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

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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
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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
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Authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken

  • habanero
  • apple cider vinegar
  • vegetable oil
  • black pepper
  • allspice
  • salt
  • onion
  • chicken
  • green onion
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • soy sauce
  • sugar
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Butterflied Jerk Chicken

  • dark rum
  • allspice
  • roasting chicken
  • cinnamon
  • pineapple juice concentrate
  • jamaican jerk seasoning
  • clove
  • brown sugar
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Jerk Chicken

  • CHICKEN
  • lime juice
  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  • green onion
  • jalapeño
  • allspice
  • brown sugar
  • thyme
  • cinnamon
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • chicken drumstick
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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
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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
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Miss Ollie's Jerk Chicken

  • vegetable oil
  • chive
  • nutmeg
  • salt
  • jamaican rum
  • allspice
  • malt vinegar
  • soy sauce
  • clove
  • scotch bonnet chile
  • garlic
  • chicken leg
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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
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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
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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
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Jerk Chicken

  • thyme
  • ginger
  • garlic powder
  • allspice
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • brown sugar
  • habanero
  • chicken
  • lime juice
  • green onion
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

Ingredient Breakdown

 
thyme
salt
garlic
cinnamon
green onion
soy sauce
allspice
ginger
nutmeg
lime juice
olive oil
chicken
scotch bonnet pepper
onion
dark brown sugar
brown sugar
black pepper
chicken leg
clove
apple cider vinegar
orange juice
allspice berry
habanero chile
habanero
vegetable oil
lime
shallot
garlic powder
honey
jalapeño
sugar
chicken thigh
white pepper
chicken breast
jerk seasoning
canola oil
onion powder
black peppercorn
rosemary
coriander seed
bay leaf
white vinegar
banana
red pepper
bouillon powder
pineapple juice
allspice ground
creole seasoning
salt season
chive
butter
mango
cayenne pepper
scotch bonnet chile
spring onion
chicken leg quarter
dark soy sauce
balsamic vinegar
nutmeg seed
cumin seed
tabasco sauce
smoked paprika
branches thyme
guinness stout
envelope italian salad dressing
oil
dark rum
roasting chicken
pineapple juice concentrate
jamaican jerk seasoning
chinese 5-spice powder
pepper
spiced
chicken drumstick
hot sauce
red wine
all purpose flour
heavy cream
caribbean jerk seasoning
white wine
basmati rice
fresno chile pepper
cilantro
nectarine
coconut rice
lemon juice
lime zest
white wine vinegar
liquid smoke
coke
jamaican rum
malt vinegar
caribbean mango slaw
almond
italian parsley
mango puree
dijon mustard
sriracha
napa cabbage
mint
beer
carrot
red wine vinegar
pickled cabbage
limes zest
thai bird eye chile
parsley
rice vinegar
utmeg
chicken bouillon powder
water
habanero pepper
pimento branch
dark jamaican rum
molasses
coffee
light brown sugar

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%