Grilled Jerk Chicken breasts are made with a simple, yet spicy homemade marinade that is a combination of savory, spicy and sweet; just perfect for mild-tasting chicken breasts.
Grilled jerk chicken breasts are zesty and filled with flavor. The jerk chicken marinade is a simple one made with spices and condiments that you most likely have in your kitchen already. It’s an easy jerk chicken recipe that everyone will love.
Many grilled jerk chicken recipes are made with habanero peppers which I can’t always find so I make my own jerk seasoning blend using dried spices. The homemade spice blend easy to make, and once it’s made, it can be stored in the spice cabinet for a few months.
Here is What You Will Need
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This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe, scroll down to see ingredient notes and substitutions as well as a printable recipe card with exact measurements and complete cooking instructions.
Ingredients
boneless chicken breasts or thighs
tamari sauce
apple cider vinegar
olive oil
Jerk Seasoning Blend – here is my recipe for Jerk Seasoning Blend
Equipment
glass or ceramic dish to marinate the chicken
gas grill, indoor grill, or grill pan
Here is How To Make Grilled Jerk Chicken Breasts
Step 1. mix up the marinade ingredients, place it into a bowl and add the chicken. Marinate the chicken for at least one hour.
Tip! The longer the chicken marinates, the flavor will intensify. If you have the time marinating overnight is best.
Step 2. Preheat the grill, once it’s hot add the chicken to the grill and cook it for about 5 to 8 minutes depending on how thick the chicken is.
Tip! The chicken will be ready to flip over once it no longer sticks to the grill.
Step 3. Flip the chicken breasts over and cook for 5 to 8 minutes longer until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Note: This recipe can also be made in the oven; place the chicken marinated chicken breasts on a baking sheet or roasting pan, and bake at 350 until chicken reaches 165 (about 20 minutes).
Estimated Time To Make This Recipe: 90 to 110 minutes ( includes one hour to marinate the chicken).
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Chicken. Boneless chicken can be replaced with bone-in chicken, however cooking time will be longer, check the internal temperature of the chicken before swerving with an instant-read meat thermometer.
Tamari Sauce. Is a fermented so sauce, it’s usually gluten free and has a umami flavor and less salty.
Substitute Tamari Sauce 1 to 1 with soy sauce or coconut aminos which is soy free.
Jerk Seasoning Blend. Packaged jerk spice blends will work as a one to one substitute for homemade jerk seasoning.
Mild Season Blend. If you don’t care for hot food, leave the cayenne pepper out of the homemade spice blend or use less of it.
Storing and Using Leftovers
Store leftover grilled jerk chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Leftover uses – This is a great recipe to double; leftover grilled jerk chicken breasts have so many uses. Serve them in a salad, nachos, in a sandwich, wrap, quesadilla or pita bread.
Recipe Variations
Dry Rubbed Jerk Chicken. Instead of marinating, rub some spice blend onto the chicken breasts without the marinade about 20 minutes before girlling it for a quicker and easy jerk chicken recipe.
Change up the Meat. Replace the chicken with bonelss pork chops, or pork tenderloin. We’ve tried them all and they all taste great!
Make it Vegetarian. Slice a block of firm tofu in half (horizontally), marinate it for several hours, then grill it for 5 minutes on each side.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve grilled jerk chicken with a baked potato and a Greek Chopped Salad or Arugula Salad
- Just before the chicken has finsihed cooking on the grill, add a few slices of pineapple, grill them and serve them with the chicken.
- Top the grilled chicken with mango strawberry salsa
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Grilled Jerk Chicken with Pineapple
A flavorful chicken dinner that takes just minutes to cook.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons tamari sauce
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons jerk seasoning blend
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Make the marinade: add 3 tablespoons seasoning blend, tablespoons tamari sauce, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil to a glass bowl that's large enough to hold the chicken and mix well.
- Add the chicken breasts to the marinade in the bowl and turn them in the bowl until they are coated with the marinade. Cover the chicken and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Preheat a gas grill or electric on medium to high heat.
- Place the chicken breasts on the grill; cover the grill and cook them for 7 minutes, flip them over and cook for about 5 minutes more until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165.
Notes
Recipe Variations
Make it vegetarian - Slice a block of firm tofu in half (horizontally) and marinate it for several hours, then grill it for 5 minutes on each side.
Substitute boneless chicken breasts with boneless chicken thigh, bone in chicken breasts or thighs, boneless pork chops, pork tenderloin.
Substitute tamari sauce 1 to 1 with soy sauce or coconut aminos
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: ¼ pound chickenAmount Per Serving: Calories: 298Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 736mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 36g
Nutrition information is provided by an online calculator and is meant to be used for informational purposes only. Even though I try to provide accurate information, these figures should still be considered as estimates.
love finding great recipes for grilling. Chicken is one of those things delicious in our bellies and great on budget thanks for sharing plan on trying soon
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This is perfect for the current weather! The one who loves to grill at my place is actually my husband, so I´ll be sending this post to him (he can take a hint, lol). This looks absolutely savory! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
One of my favourite things in life is grilled pineapple and it goes great with anything 🙂 I love your combination.
This looks so delicious, I love anything with pineapple!
xo, Helene
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This looks delicious and simple…two of my favorite things lol. I’ll have to try it out this summer. Thanks for sharing!
This whole meal looks so scrumptious! Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to some summer grilling now!
I’ve never heard of coconut sugar but the recipe sounds amazing!!!
Thank you Julie!
I am craving the grilled chicken now!
I love grilling with pineapple! It adds such a fun tropical flavor.