Grilled jerk chicken breast recipe quickly and easily satisfies your craving for a summertime favorite. It couldn’t be easier to prepare with the right ingredients, and the sweetness of jerk seasoning adds another taste dimension you will find satisfying enough.
Grilling the jerk chicken recipe is another matter; it requires an extra layer of preparation, but the good news is that it’s not complicated.
What is the Grilled jerk chicken breast recipe?
The grilled jerk chicken breast recipe is a grilled or roasted chicken breast seasoned with jerk seasoning, a spicy Jamaican dish. Jerk seasoning gets its spice from the pimento berry, also known as allspice berries.
It is cooked on barbeque grills or roasted for about 25-30 minutes in an oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The skin remains crispy. The spice of jerk seasoning is not overpowering and has a good flavor.
How To Long Will It Take To Prepare?
- Prepare time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 25-30 minutes
- Marinate time: 30 minutes
- Total time: 1 Hour 15 minutes
- Servings: 4
How to make a Grilled jerk chicken breast recipe?
Ingredients:
- 2½ to 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks)
- One tablespoon of vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- One small yellow onion
- One teaspoon of Chinese five-spice powder
- Two scallions
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Two garlic cloves, peeled
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 2 Scotch bonnet or Habanero chili peppers, stemmed
Directions:
Step 1:
Marinate the chicken pieces in a medium-sized bowl. Add the vegetable oil, nutmeg, soy sauce, garlic clove, scallions, salt, thyme, and allspice and mix well. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2:
Place the chicken pieces and the marinade in a large Ziploc bag; squeeze the air out and seal tightly. Mash the chicken around to coat it evenly with the marinade.
Step 3:
Remove the chicken from the marinade and drain the excess liquid. Place the chicken on skewers and place the skewer over a gas grill or a basin in an oven.
Step 4:
Preheat the grill to medium heat (about 350-375°F). Clean and oil the cooking grate. Place the chicken, skin side up, on the cooler side of the grill, and cook, covering, turning, and occasionally moving to prevent burning and flare-ups, for 35 to 40 minutes.
Step 5:
If the skin is not yet crispy, move the chicken skin side down to the hotter side of the grill; cook, keeping a close watch to prevent burning, until the skin is rendered and crisp, for a few minutes. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Additional Tips:
- For boneless pieces, place the chicken in a plastic bag, add all the ingredients from Step 1 together, and for 20 minutes.
- If the skin is not crispy, brush it with olive oil and grill or roast for another 2 to 5 minutes until it’s cooked.
- For the best result, use chicken thighs in this recipe; they have more fat than breast meat and give off more juice, which is good because it prevents the chicken from drying out while grilling.
- For those not fans of spicy food, use green bell peppers instead of the Scotch bonnet or Habanero chili peppers.
- Add a little bit of brown sugar to the chicken while grilling it.
Precautions For Recipes:
- Place the chicken on the cooler side of the grill or in an oven. This will help maintain the tenderness of the meat because it will not dry out while cooking as much.
- Don’t overcook the chicken; it’s better to have a bit more pink than well-done, even if this makes it less spicy.
- The grilled jerk chicken breast recipe will be moister if you put a foil or paper towel over each piece after examining them for about 15 minutes to absorb extra oil and moisture from them.
- If the chicken is over-done, transfer it from the grill or oven, cover it tightly with foil, and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
- Always use a meat thermometer to ensure you know how done your meat is.
Nutrition Facts of Grilled jerk chicken breast recipe:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 339 kcal |
| Total Fat | 6 g |
| Carbohydrate | 3 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Cholesterol | 111 mg |
| Sodium | 1040 mg |
| Potassium | 1336 mg |
| Protein | 43 g |
7 healthy benefits of Grilled jerk chicken breast recipe-
- The grilled jerk chicken breast recipe contains a good amount of minerals such as zinc, iron, and selenium.
- It also includes proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- The dish has low levels of sodium and high levels of potassium, which helps regulate heart rate and blood, pressure-decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and related secondary health problems in general.
