Baked Jamaican Pineapple Jerk Chicken Recipe
This Jamaican Pineapple Jerk Chicken recipe is a modern twist on classic jerk chicken and It's full of flavor and comfort.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 554kcal
Ingredients
CHICKEN:
- 3-4 lbs. organic chicken (Drumsticks, Wings, + Thigh pieces work great!)
- 1-2 Tbsps Homemade Jerk Dry Rub Seasoning
PINEAPPLE JERK SAUCE:
- 3 Scotch bonnet peppers
- ½ red onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves
- handful of scallions (aka green onions)
- 2 Tbsps white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- ¼ cup pineapple chunks
- ¼ cup soy sauce, low-sodium
- ¼ cup filtered water
- 2 Tbsps organic brown sugar
- 1 carrot, peeled + chopped
- 2 Tbsps pimento seeds
GARNISH:
- Pineapple chunks
- BBQ sauce, premium (You can make your own homemade BBQ sauce, if preferred)
- Fresh thyme sprigs
- Chopped scallion (aka green onions)
- Lime wedges, optional
Instructions
MARINATE THE CHICKEN:
- In a large bowl, add your freshly cleaned + rinsed chicken along with jerk seasoning, mixing everything together until chicken is fully coated. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. NOTE: For best results, it's best to marinate chicken overnight in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a standard 9x13 baking dish. Set aside.
MAKE THE PINEAPPLE JERK SAUCE:
- In a high-powdered blender, add the scotch bonnet pepper, red onion, garlic cloves, scallions, vinegar, salt, black pepper, ginger, pineapple chunks, brown sugar, chopped carrots, soy sauce, pimento seeds, and water, blending until smooth and combined.
COMBINE THE SAUCE + CHICKEN:
- Add the pineapple jerk sauce to the chicken and massage together until all chicken pieces are coated in sauce.
BAKE THE CHICKEN:
- Add the chicken to the prepared baking dish, spreading them out side by side, and tightly cover the top with foil paper. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until chicken is mostly cooked through. Carefully, drain the jerk sauce "liquid" from the chicken into a bowl and set aside. Return the chicken back to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes.
- OPTIONAL: You can make a BBQ Jerk sauce to go atop chicken if desired OR use BBQ sauce as a garnish. For the sauce, add 1-2 cups BBQ sauce to the jerk sauce liquid and mix together until combined. Generously brush (or spoon) the BBQ jerk sauce atop chicken, add additional pineapple chunks around chicken pieces and bake (without foil) for another 10-15 minutes for until the sauce has "Baked unto" chicken.
- For a fancy look, garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, chopped scallions, and lime wedges along with chicken on a platter.
- To serve, enjoy the pineapple jerk chicken by itself or with a side of bread (hard-dough bread is traditionally used) or with your favorite side (i.e. rice, veggies, etc.).
- Bon Appétit!
Notes
- STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
- JERK SAUCE/MARINADE: Store any leftover sauce in an airtight jar or container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
- SCOTCH BONNET PEPPER: If you'd like, you can increase the amount of scotch bonnet peppers used in the jerk sauce to as much as 6 total, if you love extra spice!
- ORIGINAL JERK: If you aren't a fan of pineapple, feel free to omit the pineapple and make this recipe a traditional jerk chicken recipe!
Nutrition
Calories: 554kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 170mg | Sodium: 1104mg | Potassium: 631mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2715IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 4mg