Bold, smoky, and fragrant with allspice, cinnamon, and fresh thyme, this jerk chicken delivers serious Caribbean heat without a single grain of barley anywhere near it. That matters more than it sounds ā soy-based sauces and marinades are a common hiding spot for barley derivatives, but this recipe calls for tamari specifically, which keeps things clean and safe. The marinade is blended into a coarse, aromatic paste with Scotch bonnet peppers, scallion greens, ginger, maple syrup, and lime juice, then left to work its magic on bone-in, skin-on thighs and drumsticks for at least four hours. All that marinating time means the heat and spice penetrate deep into the meat before it ever touches the grill. Cooking skin-side down over medium-high heat builds a deeply charred crust that locks in the juices, while reserved marinade gets brushed on during the final flips for layered, sticky flavor. A five-minute rest before serving keeps every bite tender and dripping. Squeeze a little lime over the top and you've got a backyard showstopper that's as satisfying to make as it is to eat.
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3 lb bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks)
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
For the jerk marinade
3 tbsp garlic-infused oil
6 scallions, green tops only, roughly chopped
1ā2 scotch bonnet or habanero peppers, stemmed and seeded
2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tbsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground black pepper
2 tbsp tamari
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp kosher salt
For serving
lime wedges, for serving (optional)
sliced scallion green tops, for serving (optional)
Instructions
1
Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels, then season all over with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Set aside while you make the marinade.
2
Combine the garlic-infused oil, scallion green tops, Scotch bonnet pepper(s), thyme, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, tamari, maple syrup, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger, and 1 tsp kosher salt in a blender or food processor. Blend until a coarse, fragrant paste forms, about 30 seconds.
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