- It has a good amount of calcium.
- It’s also rich in thiamine or vitamin B1, an essential nutrient for nerve function and brain function, but it’s also necessary for energy production.
- The grilled jerk chicken breast recipe also includes heart-healthy fats like monounsaturated fats, omega-6 fatty acids, and linoleic fatty acids.
- The grilled jerk chicken breast recipe is also rich in iron, which is essential for energy production and oxygen transport.
Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
You can certainly use chicken breasts if you don’t like dark meat. The texture will be slightly different; it won’t be as rich and tender, but the flavor will still be good.
Can I cook this recipe on a stove instead of a grill?
Yes, you can quickly cook this dish on a stovetop or smoker. Grilling it over indirect heat is better if you want it to have that authentic smoked flavor.
Can I use different hot peppers?
Most recipes call for Scotch bonnet or Habanero chili peppers in this dish. But you can use jalapeno, habanero, serrano, or bird’s-eye if you do not like the heat. You may add some brown sugar if the chicken is not spicy enough.
How do I use my grill to best make this recipe?
Prepare your grill by cleaning it and oiling the grates. Let it cool down before you add the chicken. You can grill your chicken over medium or low heat. If you don’t have a thermometer, test to see if it’s ready by using visual cues:
Grill marks should appear, and the skin should have started to render but not yet browned. It should feel firm when pressed with a finger. When its time is up, wrap the cooked jerk chicken in foil and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
How long do I have to marinate the chicken?
Marinate the chicken pieces in a medium-sized bowl. Add the vegetable oil, nutmeg, soy sauce, garlic clove, scallions, salt, thyme, and allspice and mix well. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Place the chicken pieces and the marinade in a large Ziploc bag; squeeze the air out and seal tightly. Mash the chicken around to coat it evenly with the marinade.
What is the best way to maintain chicken tenderness?
Place chicken on a grill that is off to the side rather than directly over the heat source. Turn it over halfway through grilling so both sides can develop a nice char. If you use a charcoal grill, don’t pile too many coals under one area of the chicken, or it will cook too quickly on one side.
How to cook jerk chicken in the oven?
As mentioned above, jerk chicken can be roasted in the oven if a grill is unavailable. Preheat the oven to 425°F and set an oven rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean-up, and set an oven-proof frame on top.
Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken on the shelf, skin side up, and roast until lightly browned and cooked, 40 to 45 minutes. Turn on the broiler (leave the pan on the middle rack), and cook for 1 to 3 more until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
How do you grill chicken breast without drying it out?
Place the chicken on the cooler side of the grill or in an oven. This will help maintain the tenderness of the meat because it will not dry out while cooking as much. For extra moisture, wrap each piece of grilled jerk chicken breast with a foil or paper towel to absorb excess oil and water.
When Grilling Jerk Chicken, how long should I cook it?
When grilling jerk chicken, it’s best to use a meat thermometer to ensure it is fully cooked and safe for human consumption. To avoid dryness, use medium or low grilling temperature.
How do you store the Grilled jerk chicken breast recipe?
To store your Grilled jerk chicken breast recipe, place it in an airtight container or freeze it for up to 3 months.
How To Reheat Grilled jerk chicken breast recipe?
To reheat, wrap the chilled Grilled jerk chicken breast in aluminum foil and place it in a 325-degree F (165 C) oven for 5 -10 minutes or until heated. Or you can also heat it in a microwave until it’s warm.
Conclusion
Jerk chicken breast might be one of the most popular recipes in the Caribbean. Because it’s so simple yet delicious and versatile, it’s a dish you’ll want to try at home. It’s an easy but flavorful recipe made with a dry rub and comes out moist and tender.
Depending on your preference, you can either grill or cook it in the oven. Jerk chicken is best served with rice and peas, and plantains. Don’t forget to check out my collection of Jerk recipes here if you like this; besides being grilled, you can also try them all in the oven or slow cooker to
