Slow Cooker Jamaican Jerk Chicken is a Caribbean-inspired dish and is known for its bold flavors and unique spice blend that includes spicy jerk seasoning.
Crock pot jerk chicken is an easy and convenient way to enjoy this delicious dish without having to spend hours in the kitchen. The end result is tender, juicy chicken that is bursting with flavor and pairs perfectly with rice, beans, or a fresh salad.
If you love the practicality of slow cooked meals be sure to try this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe.
Table of Contents
What is Jamaican Jerk Chicken?
Jamaican Jerk Chicken is a classic Jamaican dish that is known for its bold and spicy flavors. The dish is made by marinating chicken in a mixture of spices and seasonings and then slow cooking.
The origins of Jamaican Jerk Chicken can be traced back to the indigenous people of Jamaica. They used a similar technique of cooking meat over an open flame and seasoning it with local herbs and spices.
Today, Jamaican Jerk Chicken is a popular dish around the world and can be found in many Caribbean and Jamaican restaurants. It is often served with rice and peas, fried plantains, and a side of hot sauce.
Why we love Jamaican Jerk Chicken
If you’re looking for a dish that’s bursting with flavor, crock pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken is the way to go. Here are a few reasons why we love Jamaican Jerk Chicken:
1. Spicy and Flavorful
Slow cooker Carribean Jerk chicken thighs are known for their spicy and flavorful taste. The combination of jerk spices creates a unique flavor that’s hard to replicate. Whether you like your food mild or spicy, Jamaican Jerk Chicken can be adjusted to your liking.
2. Easy to Make
One of the best things about Jamaican Jerk Chicken is that it’s easy to make. With a slow cooker, you can set it and forget it. Simply mix the ingredients together, add your chicken, and let it cook for a few hours.
3. Versatile
Jamaican slow cooker chicken can be served with a variety of sides, such as rice and peas, plantains, or coleslaw. It’s also great for meal prep, as you can make a large batch and have leftovers for the week.
Key Ingredients
To make crockpot Jamaican jerk chicken, you will need a few key ingredients that are essential to achieving the authentic and bold flavors of this classic Jamaican dish. Here are the ingredients you will need:
- Olive oil – Regular olive oil is a great option for sauteeing the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Chicken thighs – It is best to use bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe. The bone-in chicken will help keep the meat moist and flavorful during the long cooking process in the slow cooker.
- Jerk seasoning – This seasoning typically includes a combination of allspice, thyme, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, and scotch bonnet peppers. You can buy pre-made jerk seasoning at the store or make your own at home using a recipe that you find online.
Chicken or beef broth – A splash of chicken or beef broth will add flavor and let it cook low and slow.
Cooking Instructions
Cooking jerk chicken in a crock pot is an easy and delicious way to enjoy this spicy and flavorful dish. Here are the steps to follow:
- Turn the slow cooker on high and add the chicken broth.
- Heat a splash of oil in a skillet.
- Rub chicken with olive oil then season with Jamaican jerk seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken in the hot skillet and cook for about 3 minutes each side.
- Transfer the seared chicken from the skillet to the slow cooker and cook on high heat for about 3 hours.
- Serve and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Now that you have cooked this easy crock pot jerk chicken in your slow cooker, it’s time to think about how to serve it. Here are some serving suggestions that will make your meal even more delicious.
Traditional Jamaican Sides
Jamaican chicken in a slow cooker is often served with traditional Jamaican sides that complement the spicy flavors of the chicken. Here are some options:
- Rice and peas: This is a staple side dish in Jamaica, made with rice, kidney beans, coconut milk, and spices. The creamy texture and mild flavor of the rice and peas balance out the spiciness of the chicken.
- Fried plantains: These sweet and savory slices of ripe plantains are a popular side dish in Jamaica. They add a nice crunch and sweetness to the meal.
- Coleslaw: A refreshing and crunchy coleslaw is a great side dish to balance out the heat of the jerk chicken.
