Jamaican Jerk Chicken

This Jamaican Jerk Chicken features warming and spicy flavors which will have you feeling the heat! Scotch Bonnet peppers, brown sugar, cinnamon, and thyme are just a few of the ingredients in this mouthwatering marinade!

Kick It Up A Notch

Let’s talk about spice. Are you a spice lover? Are you more, “black pepper makes me lose my sense of taste for a day”, or “ on a scale of 1 to 5… Give me a nine“? I fall somewhere in between the two, seeking out delicious combinations to amplify flavor.

Caribbean food is an excellent way to get at such heat. Don’t get me wrong: there are some recipes out there that may burn your taste buds off. However, I’ve found more times than not that Caribbean food allows you to taste every ingredient used. The herbs, peppers, and acid come together to create a symphony of remarkably fresh flavors. This Jamaican Jerk Chicken is no exception!

Read on to learn how I make this spicy, acidic, and mouthwatering chicken marinade that’s easy to whip up even on the busiest of nights!

A platter of Jamaican Jerk Chicken sprinkled with cilantro with mango salsa and rice

How To Make Jamaican Jerk Chicken

This juicy and spicy chicken starts with plain ole’ boneless skinless chicken breasts getting marinated. You can choose to use bone-in chicken if you prefer, but I love how quick these cook up. If you’re in a pinch, marinating for 30-45 minutes should yield super flavorful results, but I like marinating mine overnight to ensure extra flavor. 

Jamaican Jerk is a traditional recipe that typically includes some combination of the following ingredients: 

  • Scotch Bonnet Peppers
  • Allspice
  • Scallions
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Nutmeg
  • Thyme
  • Cloves
  • Cinnamon
  • Brown Sugar

Not the smallest list of ingredients, but trust me when I say it’s worth it. I mean, look at the flavor combination: hot spicy peppers, warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and earthy flavors like thyme and garlic. It’s enough to make my mouth water just by talking about it!

A platter of Jamaican Jerk Chicken sprinkled with cilantro with mango salsa and rice

What To Serve With Jamaican Jerk Chicken

A few ideas for how to serve Jamaican Jerk Chicken are:

  • Rice and Beans
  • Roasted Plantains
  • Grilled Pineapple
  • Mango Salsa
A platter of Jamaican Jerk Chicken sprinkled with cilantro with mango salsa and rice
A large and small plate of Jamaican Jerk Chicken sprinkled with cilantro with mango salsa and rice

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Jamaican Jerk Chicken

This Jamaican Jerk Chicken features warming and spicy flavors which will have you feeling the heat! Scotch Bonnet peppers take the spice all the way to the top, with cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and brown sugar contributing savory and sweet flavors.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Marinating Time:30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Jamaican
Keyword: Dinner, Grilled Chicken, Jamaican Jerk, Jerk Chicken, Scotch Bonnet, Soy Sauce
Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 yellow onion
  • 2 green onions
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 Scotch Bonnet feel free to use a habanero or jalapeño, depending on your spice threshold
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp aminos, tamari, or soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients except chicken, aminos/tamari/soy, and olive oil to a blender. Process until a paste forms.
  • Add soy sauce and olive oil, pulsing until combined.
  • Pour into a medium bowl or into a ziptop bag. Add chicken and marinate minutes or up to overnight.
  • When ready to grill, preheat your grill to 400 degrees. Add chicken, flipping once, for about 8 minutes, or until internal temperature is 165.
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