Take a Journey to Jamaica with these Jerk Recipes

Food & Wine Editors

Updated Tue, April 18, 2023 at 2:32 AM UTC

4 min read

We adore jerk seasoning. Jerk chicken is the most recognized dish that makes use of this superb spice blend, and for good reason: Grilled chicken is a natural match for the spicy, smoky, aromatic flavors. In 2018, we even named this Jamaican Jerk Chicken recipe one of our 40 best of all time. But don't reserve jerk seasoning just for chicken; it's also a great choice for pepping up pork, fish, veggies, and more. The spirit of Jamaica comes through in these fantastic jerk recipes — grab some Scotch bonnet peppers, get cooking, and taste for yourself.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

*Photo by Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez / Prop Styling by Thom Driver*

There are as many takes on jerk chicken in Jamaica as there are cooks on the island, but most share the same method: Chicken is coated in a seasoning mixture dominated by spices and chiles, then grilled. This version comes from Paul Chung, a self-taught cook of Chinese and Jamaican descent who worked in the mail room at Food & Wine. It's wonderfully spicy, smoky, and fragrant — everything you want jerk chicken to be.

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Jerk Chicken Pizza

Whether you choose to make your own dough (which Nicole Russell, founder of Last Dragon Pizza in Far Rockaway, Queens, highly recommends) or buy it from the store, this pizza, called "Kiss Mi Converse" at Last Dragon, is destined for greatness. A homemade jerk marinade inspired by Russell's Jamaican family takes center stage, giving rich flavor to the chicken topping, while the black olives, yellow peppers, and crossed scallion greens aren't just delicious — they're a salute to the Jamaican flag.

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Jerk-Grilled Lobster

This grilled lobster recipe from Gail Simmons is the perfect summery meal. She stirs jerk seasoning paste into the butter used to baste the lobster as it cooks, and for a dipping sauce while eating the lobster.

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Caribbean Jerk Pork Chops

At Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Chris Lilly uses a cut called picnic shoulder for his spiced jerk pork, cooking it over low heat for eight hours. At home, rub a vibrant jerk paste on chops before a quick 20 minutes on the grill to give them an extremely good, peppery heat.

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Spicy Jerk Vegetables with Yogurt-Scallion Sauce

Spicy, fresh, and satisfying, these veggies and their cooling sauce make a spectacular vegetarian main course.

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Jerk-Smoked Duck with Peach Barbecue Sauce

2019 F&W Best New Chef Bryan Furman's method of smoking the duck over a drip pan is quick and efficient, infusing the duck with intense smoky flavor in only 30 minutes without toughening the meat. The combination of jerk seasoning and peach-sweetened barbecue sauce is also a great match for grilled chicken halves.

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Jerk Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Salsa

Pork tenderloin is delicious in the spicy, smoky recipe here. For extra fire, add the chile seeds to the marinade. The fresh salsa of pineapple, jicama, red onion, and cilantro makes a superb accompaniment.

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Jerk-Spiced Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, and Chickpeas

Chef Jonathon Sawyer makes a fantastic jerk spice blend to sprinkle on a mix of chickpeas, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts after they’ve been roasted. You’ll have some left over, but the blend is also great on shrimp and chicken.

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Jerk Cornish Game Hens

Chef Bradford Thompson's jerk sauce is loosely based on his wife Kerry-Ann's excellent family recipe; it's even available for purchase as Jules Gourmet Jamaican Jerk Sauce. The mix of fiery Scotch bonnet chiles, scallions, and spices creates a complex, deep-flavored paste that's amazing on grilled chicken or game hens.

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Jerk Catfish

Jamaican jerk spice seasoning isn't just for meat and chicken; it's great on fish, too. Rub the spice paste on catfish fillets and broil for a crisp, spicy coating. Though the sesame seeds aren't traditional, they add a pleasant crunch and rich flavor.

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