This Jamaican Jerk Chicken is Spicy, Savory, and Smoky All at Once (2024)

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As with many traditional dishes, there's no one way to make Jamaican jerk chicken. It's a dish that has evolved over the years, one that every family has tweaked and adjusted to their own tastes and preferences.

But most will agree that a good jerk chicken has layers of flavor—a kick of heat from chili peppers, savory notes from allspice or cloves, and zing from fresh ginger and scallions—plus, of course, the smoky char of the grill.

The Origins of Jerk

In Jamaican cooking, the term “jerk” comes from the term “jerky”—which, in turn, comes from the Spanish “charqui” (char-key). It originally referred to meat cooked over a slow wood fire, but in modern cooking, is now used to describe the fiery spice mix rubbed on the meat before it’s grilled.

Back in the day on Caribbean islands, meat was seasoned with peppers and spices and hung over a fire to cook slowly. This process of drying meat is considered by many to be the origin of modern barbecues. The fire served two purposes: It cooked the meat and kept insects away while also smoking the meat for preservation, allowing it to be stored for long periods.The technique originated with the Taíno, a group indigenous to Jamaica, and was passed down to African slaves who were later brought to the island.

What's In Jerk Seasoning?

There isn't just one recipefor jerk seasoning, but there are a few basic ingredients that are crucial to creating its signature flavor and heat. These include chilies, thyme, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, garlic, and onions, which come together to give jerk seasoning its hot and savory taste.

If your spice cabinet isn't well-stocked, however, any combination that includes peppers, garlic, onion and at least some of the spices could be considered jerk. But purists will only consider a recipe to be truly jerk if it has the chilies, and either allspice or cloves.

Handle Chili Peppers With Care

This is true any time spicy ingredients are involved, but make sure to thoroughly wash your hands before touching sensitive areas like your eyes after chopping the habanero or Scotch bonnet peppers called for in this recipe. You can also wear disposable food-safe gloves to be extra safe.

How Long Should I Marinate Jerk Chicken?

For the chicken to fully absorb the flavor, we recommend marinading the chicken for at least six hours. You can also prep the dish ahead of time and keep the chicken in the fridge overnight.