Jamaican Jerk Chicken (Air Fryer, Oven, or Stovetop)

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A little sweet, a little spicy, and SO easy—this Air Fryer Jamaican Jerk Chicken turns pantry spices into the bold jerk flavor you love. We toss chicken and colorful veggies together, air fry until caramelized, and finish with juicy mango for balance. Prefer the oven or stove? I’ve included both methods below for maximum flexibility.

Note: Traditional jerk is grilled over pimento wood and often includes scotch bonnet peppers and fresh aromatics. If you’re curious about authentic technique and history, this guide is a great read: Serious Eats: Learning the Secrets of Authentic Jerk Chicken.

What Does Jamaican Jerk Chicken Taste Like?

Classic jerk balances warm spices (allspice, cinnamon), herbs (thyme), heat (traditionally scotch bonnet), and a touch of sweetness. Our simplified pantry blend brings those notes together for a weeknight-friendly dinner.

Ingredients: Easy Pantry Jerk Seasoning

This quick DIY blend isn’t fully traditional, but it’s delicious and easy with U.S. pantry staples:

• Dried thyme leaves
• Ground allspice
• Brown sugar
• Salt & black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Cinnamon
• Cayenne pepper (to taste)

Tip: Make extra and store it in an airtight jar for up to 6 months.

Supplies

• Air fryer
• Sheet pan & parchment (for oven method)
• Large skillet (for stovetop method)
• Small bowl, cutting board, knife
• Instant-read thermometer

How to Make Air Fryer Jamaican Jerk Chicken

1. Mix the seasoning. Stir spices in a small bowl. You won’t need it all—save the rest for later.
2. Par-cook potatoes. Toss chopped baby potatoes with oil and seasoning; air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 8–10 minutes until nearly tender.
3. Prep chicken & veg. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces; slice bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion.
4. Season & toss. Combine chicken and veggies with ½–1 Tbsp oil and 1–3 Tbsp jerk seasoning (to taste).
5. Air fry. Add the seasoned chicken/veggies to the basket with the potatoes. Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 10–15 minutes, shaking once, until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
6. Finish with mango. Top hot chicken and veggies with cubed mango for juicy sweetness. Lime and cilantro are great, too.

Sheet Pan Oven Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment.
2. Toss potatoes with oil and seasoning; spread on pan and bake 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, toss chicken and remaining veggies with oil and seasoning.
4. Add chicken/veggies to the pan; roast 15–20 minutes, stirring once, until chicken hits 165°F and veggies are tender.
5. Top with mango; serve with lime wedges.

Stovetop Skillet Directions

1. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add seasoned chicken; cook 4–6 minutes until browned and 160°F.
2. Add potatoes (par-cooked in microwave 3–4 minutes helps), peppers, zucchini, and onion; cook 5–8 minutes until tender and chicken reaches 165°F.
3. Remove from heat; fold in mango. Finish with lime and cilantro.

What to Serve with Jerk Chicken

• Potato salad or creamy coleslaw
• Roasted sweet potatoes or sweet potato fries
• Corn on the cob
• Coconut rice or Jamaican rice
• More mango prep tips or try a quick mango salsa

Pro Tips

• Heat control: Increase cayenne for more kick; add a pinch of brown sugar if you prefer it sweeter.
• Cut size matters: Bite-size chicken cooks faster and more evenly in the air fryer than whole breasts.
• Thermometer win: Pull at 165°F (74°C) for juicy chicken every time.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner with Mango (Air Fryer Instructions)

Simple, sweet, and spicy, this Jamaican jerk chicken and be cooked in the air fryer in 30 minutes. Plus, you only need a handful of pantry staples to make this outstanding dish that everyone will love!

5 / 5 ( 4 Reviews )

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Serves: 2

Adjust Servings: 2

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Small bowl
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Large bowl

Ingredients

Sheet Pan Dinner

• 2 cup chopped baby potatoes about 2-3 potatoes
• 1 small zucchini
• 1-2 bell peppers
• ½ red onion
• 1 large chicken breast or 2 small chicken breasts
• 2 mangoes

Jamaican Seasoning

• 1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon ground allspice
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste, depending on how spicy you want it

Instructions

• Mix Jamaican seasoning ingredients together in a small container. I ended up not using all of the seasoning, so you will want an airtight container for storing.
• Chop the potatoes into bite size pieces. Once all my potatoes were chopped, I had about 2 cups total of potatoes.
• Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket. Spray with a little oil and season the potatoes with the Jamaican seasoning to your liking. Air fry the potatoes for 8-10 minutes at 380 °F, or until they are almost tender.
• Cut the bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion into slightly larger than bite size pieces (or however big you prefer).
• Cut the chicken into bite size pieces as well.
• Combine the chicken and vegetables together in a bowl. Spray or drizzle on a little bit of oil (just enough to lightly coat the mixture). Add the Jamaican seasoning to your taste to the chicken and vegetables. Stir everything together until evenly coated and flavored. *See Recipe Notes about how much seasoning to use.
• Place the chicken and vegetables in the air fryer basket once the potatoes are done cooking. Stir the contents together. Air fry everything together in the air fryer at 380 °F for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken comes to temperature (165 °F).
• Cut the mangoes into small cubes. Learn how to cut and cube mangoes.
• Remove the sheet pan dinner from the air fryer and serve with mangoes on top.

Recipe Notes

Add the Jamaican seasoning to your taste (anywhere from 1 -3 tablespoons) to the chicken and vegetables. Stir everything together until evenly coated and flavored. 

Important Note: The Jamaican seasoning has a really strong taste. If you aren't one for strong flavors, don't add as much of the spice to the vegetables. I love tasty flavors , and still had leftover seasoning. I made sure that my chicken was covered in enough of the seasoning so that it had a rich and roasted coloring. 

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 1322mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 46g

Recipe Adapted From: Sweet Peas and Saffron

More Easy Air Fryer Sheet Pan Dinners

• Air Fryer Roast Beef Dinner with Vegetables
• Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies
• One Pan Teriyaki Chicken in the Air Fryer
• Salmon, Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts
• Paprika Chicken with Fries

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