Tonight’s dinner was full of bold flavor and fresh ingredients. This jerk chicken is spicy, smoky, and perfectly balanced with a bright pineapple mango salsa and savory bell pepper rice. My kids tried this for their first time and loved it!

The sweet fruit salsa cools down the heat from the jerk seasoning, while the rice makes the meal hearty and satisfying. It’s the kind of dinner that feels special but is simple enough to make on a weeknight.

If you love meals with big flavor and fresh ingredients, this jerk chicken dinner is one you’ll want to make again and again.

Why you will love this recipe-

This meal is packed with flavor and a perfect way to switch up your typical chicken dinners.
Great for meal prep dinners or lunches.
The sweet and tangy salsa pairs perfectly with the chicken and rice for a perfect bite.

Ingredients you will need-

boneless skinless chicken thighs 3-5 lbs.
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons of lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
5 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon of grated ginger
1 jalapeno or habanero pepper sliced
1 teaspoon thyme
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons of Chinese 5 spice
2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 green onions, sliced
1 1/2 Tablespoons of ketchup

Glaze for chicken

2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon of honey
pinch of allspice

How to make-

Step 1. First for the jerk chicken mix all marinade ingredients with the chicken and marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results.

Step 2. pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and place parchment paper onto baking sheet. Place marinated chicken on pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, turning until cooked through. Brush on glaze and broil for the last 3-5 minutes for that classic jerk char.

Step 3. Serve with my Fresh Pineapple Mango Salsa and bell pepper rice, recipes here-https://simpleetasty.com/pineapple-mango-salsa/

Tips-

For the marinade you can also blend all of the ingredients together and it works great.
Most Jerk chicken recipes call for the chicken to be grilled, and I think that is a great idea. It will definitely give it the smoky flavor it is missing from baking in the oven.
Make sure to broil the last few minutes to get a little bit of a char and don’t forget to brush on the glaze which gives it glossy finish and more flavor.
I also like to use two baking sheets, so my chicken doesn’t get crowded and gets nicely browned.
This whole meal is great for meal prepping.

Storage-

Can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for a few days.
Chicken can be marinated, stored in a Ziploc bag in the freezer up to a couple of months. Unthaw and bake in the oven at 400 degrees.