Jerk chicken
Jerk chicken is a dish that is traditionally made with chicken that is marinated in a mixture of spices. The chicken is then grilled or roasted and can be served with a variety of sides.
The history of jerk chicken is unclear, but it is thought to have originated in Jamaica. One theory is that it was created by the Maroons, who were escaped slaves who lived in the mountains of Jamaica. They used a method of cooking called "jerk", which involved smoking meat over a fire.
The first jerk chicken recipe was published in Jamaica in the early 1800s. It was made with a habanero pepper, which is one of the hottest peppers in the world.
Advice
Making jerk chicken is a delicious and easy way to bring a flavor of Jamaica to your dinner table. Start by marinating your chicken in a mixture of Jamaican jerk seasoning, vinegar, garlic, and oil for at least an hour before cooking. Once the chicken has been marinated, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place the chicken on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through. Once the chicken is cooked through and browned, serve with your favorite sides and enjoy!
Questions
What exactly is jerk chicken?
Jerk chicken is a traditional Jamaican dish made with chicken that has been marinated in a mixture of spices, including allspice, thyme, nutmeg, and Scotch bonnet peppers. The chicken is then grilled or barbecued over an open flame, imparting it with a smoky, spicy flavor.
Is jerk chicken sweet or spicy?
Jerk chicken can be either sweet or spicy. It depends on the marinade and seasonings used to prepare it.
What does jerk chicken taste like?
Jerk chicken typically has an intense, spicy flavor due to the marinade and seasoning used. The jerk seasoning used typically includes allspice, thyme, scallions, garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, chili peppers, and soy sauce, giving it a hot, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor.
Why do they call jerk chicken?
The term "jerk" refers to the style of cooking, which involves marinating the chicken with a hot and spicy blend of Jamaican spices. The term "jerk" comes from the Spanish word "charqui", which means dried meat. The marinade for jerk chicken typically includes allspice, cloves, scallions, thyme, garlic, and Scotch bonnet peppers.
Why do Jamaicans eat jerk chicken?
Jerk chicken is a popular dish in Jamaica that is made by marinating or rubbing the chicken with a spicy jerk marinade. The jerk marinade typically consists of ingredients such as allspice, cinnamon, thyme, nutmeg, garlic, scotch bonnet peppers, and other spices. Jerk chicken is a staple of Jamaican cuisine and is often served with rice and beans, plantains, and other sides.
Is Jamaican jerk chicken healthy?
Jamaican jerk chicken can be healthy depending on how it is prepared. If it is grilled with minimal oil and spices, it can be a healthy choice. If it is fried or cooked in a lot of oil and spices, it is not as healthy.
What is the difference between jerk chicken and normal chicken?
Jerk chicken is a type of Caribbean cuisine that incorporates the use of a spicy marinade or rub, typically made with allspice, Scotch bonnet peppers, cloves, garlic, ginger, thyme, and other spices. Normal chicken is not prepared with these spices and is typically cooked in a more basic way.
What is the main ingredient in jerk?
The main ingredient in jerk is a blend of spices and seasonings, usually including allspice, thyme, garlic, nutmeg, cinnamon, and scotch bonnet peppers.
Is jerk really spicy?
It depends on the type of jerk seasoning used. Some jerk seasoning mixes are made with chili peppers and can be quite spicy, while other mixes are milder.
What is jerk chicken sauce made of?
Jerk chicken sauce is typically made with a combination of spices, including allspice, thyme, garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, and scotch bonnet peppers. Other ingredients may include soy sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and ginger.
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
No-Fuss Jerk Chicken
- lime juice
- black peppercorn
- thyme
- ginger
- salt
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- allspice berry
- soy sauce
- scotch bonnet pepper
- garlic
- chicken leg
- green onion
Jerk Chicken With Pickled Bananas
- MARINADE
- olive oil
- soy sauce
- balsamic vinegar
- honey
- black peppercorn
- rosemary
- cinnamon
- jalapeño
- nutmeg seed
- onion
- cumin seed
- chicken thigh
- tabasco sauce
- allspice berry
- thyme
- coriander seed
- smoked paprika
- habanero chile
- bay leaf
- garlic
- guinness stout
- green onion
- PICKLED BANANAS
- habanero chile
- sugar
- garlic
- salt
- branches thyme
- white vinegar
- clove
- banana
Simple Caribbean Jerk Chicken
- cinnamon
- thyme
- envelope italian salad dressing
- red pepper
- brown sugar
- oil
- soy sauce
- chicken
Authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- habanero
- apple cider vinegar
- vegetable oil
- black pepper
- allspice
- salt
- onion
- chicken
- green onion
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- soy sauce
- sugar
Butterflied Jerk Chicken
- dark rum
- allspice
- roasting chicken
- cinnamon
- pineapple juice concentrate
