• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Chinese recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Chinese recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Chinese recipes
    • About
    • Recipes
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

    Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken

    Published: May 4, 2020 · Modified: Jun 7, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 31 Comments

    786 shares
    • 410
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Slow cooker jerk chicken with a text title overlay.

    Authentic Jamaican flavours and chicken all slow cooked until the meat melts in your mouth. Just a little bit of prep work and a really simple homemade jerk sauce, you have yourself a simple slow cooked meal with big flavours and just the right amount of heat. This slow cooker jerk chicken is something a little bit different to try in your slow cooker, and great for batch cooking.

    A plate of jerk chicken with rice. Scotch bonnets and coriander leaves are next to it.

    Jerk chicken in the slow cooker couldn't be easier. You just brown the chicken in the pan a little, blend all the ingredients to make the spicy Jamaican sauce and then put it all in the slow cooker together.

    No need to fire up the BBQ to make jerk chicken - let the slow cooker do all the work for you. The slow cooker makes the chicken deliciously tender and it just falls apart and you still get the char, as the chicken is browned first. This is a foolproof slow cooker recipe, and one you will want to make time and time again.

    If you are looking for other ways to use your slow cooker, then why not try our Slow Cooker Beef Curry, Slow Cooker Beef Brisket or Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make slow cooker jerk chicken - Step by step
    • Jerk sauce
    • What to serve with jerk chicken
    • Storage
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Extra tips
    • More chicken recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • A really easy way to make jerk chicken - No need to BBQ it, you can get the char by frying it a little first and then the slow cooker does all the work.
    • A simple homemade sauce -  The sauce is so easy to make, you just blend it all together.
    • For people that love spicy food - This is definitely a recipe for those that love their food with a kick of heat.
    • A great value meal - Using chicken thighs makes this a budget friendly meal.
    • Great for batch cooking - This freezes well, so make extra and freeze for quick and easy meals in the week.

    Ingredients needed

    • Chicken thighs - You can use any piece of chicken, like legs or breast, however we think that thighs work best in this recipe. Not only are they great value, but they are really juicy and have a lot more flavour.
    • Oil - This is to cook the chicken in. We used vegetable oil.
    • Lime - This adds a lovely fresh flavour. For extra lime flavour, add some zest too.
    • Ginger - Did you know that can peel ginger with a teaspoon! You can use fresh or frozen ginger. You can grate ginger straight from frozen.
    • Spring onions (scallions) - Use the green and the white of the onion.
    • Scotch bonnet chillies - This is where all the heat comes from, but they add a nice sweetness too.
    • Mustard seeds, Allspice, Cayenne, Thyme - These are what give the jerk sauce it's recognisable flavour.
    • Salt and pepper - Generously season.
    • White wine vinegar - This gives a nice tangy to the sauce and balances out all the flavour.
    • Garlic - Fresh is always best, but frozen will work too.
    • Tomato puree - This helps to thicken the sauce, and also add some colour. Don't use more than the recipes says though, as you don't want to add a tomato flavour.
    • Honey - This adds a lovely hint of sweetness that cuts through the spice.
    • Rum - This is optional, but it really adds to the Jamaican flavour.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make slow cooker jerk chicken - Step by step

    One: Put the olive oil, lime juice, ginger, spring onions (scallions), chillies, mustard seeds, salt and pepper, vinegar, garlic, thyme, tomato puree/tomato pasta, honey, rum (if using), all spice, cayenne and water in a food processor and blend until smooth. If you don’t have one, then use a pestle and mortar and stir in the water.

    A blender jug containing jerk sauce ingredients.

    Two: Put the chicken in a hot pan with oil and brown for 3 minutes each side.

    A frying pan with four chicken thighs in it.

    Three: Put the chicken in the slow cooker and pour over the jerk sauce.

    A slow cooker pot containing four chicken thighs covered in jerk sauce.

    Four: Put the lid on and cook in the slow cooker on high for 3 hours, or low for 6 hours.

    A slow cooker pot containing cooker jerk chicken.

    Six: Serve the chicken on a bed of rice.

    Two jerk chicken thighs on a blue plate with rice and lime wedges.

