Try this Easy Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe for a deliciously simple version of Caribbean style roast chicken. This super tender, flavorful jerk chicken will quickly become a dinner favorite.
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Here’s a fun bit of jerk history: the word jerk refers to a way of cooking that’s popular in Jamaica. All varieties of meats and even vegetables are traditionally marinated in a paste or rub that includes allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers. Then it’s slow smoked over long sticks of pimento wood.
Nowadays, you can get authentic Jamaican jerk eats from delicious smelling jerk huts on their island stomping grounds. So if you’re lucky enough travel to Jamaica, send me some tasty pics and I’ll live vicariously through you for a moment 😉
Since most of us aren’t going to soak our chicken overnight in Scotch bonnet peppers and then slow-smoke it over long sticks of pimento wood, I’m here to share this simplified way of making delicious jerk chicken. [Aka, lazy but totally tasty.]
This easy jerk chicken recipe will result in extremely tender, tasty, smoky-ish chicken that can be made any busy weeknight. The jerk spice rub can be made weeks ahead of time and stored in your pantry for anytime use.
If that resonates with you, read on…
How to make easy jamaican jerk chicken
We’re keeping things simple for all the crazy busy home cooks who need an easy way to liven up their same-o chicken routine. I’m talking about myself, but feel free to join the club.
All you’ll need here are dry spices and fresh chicken legs. Do be sure your dry/ground spice are fresh (always throw out older spices that have lost their flavor)
Our ground spices include: cinnamon, ginger, cloves, sugar, thyme, cayenne, allspice, and smoked paprika. You can get away with regular paprika, but smoked paprika is easy to find at many grocery stores these days, and it provides that smoky flavor you’d otherwise miss.
Once you’ve combined the dry rub spices together, simply rub all that aromatic goodness onto and under the chicken skin. That’s always my secret to well-seasoned poultry: get that rub under the skin!
No marinade time needed here. You’ll just bake at 425F for 35-40 minutes. The result is a fantastically tasty and tender chicken dinner that’s amazing with this Rice and Beans Recipe.
What to serve with jamaican jerk chicken
- We 100% recommend and love this Rice and Beans recipe that’s both easy and tasty; it’s great with almost any meal.
- This Coconut Rice is aromatic and delicious with chicken.
- Mango Black Bean Salsa Dip. Good enough to eat with a spoon all by itself.
- Plantains are a delicious side option.
- Can’t resist including this island Mai Tai cocktail; so good!
The recipe in action:
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Try this Easy Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe for a deliciously simple version of Caribbean style roast chicken. This super tender, flavorful jerk chicken will quickly become a dinner favorite.
Ingredients
- 10 chicken legs
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 TB light brown sugar, packed
- 1 heaping TB dried thyme
- 2 tsp ground allspice
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F with rack on lower middle position. Use paper towels to thoroughly dry chicken legs of excess moisture. Use fork to poke holes on all sides of chicken legs. Set aside.
- In a bowl, combine all remaining ingredients to form a spice rub/paste mixture. Evenly rub mixture underneath the skin of chicken legs, as well as on top.
- Place chicken on large rimmed baking sheet, with space in between each piece. Bake 35-40 minutes or until nicely browned. Serve immediately.
Notes
This jerk chicken is delicious served alongside of this easy, super tasty Rice and Beans Recipe If you like this recipe, be sure to make extra dry spice rub to keep in pantry for easy future use (add the olive oil only when you’re ready to use)
Keywords: Jamaican, jerk, chicken, baked, roasted
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My husband is from Jamaica, I might surprise him with this..
Just don’t tell him all the shortcuts you made 😉 Enjoy!
I have always loved your food pictures. While I can’t make or eat this (vegetarian!) but I appreciate the joy you put these recipes together with. 🙂
❥ tanvii.com
Thanks, Tanvii! 🙂 The seasoning is awesome over roasted/grilled veggies too! Enjoy and thanks!
Wow! This one’s a winner.I just love everything about this!My boys would both probably DIG this!
I have never made jerk chicken for the family. When it’s so easy, why not give it a go?? I think I might!
Mmm I want to try this soon!
EASY is always a good time to me! I think I am going to make a whole bunch of this rub (minus the sugar) and just have it on hand so I can RUB EVERYTHING in it because um, it sounds AMAZING and that chicken looks phenomenal!
I’m definitely making your jerk seasoning and using it on a portabello mushroom, since I don’t eat meat. Your Mango and Black Bean dip sounds amazing, too!
To be honest, I’ve only heard about jerk chicken when I used to play this app called Restaurant Story. haha. Now that I’ve seen the real thing through this blog post, I’m drooling! I wanna try this at home.
I’ve never tried jerk chicken. Looks delicious!
Eating is like my favorite thing about traveling. Bring the recipes home means reliving your trip. Can’t wait to try this recipe so I can be transported to Jamaica!
I honestly have never had this before. i have heard of it though, just never tried any. This looks really good so I am thinking I need to check it out.
Yummy! I need to make this! Thanks for sharing!
If only I could convince m family that Jamaican Jerk chicken is good. This recipe runs similar to the one I currently use, when I’m cooking it just for me.
