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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken

    By Dannii · Published 4th May 2020 · Updated 17th January 2021 · 29 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links and generates income via ads · This site uses cookies · Post contains 1163 words. · About 6 minutes to read this article.

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Authentic Jamaican flavours and chicken all slow cooked to tender perfection. 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 is something a little bit different to try in your slow cooker, and great for batch cooking.

    A plate of slow cooker jerk chicken with rice and limes. Scotch bonnet peppers and coriander leaves are next to the plate.

    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 makes it 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.

    Jump to:
    • Why should you try it?
    • Step by step
    • Jerk sauce
    • Best chicken for jerk sauce
    • What to serve this with
    • Can this be cooked in the oven?
    • Can it be frozen?
    • Extra tips
    • More chicken recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why should you try it?

    • A really easy way to make jerk chicken
    • A simple homemade sauce
    • For people that love spicy food
    • A great value meal
    • Great for batch cooking
    • Freezes well

    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 oil, chilies, scallions, herbs and rum.

    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. 

    A glass bowl containing jerk sauce.

    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.

    Best chicken for jerk sauce

    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.

    What to serve this with

    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 wraps or pitas for an easy lunch and have served leftovers on a salad too.

    Jerk chicken thighs and rice topped with sliced scallions on a blue plate.

    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.

    Can it be frozen?

    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. It will also keep in the fridge for 2 days.

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

    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.
    • 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.

    More chicken recipes

    • Parmesan Chicken Bites
    • Greek Chicken Skewers
    • Easy Chicken and Leek Pie
    • Chicken Rendang
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    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓

    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.
    5 from 14 votes
    Pin Print
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
    Allergen:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    An illustration of a mustard bottle.
    Mustard
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    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 onions (scallions)
    • 1 scotch bonnet chilli
    • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
    • 0.5 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon peppercorns
    • 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
    • 2 garlic cloves crushed
    • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
    • 2 tablespoon tomato puree (tomato paste)
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1 tablespoon rum (optional, but it tastes even better this way)
    • 1 tablespoon allspice
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne
    • 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.
    • 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.

    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
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @hungryhealthyhappy on Instagram and tag #hungryhealthyhappy!
    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.
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    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
    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
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