    Jerk sauce

    This sauce has all the quintessential Jamaican ingredients - thyme, peppercorns, chilli, spring onions, allspice and RUM! Yes, we put rum in our sauce. All the ingredients are added to a blender to make a really easy sauce, but you could buy ready made sauce instead if you prefer.

    This recipe is definitely one for those that like a kick of heat in their food. The scotch bonnets in the jerk sauce are fruity, but fierce. Just the way jerk sauce should be. However, it doesn't have to be that spicy, or spicy at all. We only used 1 scotch bonnet, however you could use 2 for a spicier dish or use none at all.

    Instead of adding brown sugar to the sauce, we added just a little honey so it gives the sauce some sweetness and cuts through the heat a little, but it isn't too overpowering.

    A glass bowl containing jerk sauce.

    What to serve with jerk chicken

    If you want to keep this meal really traditional, then serve it with rice n' peas. Now, this isn't the garden green peas that you have with your roast dinner. The "peas" in rice n' peas are actually kidney beans. It's a really great side dish with jerk chicken though.

    You could serve it with plain rice, or even mashed potato. We also have it in Wholewheat Wraps or Easy Naan Breads for an easy lunch and have served leftovers on a salad too.

    Other side dishes that could go well with this (although not traditional) include:

    • Roasted New Potatoes
    • Oven Cooked Rice
    • Paprika Chips
    • Garlic Spring Greens
    • Masala Chips
    • Perfect Microwave Rice
    • Easy Hasselback Potatoes
    • Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
    • Cilantro Lime Rice
    • Baked Tortilla Chips
    Jerk chicken thighs and rice topped with sliced scallions on a blue plate.

    Storage

    Store: It will keep in the fridge for 2 days.

    Freeze: This is a great meal for batch cooking and freezing. Just make sure it is fully cooled and then put in freezable containers (with some rice n' peas too for ease) and then you can freeze it for up to 2 months.

    Defrost: Defrost in the fridge overnight.

    Reheat: You can reheat the jerk chicken in a frying pan over a medium heat until piping hot all the way through. You could also reheat it in the microwave.

    Cooked chicken in a jerk coating on a plate with rice. A pan of chicken is in the background.

    Frequently asked questions

    How spicy is jerk chicken?

    This is pretty spicy - just as it should be. However, you can adjust the amount of chillies used, or even remove the seeds from the scotch bonnets so you still have all the flavour, but not as much of the heat.

    Can this be cooked in the oven?

    If you don't want to slow cook this, you can cook it in the oven instead. Simply marinade the chicken in the sauce for at least 2 hours (overnight is better) and then put in the oven at 200°C/400°F/Gas 6 for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

    What slow cooker should I use?

    There really is no rule here, just make sure that the ingredients you are using can fit in your slow cooker. We use a Crock Pot DuraCeramic Slow Cooker and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too. So, you can cook the onions on the hob, in the slow cooker bowl. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.

    How do you know when slow cooker chicken is cooked?

    The chicken should be perfectly cooked in the slow cooker after 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. However, we always like to use a food thermometer to check. The cooked temperature of chicken is 75°C/165°F. However, if you don't have a food thermometer, then it is best to use your judgement and stick a knife in it. It shouldn't be pink inside.

    Can I make a vegan version of this?

    If you wanted to make a vegan version of this, then you could swap the chicken for tofu, or just add extra vegetables

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • If you want an even spicier dish, then use 2 scotch bonnet chilies. If you don't want it spicy, then leave them out. You can always taste the sauce and adjust it to suit your tastes.
    • Deseed the chilli if you don't want it to be as spicy.
    • You can leave out the rum if you want.
    • This recipe can be make with chicken breast or legs instead. Please not that the cooking times may vary.
    • Serve leftovers in wraps or flatbreads with salad and a creamy sauce.
    • Make sure the spices you are using haven't been sat in your cupboard for years. If you are using really old spices, they won't have much flavour and you will really notice a lack of flavour in the dish. Opened spices should be used within 6 months ideally.

    More chicken recipes

    • Parmesan Chicken Bites
    • Greek Chicken Skewers
    • Easy Chicken and Leek Pie
    • Chicken Rendang

    If you’ve tried this Jerk chicken recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Two slow cooker jerk chicken thighs on a blue plate with rice and lime wedges.

    Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken

    Try something different with your next slow cooker recipe. This Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken is easy, nutritious and full of flavour.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    4.91 from 21 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    An illustration of a mustard bottle.
    Mustard
    An illustration of a wine glass.
    Sulphites
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 633kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 400 g chicken thighs
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 1 Lime - (juice only)
    • 30 g Fresh ginger - grated
    • 4 Spring onion (Scallion)
    • 1 scotch bonnet chilli
    • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
    • 0.5 teaspoon Sea salt
    • 1 tablespoon Black peppercorns
    • 2 tablespoon White wine vinegar
    • 2 Garlic clove - crushed
    • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato puree
    • 1 tablespoon Honey
    • 1 tablespoon Rum - (optional, but it tastes even better this way)
    • 1 tablespoon allspice
    • 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
    • 5 ml Water

    Instructions

    • Put the olive oil, lime juice, ginger, spring onions (scallions), chillies, mustard seeds, salt and pepper, vinegar, garlic, thyme, tomato puree/tomato pasta, honey, rum (if using), all spice, cayenne and water in a food processor and blend until smooth. If you don’t have one, then use a pestle and mortar and stir in the water.
    • Put some oil in a pan and once hot, add the chicken and cook for 2 minutes each side to brown.
    • Put the chicken in the slow cooker and pour over the jerk sauce.
    • Put the lid on and cook in the slow cooker on high for 3 hours, or low for 6 hours.
    • Serve the chicken on a bed of rice.

    Notes

    • If you want an even spicier dish, then use 2 scotch bonnet chilies. If you don't want it spicy, then leave them out. You can always taste the sauce and adjust it to suit your tastes.
    • Deseed the chilli if you don't want it to be as spicy.
    • You can leave out the rum if you want.
    • This recipe can be make with chicken breast or legs instead. Please not that the cooking times may vary.
    • Serve leftovers in wraps or flatbreads with salad and a creamy sauce.
    • Make sure the spices you are using haven't been sat in your cupboard for years. If you are using really old spices, they won't have much flavour and you will really notice a lack of flavour in the dish. Opened spices should be used within 6 months ideally.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 633kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 754mg | Potassium: 761mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1044IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 5mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

    You'll love these too...

    • Chicken Pesto Pasta
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
    • Christmas Chicken
    • Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Manasi

      September 27, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      This is so excellent!! It’s such a unique flavour - had it out of the freezer tonight and now I’m eyeing up your other slow cooker recipes.

      Reply
    2. Sue

      August 13, 2020 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      The Jerk Chicken flavors can't be beat - fantastic recipe, thank you!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        August 16, 2020 at 9:48 am

        Great to hear that you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    3. Nart at Cooking with Nart

      May 05, 2020 at 12:44 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so delicious. I love rice with chicken. Will definitely try this recipe!

      Reply
      • Claire

        January 19, 2023 at 7:28 pm

        4 stars
        Lovely flavours but it is way too hot! I adjusted the servings to 5 people and made it exactly using 2 scotch bonnets and 2.5 tsp of cayenne pepper but it is way too hot for me. Can I add coconut milk to this? Thanks

        Reply
        • Dannii

          January 20, 2023 at 8:02 am

          Jerk should have a real kick of heat to it. You could add coconut milk to cool it down, but it would totally change the flavours and it wouldn't taste like jerk.

          Reply
    4. Shashi at SavorySpin

      May 05, 2020 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      That jerk sauce is bomb! I'd lick the plate and my fingers if this jerk chicken was in front of me. Fantastic recipe!

      Reply
    5. Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter

      May 05, 2020 at 10:28 am

      5 stars
      Such a great recipe for any day of the week! Low how quick and easy it is too!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.
    heart icon

    Welcome!

    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About HHH»

    Chinese Recipes

    • Chilli Garlic Spicy Noodles
    • Asian Cucumber Salad
    • Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
    • Soy Sauce Noodles
    • 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef
    • Soy Ginger Salmon Noodles

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • See our Web Stories page

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with us
    • FAQ
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 410
    786 shares