I stopped eating meat years ago, but your pictures make the meal look so delicious and appetizing. I am sure that the food was mouth watering good.
Jerk chicken is one of my all time favorite dishes and it’s so easy to make! Love your recipe too!
I loovve jamaican jerk chicken! Its even better in jamaica
This looks like a really great recipe for those who enjoy chicken, it would be a lovely addition to a family bbq this summer!
Oh wow this looks sooo delish! I can’t believe how simple this is to make – I have to try it.
It looks so delicious. I would try it our for my weekend
This short cut recipe is definitely a must try. It looks delicious and I am sure it tastes delicious too. Yummy
Mmm, this looks good! I love spices and am glad that this recipe is simplified – that means that I might be able to make it too! Thanks!
I am cooking this as I type. I ended up ising day brown sugar instead because I didn’t see the light part lol
I think it’ll still turn out yummy! 🙂
Cooking it tonight, hopefully it turns out well on my smoker. Would love to know what kind of domestic wood compliments the recipe, giving hickory a shot.
Thank you for the great share, the rub smells amazing.
Hickory will
This was delicious! I accidentally read the ingredients wrong and added 2 TBS of All Spice and Smoked Paprika. I dug some out. It still came out awesome. I just added seasoned salt. I sprinkled it over the chicken before I rubbed the paste in. My kids loved it and we’ll definitely add it to our rotation since it was an easy meal. We paired it with rice and peas and it was a spicy, savory dinner. Thanks for this!
This recipe is not Jamaican jerk chicken!!! First off the ingredients is not right plus it missing too many other key ingredients and Jamaicans DO NOT PUT CINNAMON ON JERK CHICKEN!!!
Sound more like a regular oven bake chicken…
This recipe was really good but I was confused when to add the olive oil. It was never mentioned in the directions althought it was in the ingredients. I am thinking I was supposed to mix it with the spices. Anyway i drizzled it over the chicken. I will definitely make this again!
Rebecca, you did it right 🙂 Yes, add the oil with the spices to form the spice paste mixture. Sooo happy you liked it! 🙂
So it’s ginger,spice and ginger spice? What is ginger spice? Ive never heard of that before???
This recipe calls for 1 tsp. ginger cinnamon and then 1 tsp. ginger. Did you mean 1 tsp. cinnamon and then 1 tsp. ginger? Thanks.
Yes, Randi! Updated, thank you 🙂
This turn out to be pretty good. But I would definitely not add cinnamon spice in this. It’s making it feel very off flavouring. But otherwise, it’s quite nice. I do find it a tad sweet, so I would reduce the sugar next time.
Thanks, NT! 🙂
I love jerk chicken although have never tried to make it myself. Looks easier than I thought
This post makes me hungry! I’m salivating now 🙂 Thank you for sharing your recipe and cooking talent.
My husband says I make the best chicken dinners, but the funny thing is, I don’t eat chicken! I might surprise him with your Jamaican Jerk Chicken. I am positive he’ll go nuts over it.
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So funny, Eileen! Hope he loves this one!
I am always looking for new ways to prepare chicken. This looks delicious.
Guess who’s from Jamaica? Me! I definitely approve of this recipe. It looks so yummy and full of flavour. Just the way I like it.
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Yay, so happy you liked it! 🙂
I haven’t had Jamaican jerk chicken in years! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
I am a meat eater and drumsticks seem cool to have! I am going to try this out during Chinese New year, I need to start practising few times before the party.
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I have been wanting to make some Jamaican Jerk chicken for awhile. I am definitely going to be using this recipe soon and trying it out. I know it is going to be delicious!
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Hope you love it, Jasmine!
It sounds like a great recipe! I loved eating Jerk chicken when I visited Jamaica. But I don’t remember it having Cinnamon. Sounds good anyway! Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome! 🙂
OMG!!! i was sooo impressed by this recipe! i am a certified chef… our culinary school had a LOT of jamaicans attending, who made some amazing- scrumptious dishes… but since my food allergy to MSG had gotten far more sensitive with age, i can no long eat hardly anything containing it… all of the other recipes i’ve tried just didn’t taste right… people kept telling me the taste i was missing in the dishes was the MSG- i argued that this wasn’t the case, because MSG was actually a rather difficult thing to come by on the island unless you ordered it, since it was banned years ago due to health risks it causes to children and elderly. LOL!… ANYWAY!… didn’t mean to babble!… my point is- after over 20 years, i’ve been able to sit down and enjoy a TRUE jerk chicken meal that tastes like it was cooked by one of my old friends and with NO migraine!!! YAY!!!!
i am so very impressed and can’t thank you enough for sharing this dish- your my hero!
cheers!!!
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Aww, that is amazing, Freya!! I’m super happy you found and made and loved this dish 🙂 🙂 I totally relate to the msg thing… I can’t have even a little bit of it. Thanks for coming over to let us know you enjoyed this ♡
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I have made it several times now and it’s super easy and comes out perfect every time. I use skinless boneless chicken thighs-no bones to contend with. I have a Jamaican friend and he tasted it and thought it was pretty darn good! Not as good as his Mom’s but he gave it a thumbs up.