Updated: by Corina Blum · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 26 Comments
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It's not quite so hot and spicy as some recipes but this easy jerk chicken is just as full of flavour and makes a great family meal. If you're looking for a kid-friendly jerk chicken recipe then this is it!
We arrived back from our holidays to a messy house, lots of washing and unpacking and of course the children to entertain at the same time. I needed an easy recipe but I still wanted that spicy holiday vibe.
This easy jerk chicken turned out to be the perfect recipe for a fuss free family meal. Like many of my recipes, it starts with a great marinade.
I love marinades as they are so easy to mix up quickly early in the day or the night before. You can then just leave them to do their work until you are ready to cook.
Making this Jerk Chicken Family Friendly
This jerk chicken marinade is full of the warm spices of cinnamon and allspice, along with garlic, lime, brown sugar, soy sauce and of course chillies.
I wanted this to be a family meal that we could all enjoy so I only used one chilli and not a scotch bonnet as would have been traditional. However, this does not mean that you have to follow my lead completely. Feel free to use hotter chillies and more of them to suit your taste!
Cook this jerk chicken in the oven or bbq!
I cooked this easy jerk chicken in the oven and trust me, it smells amazing as it's cooking. However, if you do manage to get the bbq out you could cook it outside or just finish it off on the bbq.
What to eat with the jerk chicken?
Well, you can choose but what could be more traditional than rice and peas? I've been testing some of the Tilda rices recently and as I really needed an easy but tasty meal, I chose to serve it alongside the Tilda Limited Edition Caribbean Rice and Peas.
The rice cooks in just 2 minutes in the microwave. It's got a lovely creaminess from the coconut as well as a slight chilli kick. It went really well with the jerk chicken.
I also made a quick and easy salad with chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onions, peppers and coriander. Again, you could add some chopped chilli if you wanted!
What can you do with the leftover jerk chicken?
If you're looking for easy meals full of flavour then this definitely fits the bill. It's a great #CookOnceEatTwice meal to reheat the next day or even to eat cold. The leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to three days.
I love to put the leftover jerk chicken in a picnic or packed lunch. It's delicious eaten cold with salad, rice, pasta, couscous or bread. I love it in this jerk chicken salad with mango dressing.
Why not take the chicken off the bone and put it in a healthy wrap, a quesadilla or just a plain old chicken sandwich? But of course one that's full of flavour and spice!
Recipe
Easy Jerk Chicken
Corina Blum
An easy jerk chicken recipe that's perfect for the whole family!
4.41 from 5 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course chicken, Main Course
Cuisine Caribbean
Servings 4
Calories 364 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 tablespoon garlic crushed
- 1 red chilli finely diced
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon soft dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 kg chicken legs and thighs
Instructions
Mix up all the marinade ingredients. Coat the chicken with the marinade and leave in the fridge until ready to cook. I left it for 7 hours but anytime between and 2 and 24 hours is fine.
Put the chicken on a greased baking tray and bake in the oven for 40 minutes at 200C.
Notes
Add extra chillies to the marinade for a hotter jerk chicken.
Nutritional information is approximate and a guideline only.
Nutrition
Calories: 364kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 24gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 373mgPotassium: 352mgSugar: 3gVitamin A: 240IUVitamin C: 22.3mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1.3mg
Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram @Searchingforspice
More tasty marinades
If you like this easy jerk chicken marinade then why not have a look at some of my other tasty marinade recipes
- Chicken Tikka: Best Homemade Indian Marinade
- Harissa Marinated Lamb Salad
- Marinated Paneer Salad
- Marinated Middle Eastern Chicken - Great for Kebabs!
If you're a fan of spicy recipes then do check out my easy spicy recipes collection too!
Disclosure: I was sent complementary samples of the Tilda rice but all opinions are my own.
More Chicken Recipes and other Poultry Recipes
- Asian Chicken Noodle Salad
- Honey Marinated Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Copycat Nandos Chicken legs
- Harissa Chicken Quesadillas
About Corina Blum
Corina Blum loves easy healthy recipes that taste great and often involve spices. She's a big fan of air frying and loves developping recipes inspired by global flavours. As well as a food content creator shes also a busy mum of two children.
