Air Fryer Jerk Chicken
This Air Fryer Jerk Chicken is a speedy but still delicious take on the classic! As written the recipe is family-friendly. If you enjoy a spicier dish don’t remove the seeds of the scotch bonnet or habanero pepper!
Equipment
- sharp knife
- Cutting Board
- mini food processor
- large mixing bowl
- Air Fryer 5.8 quart
Ingredients
- 1 habanero or scotch bonnet pepper stems and seeds removed for less heat
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- 3 chicken leg quarters cut into pieces
Instructions
- Using food-handling gloves, halve the habanero or scotch bonnet pepper on a cutting board and remove the seeds and membrane unless you prefer a spicier taste.
- Next, combine the pepper, garlic, spices, lemon juice, olive oil, and soy sauce in a food processor and blend until the mixture is emulsified and the pepper and garlic are finely minced.
- Marinate the chicken pieces in the mixture for at least 30 minutes, then preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and arrange it in a single layer on the preheated air fryer basket. Cook for 13 minutes at 380 degrees Fahrenheit, flip the chicken, and cook for another 12 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Finally, serve the chicken immediately, garnished with fresh thyme or lime slices.
Notes
expert tips
- I chose to use onion powder instead of scallions in my quick marinade for Jerk Chicken to save time, but you can substitute scallions if you prefer a more traditional approach.
- To save more time you can replace the homemade jerk seasoning with a premade Jamaican jerk seasoning blend.
- To avoid skin or eye irritation, it's important to be cautious when handling hot peppers and wear food-handling gloves if possible. You can also use cayenne pepper or jalapeno peppers even red pepper flakes for heat if you can't source habaneros or scotch bonnets or if you just want a mild version of jerk chicken.
- If you enjoy spiciness, you can leave the seeds in the pepper when making your marinade. For even cooking and crispy skin, make sure to place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer.
- To ensure that the chicken is fully cooked, check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer and ensure that it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part.
- While this chicken is best served fresh, any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days and reheated in the microwave or air fryer if desired.
- If you need to make a larger batch, you can double the recipe and cook in batches, then keep warm in a 200-degree oven until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 379kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 25gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 1559mgPotassium: 372mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 167IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 2mg
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