Crispy, moist, flavorful chicken smothered in spicy jerk sauce that’s easy to make and a tastebud explosion! A Caribbean vacation right out of your oven.
Get excited!
I can see it coming. You will feel it after you take a bite. I love jerk chicken! Now who doesn’t? Most people who travel to the Caribbean will say it is the highlight of their trip. Well, second to coconut rum drinks – of course.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to try jerk chicken before, it’s a very popular Jamaican or dare I say Caribbean dish. It is a really spicy dish. However, it can be made mild to taste. I kept the recipe very mild. If you are a heat seeker, you can definitely add more scotch bonnet, to taste.
This comes together super fast especially after you have all the ingredients together. It is preferable to marinate the chicken overnight in the fridge for the flavors to come together.
Serve it with beans and rice featured here or this super easy oven baked rice.
Oven Baked Jerk Chicken
Ingredients
- I lime or lemon
- 8 chicken legs or 2 ½ - 3-pound chicken cut up
- 2 teaspoons creole seasoning replace with salt and pepper or chicken spice
- 1 or more Scotch Bonnet Pepper Habaneros
- 6 garlic cloves chopped
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon powder
- ½ tablespoon allspice coarsely ground
- ½ teaspoon coarsely ground white pepper
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 medium onion coarsely chopped
- 3 medium scallions chopped
- 1 sprig of fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger chopped
- 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 1/4-1/2 cup pineapple Juice or water
- 1- tablespoon bouillon powder optional
- Salt and pepper to season
Instructions
- Trim chicken of excess fat and pat dry with a cloth or paper napkin. Rub with lemon, and 2 teaspoons creole spice or season with salt and pepper
- Heat oil in a skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Then add scotch bonnet pepper, garlic sauté until it turns brown about 2-3 minutes.
- Add nutmeg, brown sugar, all spice, cinnamon and continue stirring until the sugar melts and the mixture starts to clump together.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool
- Place the mixture in a food processor or blender, then add, thyme, white pepper, ginger,green onions, soy sauce, Maggi/bouillon, onion and pineapple juice . Pulse for about 30 seconds until blended
- Drench the chicken with jerk marinate, place in a zip lock bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Try not to touch the jerk blend with your hands because it extremely spicy hot- If possible use gloves.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 425°. Remove chicken from the jerk marinade and remove excess marinate. Reserve the marinade
- Line a baking pan with foil; top with a wire rack. Arrange chicken legs out in a single layer. While the chicken legs are baking oil will slowly drip to the bottom of the baking pan.
- Bake chicken legs until cooked through and skin is crispy, about 45-50 minutes-rotate chicken half way through-roughly 20 minutes.
- In a small saucepan simmer the remaining jerk marinade and the one from the chicken for about 7 minutes. Serve with chicken or mix with chicken serve with beans and rice featured here
Nutrition Information:
Stella says
This was my first time making this meal and it wasn’t as daunting as I expected. Followed you recipe and came out tasting absolutely delicious! Gonna sleep real good tonight! Thanks sis
Imma says
Hahahah. You are so welcome, Stella!
Dave U. says
This is a very simple yet flavourful recipe. Glad I used a half cup of pineapple juice instead of just water. The juice added an ever so slight sweetness to the marinade without taking away from the heat or fullness of the flavour. Family loved it! Served with your amazing goat curry, rice and fried patra. Thank you, Ms Imma, for another tasty meal!
Dave U says
Whoops, forgot to add the five stars to my review!
Imma says
Oh great to hear that. Thank you so much!
Imma says
Amazing!!!!! That looks absolutely delicious!! Glad you loved it. Looking forward to you trying more of my recipes.
Eileen says
Just like the restaurant taste
Imma says
Seems great! That’s what I am trying to have access to restaurant taste at home:) Stay tuned for more restaurant-style recipes.
Jojo hudson says
I have a quick question. Am I drenching the chicken from the sauces I made in step 2,3, and 5? As the jerk marinate ?
Amina says
Yes, that is exactly right, use the sauce you just made to marinate the chicken. I hope you like it❤️