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Comments
CakePants
This looks wonderfully flavorful - it's hard to believe how simple it is! I love that this is made with ingredients that I typically have on hand at all times. Yum!
Reply
Corina
So pleased you like it! I also love it when I find a recipe that only contains items I've already got in the house - I'm so much more likely to make it.
Reply
Candra
Can this be made in the crockpot too after it’s been marinated ? Is there anything you’d change for that cooking process?
Corina Blum
Hi Candra, yes you could definitely put this in the crockpot to cook. It would take about 3 hours on high or 5 hours on low. I don't like chicken skin that has been slow cooked though so I would recommend using skinless legs
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery
Definitely saving this for later! The Peachicks LOVE spices and this is right up their street!! We are big fans of those Tilda rices too - they are a godsend for midweek dinners or lastminute lunches!
Reply
Corina
I hope the Peachicks like it! I'm so pleased my children will eat spicy food even though they are quite picky.
Reply
Michelle Barsness
This chicken sounds absolutely perfect for my family. They don't like too much spice, but I do. Always hard to find the right balance. I'm giving this a try!
Corina
It is hard to find the right balance, isn't it? So many times I've made a delicious dinner but the children won't eat it because I've misjudged and made it too spicy for them! I hope you enjoy this.
Reply
Aleka
I am always looking for new chicken seasoning and spice combo and this sounds tasty! I am trying this next week!! 🙂 Thanks!!
Reply
Corina
I hope you enjoy it! Do let me know.
Reply
Beth
Yum! This looks so good! I love the combination of spices you have used in this chicken!
Reply
Corina
Thanks Beth! I'm so pleased you like it.
Reply
Daniela Anderson
That's one recipe l'm yet to try. I've always stayed away from it thinking it's too spicy for my tastebuds, but glad l can see it can be tweaked. It looks yummy.
Reply
Corina
This version would definitely suit you then. I only used one chilli and you can use more or less depending on how hot you like it.
Reply
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food
My version of jerk chicken is pretty nuclear, so the hubster and I enjoy it when the kids are away. Next time they're home and I don't want to blow off the tops of their heads with fiery spice, I will definitely be giving this recipe a try!
Reply
Corina
I hope they enjoy it as much as we did!
Reply
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
Oh this is SO my kind of meal! I love meals that are easy AND still full of flavour. Jerk chicken is one of my absolute favourites and I love the look of the Tilda Caribbean Rice and Peas - not seen that in the shops but sounds very much my kind of thing!! Eb x
Reply
Corina
Thanks Eb! The Tilda Caribbean Rice and Peas is a limited edition so I'm not sure how long it will be available for but hopefully they'll keep making it. It might be easy to cook rice traditionally but I loved the coconut in this and if I don't have much time it's always the side dishes like the rice that end up being very plain. x
Reply
Jhuls
I haven't tried using all-spice, but I need I need to so I can try this one. Looks absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing, Corina.
Reply
Corina
Oh Jhuls I'm sure you'd love allspice as I know you love using spices too!
Reply
Monika Dabrowski
This chicken must be so delicious, and I love the fact it's such a fuss free recipe too:)
Reply
Corina
Thanks Monika! I love easy recipes and this was perfect as a post holiday meal.
Reply
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
Oooh that rice sounds lovely, I will be keeping an eye out for it when I go shopping. This chicken looks delicious, I must try it! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Reply
Corina
Thanks Kirsty! x
Reply
Jo @ Jo's Kitchen Larder
I love the gorgeous marinade crust on top of the chicken, all that gorgeous flavour is right there! Perfect, easy mid week meal even now during school holidays when there are 101 things to do other than spending hours in the kitchen. Pinned x
Reply
Corina
Thanks Jo! The chicken skin was just so tasty and we definitely do need easy meals at the moment. I hope you're enjoying the holidays x
Reply
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