- jamaican jerk seasoning
- clove
- brown sugar
Jerk Chicken
- chinese 5-spice powder
- allspice
- pepper
- olive oil
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- salt
- chicken
- onion
- ginger
- soy sauce
- spiced
- clove
- dark brown sugar
- habanero
- garlic
- green onion
- lime juice
Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken Recipe
- bouillon powder
- ginger
- soy sauce
- lime
- onion
- scotch bonnet pepper
- thyme
- pineapple juice
- allspice ground
- cinnamon
- white pepper
- nutmeg
- creole seasoning
- dark brown sugar
- green onion
- garlic
- chicken thigh
- salt season
Spicy Grilled Jerk Chicken Recipe
- salt
- allspice
- nutmeg
- ginger
- chicken
- soy sauce
- olive oil
- allspice berry
- dark brown sugar
- thyme
- lime juice
- bay leaf
- garlic
- green onion
- scotch bonnet pepper
Oven Baked Jerk Chicken
- ginger
- soy sauce
- onion
- scotch bonnet pepper
- thyme
- bouillon powder
- allspice ground
- cinnamon
- white pepper
- nutmeg
- pineapple juice
- creole seasoning
- dark brown sugar
- green onion
- garlic
- chicken leg
- lime
- salt season
Jerk Chicken
- CHICKEN
- lime juice
- salt
- vegetable oil
- green onion
- jalapeño
- allspice
- brown sugar
- thyme
- cinnamon
- garlic
- olive oil
- chicken drumstick
Caribbean Jerk Chicken Recipe
- hot sauce
- red wine
- all purpose flour
- heavy cream
- black pepper
- caribbean jerk seasoning
- chive
- red pepper
- rosemary
- thyme
- salt
- shallot
- white pepper
- white wine
- butter
- banana
- basmati rice
- chicken breast
20 Minute Grilled Jerk Chicken with Mango-Nectarine Salsa
- honey
- jerk seasoning
- fresno chile pepper
- jalapeño
- mango
- chicken breast
- cilantro
- olive oil
- nectarine
- butter
- coconut rice
- lemon juice
- lime juice
- lime zest
Tangy Sort-Of Jerk Chicken
- salt
- sugar
- thyme
- habanero
- onion
- orange juice
- white wine vinegar
- cayenne pepper
- black pepper
- ginger
- chicken thigh
- lime juice
- canola oil
- soy sauce
- liquid smoke
- coke
- allspice
- green onion
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- garlic
Miss Ollie's Jerk Chicken
- vegetable oil
- chive
- nutmeg
- salt
- jamaican rum
- allspice
- malt vinegar
- soy sauce
- clove
- scotch bonnet chile
- garlic
- chicken leg
BBQ Jerk Chicken with Caribbean Mango Slaw
- caribbean mango slaw
- salt
- salt
- almond
- italian parsley
- mango puree
- dijon mustard
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- sriracha
- napa cabbage
- lime
- mango
- mint
- beer
- jerk seasoning
- carrot
- red wine vinegar
- chicken breast
- honey
- olive oil
Jerk Chicken
- pickled cabbage
- limes zest
- orange juice
- shallot
- green onion
- ginger
- dark brown sugar
- thyme
- soy sauce
- allspice
- nutmeg
- garlic
- olive oil
- thai bird eye chile
Oven Roasted Jerk Chicken
- cayenne pepper
- thyme
- allspice
- onion powder
- green onion
- chicken
- orange juice
- parsley
- scotch bonnet pepper
- olive oil
- rice vinegar
- soy sauce
- cinnamon
- utmeg
- brown sugar
- garlic powder
- salt
- thyme
Jerk Chicken
- thyme
- ginger
- garlic powder
- allspice
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- salt
- olive oil
- brown sugar
- habanero
- chicken
- lime juice
- green onion
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- jerk seasoning
- chicken bouillon powder
- onion powder
- cinnamon
- chicken
- ginger
- soy sauce
- nutmeg
- garlic powder
- water
- allspice
- thyme
- brown sugar
- habanero pepper
- green onion
- garlic
- salt
Jerk Chicken
- salt
- canola oil
- lime juice
- ginger
- apple cider vinegar
- thyme
- soy sauce
- shallot
- dark brown sugar
- allspice
- garlic
- habanero chile
- green onion
- chicken leg
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- lime
- chicken
- pimento branch
- nutmeg
- dark jamaican rum
- ginger
- allspice berry
- coriander seed
- molasses
- thyme
- cinnamon
- white vinegar
- coffee
- salt
- garlic
- green onion
- vegetable oil
- scotch bonnet chile
Jerk Chicken
- salt
- canola oil
- lime juice
- ginger
- apple cider vinegar
- thyme
- soy sauce
- shallot
- dark brown sugar
- allspice
- garlic
- habanero chile
- green onion
- chicken leg
Jerk Chicken
- onion
- allspice
- black pepper
- cinnamon
- orange juice
- ginger
- thyme
- spring onion
- scotch bonnet pepper
- lime juice
- chicken leg quarter
- garlic
- apple cider vinegar
- dark soy sauce
Jerk Chicken
- onion
- allspice
- black pepper
- cinnamon
- orange juice
- ginger
- thyme
- spring onion
- scotch bonnet pepper
- lime juice
- chicken leg quarter
- garlic
- apple cider vinegar
- dark soy sauce
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- clove
- black pepper
- lime juice
- salt
- ginger
- allspice
- green onion
- light brown sugar
- thyme
- nutmeg
- cinnamon
- soy sauce
- chicken
- scotch bonnet pepper
- garlic
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Correlated with Lower Ratings
- cinnamon
Staple Ingredients
- cinnamon 52%
- green onion 52%
- salt 52%
- soy sauce 52%
- thyme 52%
Common Ingredients
- allspice 44%
- garlic 44%
- nutmeg 44%
Usual Ingredients
- ginger 36%
- olive oil 36%
- chicken 28%
- lime juice 28%
Rarey Ingredients
- brown sugar 24%
- onion 24%
- dark brown sugar 20%
- scotch bonnet pepper 20%