It’s an easy weeknight recipe that I make over and over again because it’s so wonderfully flavorful. Even the leftovers are excellent. I cook chicken fairly often for my family. It’s tasty and affordable, and everyone around here seems to like it. So I am always looking for new and interesting ways to make it (besides the always reliable baked drumsticks)! The idea to make this wonderfully flavorful chicken recipe came to me while reading the fascinating memoir by chef Marcus Samuelsson, “Yes Chef.” Mr. Samuelsson mentions “jerk seasoning,” and of course, I was intrigued. A quick internet search taught me that it’s made of an interesting list of various spices. The following jerk chicken recipe is my own interpretation of the classic preparation.
Ingredients
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty chicken recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need: Coconut oil: Refined oil is probably best given the oven’s temperature. You can also use avocado oil. It’s a neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point. Honey: I haven’t experimented with a sugar-free substitute so I don’t know if that would work, but it’s certainly an option if you need to keep your carbs to a minimum. Spices: I use allspice, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, ground cloves, and ground cumin. Make sure they are fresh! A stale spice can easily ruin a dish. Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the dish could end up too salty. Chicken drumsticks: Skin on or off, it’s up to you. I leave the skin on. You can also use chicken thighs or chicken legs, possibly baking them for 5-10 minutes longer (loosely cover the top with foil if you do bake them for longer).
Instructions
Making jerk chicken is easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps: Combine all the ingredients except for the chicken to make a very flavorful seasoning paste. Spread the paste all over the chicken. Bake the chicken until cooked through, 35-45 minutes in a 400°F oven, basting it midway through baking. In my old oven it took 45 minutes, in my new and hotter oven it takes 35 minutes and I need to loosely cover the chicken with foil after the first 30 minutes. So ovens do greatly vary in their temperature!
Expert tip
If the seasoning paste hardens on the cold chicken pieces and is impossible to spread, bake the chicken for 10 minutes and then spread the paste, as shown in the video. Then continue baking, basting one more time midway through, until the chicken is cooked through (the internal temperature should reach 165 ºF), 25-35 more minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Serving suggestions
This is a truly versatile main dish that pretty much goes with anything. I tend to serve it with mashed cauliflower or with cauliflower rice, often with a leafy green vegetable such as steamed spinach or steamed broccoli. It’s also convenient to serve jerk chicken with a side dish that needs a 400-degree oven, such as roasted frozen cauliflower.
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. To avoid drying out the chicken, reheat them very gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power.
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Recipe card
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