cut off half of the dark parts of the green onion, finely chop, and set aside for serving (I put them in a small bowl or ziptop baggie in the refrigerator). Chop the remaining white and dark green parts into 1-inch pieces, then place in a mini food processor or high speed blender.
  3. To the food processor, add the garlic, jalapeño, lime juice, oil, brown sugar, thyme, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, salt, and black pepper. Blitz to combine (it’s OK if the mixture isn’t perfectly smooth).
  4. Pour the mixture over the chicken, then turn the chicken to coat it evenly. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. When ready to cook, let the chicken come to room temperature for at least 15 minutes.
  5. TO GRILL THE CHICKEN. Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium heat (350°F to 375°F). Clean and oil the grates. Grill the chicken pieces skin-side down (for bone-in) or smooth/presentation side down (for boneless) for 25 to 35 minutes (for bone-in) or 8 to 12 minutes (for boneless), turning halfway through. Chicken is considered done at 165°F. I like to remove chicken from the grill at 155-160°F and allow it to finish cooking while resting. Discard the excess marinade.
  6. TO BAKE THE CHICKEN. Heat your oven to 375°F. Bake the chicken for 25 to 45 minutes (for bone-in—note the time varies a lot depending upon the size of your pieces) or 15 to 25 minutes (for boneless), or until the chicken is cooked through (it should register 155°F on an instant read thermometer; the temperature will rise as it rests). Discard the excess marinade.
  7. Place the chicken on a plate and let rest for at least 5 minutes (resting is mandatory!). Sprinkle with the reserved green onions and enjoy hot.

Notes

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate
  • leftover Jamaican jerk
  • chicken in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. 
  • TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm chicken in the oven at 350 degrees F, or heat in the microwave. To keep the chicken moist in the oven, you can cover it with foil in a baking dish and add a splash of broth or water.
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating according to the instructions above.
  • TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover Jamaican jerk chicken in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. 
  • TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm chicken in the oven at 350 degrees F, or heat in the microwave. To keep the chicken moist in the oven, you can cover it with foil in a baking dish and add a splash of broth or water.
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating according to the instructions above.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1(of 6) Calories 612kcal (31%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 64g (128%) Fat 35g (54%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 7g Monounsaturated Fat 17g Trans Fat 0.3g Cholesterol 194mg (65%) Potassium 756mg (22%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 408IU (8%) Vitamin C 11mg (12%) Calcium 70mg (7%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4-6 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 612

% Daily Value*

Serving 1(of 6)
Calories 612kcal 31%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 64g 128%
Fat 35g 54%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g 41%
Monounsaturated Fat 17g 85%
Trans Fat 0.3g 15%
Cholesterol 194mg 65%
Potassium 756mg 16%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 408IU 8%
Vitamin C 11mg 12%
Calcium 70mg 7%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.