This oven baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken recipe will make your mouth sing! A saucy, spicy, and sweet marinade coats the chicken before it bakes! Each chicken piece is tender and has an exciting mix of flavors that make you come back for seconds!

This Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe is exactly how I would describe my blog. It is a simple recipe made with fresh ingredients that are boldly combined to bring you an unexpected flavor.

Some of my favorite recipes are the ones where sweet and spicy ingredients come together. Some of my most memorable recipes have much more to offer than one flavor profile. Recipes like this Sweet and Savory Braised Brisket, this Smoky Pork Loin with Pineapple Mango Salsa and this Grilled Cherry and Brie Pizza are easy recipes that are made with ordinary ingredients that get served with a twist.

Jamaican Jerk chicken is made up of all the flavors I love! It has a little heat and a little sweetness, that works in perfect harmony to give you chicken at its best!

At first glance, the list of seasonings may seem large, but the truth is, you probably already have these sitting in your spice drawer!

 

What Is Jamaican Jerk?

Jerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica, where meat(often chicken)  is coated in either a  dry-rubbed or a wet marinated that is filled with a hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice. This spice has a strong allspice flavor and is often made with scotch bonnet peppers. 

I did not use the scotch bonnet, as I thought that would be too spicy for my family, so I used jalapenos instead.

 

How To Make Jamaican Jerk Chicken

STEP ONE – Place all the ingredients except for the chicken in a food processor and process until combined. Pour marinade into a ziptop bag. Add chicken pieces to the bag and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

STEP TWO – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray. Arrange chicken pieces and bake for 30 minutes. Flip chicken and bake for 20 minutes. Broil the chicken on low for a few minutes if you want to brown your pieces. Keep an eye on the chicken! The sugars in the marinade will burn quickly.

How To Make Jamaican Jerk Chicken On The Grill

The very first thing to note is that you want your grill nicely coated with non-stick spray so that the chicen won’t stick to the grill!

Heat your grill to medium. Place your chicken on the grill and cook for 35-40 minutes, turning the chicken pieces often. Cover the grill if you want a smokier flavor.

Jamaican Jerk Recipe Tips

Please feel free to adjust the seasonings in the rub to your taste. Some of them can pack a punch! If you want to use scotch bonnet peppers, by all means.

Use gloves when handling spicy peppers to avoid oils from the peppers coming in contact with your skin, use a seperate knife and cutting board as well. Avoid eye contac! Trust me!

A little soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce can add a little saltyness if you want to layer in another element.

This seasoning blend is great for chicken wings, shrimp, or even pork!

For more Jamaican Jerk recipes ,try Jamaican Jerk Roasted Cauliflower, Jamaican Jerk Chicken Quinoa Bowls, Jamaican Jerk Chicken Dip, Jamaican Jerk Spiced Nuts.