Simple Grilled Jerk Chicken Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Simple Grilled Jerk Chicken Recipe

My spin on grilled jerk chicken—a flavor-packed grilled chicken recipe marinated in a slew of spices and fresh produce like cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, jalapeno, ginger, brown sugar, soy sauce, and fresh lime juice.

Prep Time2

Cook Time15

Total Time2 15

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Jamaican

Servings:

Author: Shawn Williams

Ingredients

3 pounds of chicken drumsticks or wings
1/2 yellow onion
1/3 cup olive oil
1 lime juiced
1 jalapeno sliced and seeded (habanero pepper, or scotch bonnet chiles are traditional)
3 green onions
3 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar packed
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon dried or fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger can also use fresh
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

Combine all ingredients (minus the chicken) and blend until smooth. Place chicken with the sauce in a large covered container or Ziploc bag and mix well. Marinate for at least 1 hour. For best results, marinate overnight.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and clean the grates well. Grill chicken for 12-15 minutes, rotating every 3-4 minutes until chicken is fully cooked through and nicely browned. Chicken should be cooked until internal temp reads 165ºF. Serve immediately.

Notes

While I like to use jalapeno in this recipe, you can substitute with hotter peppers like habanero for more authentic heat. If you're worried, start with half a jalapeno and taste the marinade before adding the second half. Not all jalapenos are created equal in terms of heat.

Nutrition