If you're someone who loves cooking but is pressed for time, this Jamaican-inspired jerk chicken dinner is just the recipe you need. Inspired by Jamie Oliver’s vibrant cooking style, this meal brings together bold flavors and simple techniques to get a delicious dinner on your table in under 30 minutes. From crispy-skinned jerk chicken to spiced rice and peas, chargrilled sweet corn, a fresh chopped salad, and a refreshing coriander yogurt, this menu is a fantastic example of cooking easy recipes that don’t compromise on taste.
Start with the Star: Crispy Jerk Chicken
The key to a perfect jerk chicken is balancing juicy meat with crispy skin and packing it full of flavor. Using four free-range chicken breasts with skin on, the chicken is prepped by cutting into the thicker end to ensure even cooking. This little trick helps the chicken cook perfectly without drying out.
After seasoning with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper, the chicken goes skin-side down on a hot griddle pan. The griddle is essential here, as it gives the chicken that irresistible char and crispy skin – a must-have for any jerk chicken.
Making the Ultimate Jerk Sauce
The jerk sauce is the heart of this meal, blending fragrant veggies and warming spices for an unforgettable punch. The sauce starts with four spring onions and four to six cloves of garlic. Jamie’s tip? Use a garlic crusher to save time peeling – a simple hack for busy cooks.
Scotch bonnets, known for their fruity heat and apricot-like flavor, add the essential kick. Removing the seeds and inner membranes controls the heat level, allowing you to adjust spiciness from mild to fiery. Alongside fresh thyme and bay leaves, the sauce gets a warming twist with spices like allspice, nutmeg, and cloves.
To balance the heat and spices, cider vinegar, rum (a nod to classic Jamaican flavors), honey, salt, pepper, and olive oil are blended into a smooth, thick slurry. This sauce is poured over the chicken, submerging the meat but keeping the skin crispy, then roasted to perfection in a hot oven.
Perfectly Spiced Rice and Peas
No jerk chicken dinner is complete without traditional rice and peas. This version is light, fluffy, and spiced just right. Start by sautéing two roughly chopped spring onions in olive oil, then add a cinnamon stick for warmth and seasoning with salt and pepper.
Use 250 grams of long grain rice and a pint of chicken stock to cook the rice. Black beans, rinsed to keep the dish visually appealing, are stirred in to give that classic "peas" element. Cover and boil on high heat for about 10 minutes until tender and fragrant.
Chargrilled Sweet Corn with a Twist
The corn gets a two-step treatment to maximize flavor: first boiled to bring out its natural sweetness, then grilled on the hot griddle pan to add smoky char marks and extra texture. A drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lime finish it off, giving the corn a fresh, zesty lift that complements the spicy chicken beautifully.
Refreshing Chopped Salad and Coriander Yogurt Dressing
To balance the heat and richness of the jerk chicken, a bright chopped salad is essential. This salad is all about mixing textures and flavors – crunchy red pepper, peppery chicory, romaine lettuce, and fresh coriander. Jamie suggests embracing whatever fresh salad greens and herbs you find at your market for a personalized touch.
For the dressing, a cooling coriander yogurt is whipped up quickly by folding chopped coriander into half a tub of creamy yogurt, seasoning lightly with salt and lime juice. This adds a fresh, tangy “fire extinguisher” to the meal, perfectly offsetting the spicy jerk sauce.
Bringing It All Together
Once the chicken is cooked and the rice is fluffy, it’s time to plate up. Fluff the rice with a fork and sprinkle with some fresh coriander for an extra pop of color and flavor. Serve alongside the chargrilled corn, chopped salad, and a generous dollop of coriander yogurt. For an extra surprise, a small drizzle of honey on the chicken adds a delightful contrast to the spicy sauce.
This Jamaican-inspired feast delivers bold, balanced flavors and a satisfying meal — all ready in under 30 minutes. Whether you’re cooking for family or friends, it’s a brilliant example of how easy recipes can be both quick and delicious.
Get ready to impress with cooking that’s as vibrant as it is simple. Who wouldn’t want to dig into this feast?
This article was created from the video Delicious Jerk Chicken Dinner In Under 30 Minutes with the help of AI.
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