PrintAuthentic Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Make incredibly flavorful, spicy Jamaican Jerk Chicken in your oven. This recipe delivers bold island spice and juicy results, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or entertaining guests.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes (plus marinating time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Jamaican
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs chicken pieces (thighs, breasts, or wings)
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4–6 Scotch bonnet peppers, minced (remove seeds for less heat)
- 1 large onion, roughly chopped
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh scallions (green onions), chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: Combine soy sauce, lime juice, vegetable oil, brown sugar, allspice, thyme, smoked paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, and salt in a food processor or blender.
- Add the Scotch bonnet peppers, onion, garlic, ginger, and scallions to the processor. Blend until you have a relatively smooth, thick marinade. This is your best jerk chicken marinade.
- Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl or resealable bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring every piece is well coated.
- Cover the bowl or seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to achieve authentic jerk chicken recipe flavor.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. This setup helps air circulate for crispier skin.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Place the chicken pieces skin-side up on the wire rack. Discard the remaining marinade.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the juices run clear. For extra browning, switch the oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve this flavorful oven chicken with rice and peas for a complete Jamaican dinner.
Notes
- For a smoky flavor similar to grilling, add 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke to the marinade mixture.
- If you are making baked jerk chicken wings, reduce the baking time to 25-30 minutes.
- For a healthier option, use skinless chicken breasts, but monitor cooking time to prevent drying out.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece chicken
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 110