Other Serving Suggestions
If you want to mix things up, here are some other serving suggestions that go well with jerk chicken in a crock pot:
- Grilled pineapple: The sweetness of grilled pineapple pairs well with the spiciness of the chicken. Cut pineapple into slices and grill them until they’re caramelized.
- Cornbread: A classic American side dish that goes well with any type of barbecue. The sweetness of the cornbread complements the spicy flavors of the chicken.
- Green salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing is a refreshing side dish that balances out the richness of the chicken.
No matter how you choose to serve your Jamaican jerk chicken in a slow cooker, make sure to have plenty of napkins on hand!
No matter how you choose to serve your Jamaican jerk chicken in a slow cooker, make sure to have plenty of napkins on hand!
Storing and Reheating Tips
To store your leftover jerk chicken, let it cool down to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container. You can store the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
If you are freezing the chicken, make sure to label the container with the date and contents to avoid confusion later on. It’s also recommended to freeze the chicken in smaller portions so that you can thaw only what you need.
When reheating your jerk chicken, place the chicken on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many variations of this jerk chicken recipe in a slow cooker. Another option is to use a wet marinade rather than dry spice rub. In this case, put let the chicken sit in the liquid seasonings overnight for the best flavor.
Jerk chicken is a traditional Jamaican dish that is made by marinating chicken in a spicy seasoning blend. Jerk BBQ chicken is a variation of jerk chicken that is cooked on a grill or in a smoker and basted with BBQ sauce. The BBQ sauce adds a sweet and tangy flavor.
We recommend using bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks since we’re slow cooking in this recipe. This keeps the chicken from drying out and breaking down too much.
Affiliate Links
For this recipe I used this Jamaican Jerk Seasoning and this Programmable 6 Quart Electric Slow Cooker.
Slow Cooker Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Ingredients
- 5 chicken thighs skinless and boneless
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 2 tbsp Jamaican Jerk seasoning
- 1 cup chicken/ beef broth
- salt + pepper to taste
Instructions
- Turn slow cooker/ crock pot on high and add the chicken/ beef broth.
- Wash the chicken tights thoroughly. I like to squeeze fresh lemon after washed. Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Heat about 1/2 tbsp of oil in a skillet.
- Rub chicken with remaining olive oil, then season with Jamaican jerk seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Place chicken on hot skillet and cook for about 3 minutes each side.
- Transfer seared chicken from skillet to slow cooker and allow it to cook on high heat for about 3 hours.
- Serve over a bed of rice and with some cold beer. Cheers!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ohhhh jerk chicken is my fave, so flavorful! I bet this slow cooker version is just as amazing as the kind they make in jamaica, it looks so juicy!
I had never tried jerk chicken until I went to Jamaica, so pretty much started from the top and I think this recipe is somewhere close up there 🙂 Thanks lovely!!
Love this! Looks so good…and simple! And although I know what you mean, your ingredient list says “5 chicken tights” instead of ” 5 chicken thighs”. Even still, can’t wait to try this!
Oops 🙁 will fix that, thanks for pointing it out. Glad you liked it too!!
Is the Jamaica jerk seasoning in the spice aisle?
Yes, that’s where I bought mine! If you can’t find it there maybe try Amazon?
Walkerswood is the best, most authentic jerk sauce/marinade we’ve found. It’s available on Amazon
This was really delicious! So tasty, so tender! Magnifique! ☺️😋 The kids and I loved it, but unfortunately, my husband couldn’t eat because it was too spicy for him. Is there a substitute? Thanks!
That’s wonderful, I am happy to hear! As for your husband I’d say that normally jerk seasoning has some spices that adds heat to the dish but if you make your own jerk seasoning at home you can use less cayenne/ habanero pepper and red pepper flakes to make it less spicy for him. Here are some spices that goes into the Jamaican jerk seasoning in case you want to make your own; cayenne pepper or habanero pepper, allspice, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, parsley, brown sugar, ginger, pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to round out the spice blend.