Jerk Chicken Skewers

Jerk chicken skewers are juicy marinated chunks of chicken bursting with bold, Caribbean flavour. With this versatile recipe, learn how to make jerk chicken skewers in the air fryer, in the oven or on the grill! Then serve it with your favourite Jamaican sides or dipping sauce.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Marinating Time30

Total Time30

Course: Air Fryer, Chicken & Poultry, Jamaican, Main Dishes & Entrees

Cuisine: Jamaican

Keyword: Grilled jerk chicken skewers, How to make jerk chicken skewers, Jerk chicken kabobs with pineapple, jerk chicken skewers, Jerk chicken skewers in oven, Jerk chicken skewers recipe

Servings:

Author: Taneisha Morris

Equipment

Wooden or Metal Skewers if using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning
Air-Fryer oven, outdoor grill or grill pan

Ingredients

6 Chicken Thighs or chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces

Jerk Marinade

1/2 med Onion chopped in quarters
2 stalks Escallion cut in half
1/2 bunch Thyme hard stems removed
4 cloves Garlic
1 whole Scotch Bonnet Pepper more or less, as desired
1 2-inch pc Ginger
6-8 whole Pimento Seeds
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Ground Allspice
1/8 tsp Ground Cloves
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
2 tsp Homemade Browning Sauce
1 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp Brown Sugar
Juice from 1/2 Lime
2 tbsp Olive Oil
Fresh Herbs chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish

Instructions

Jerk Marinade

Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender. Pulse until finely chopped, pureed, or desired texture is reached.
In a medium mixing bowl, add chicken pieces and jerk marinade. Mix until well coated, and let marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to a few hours. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers.

Air-Fryer Cooking Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes then place the skewers in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded. Air-fry for about 12-15 minutes, flipping at the halfway point. Ensure the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Then remove, garnish with fresh herbs if desired and enjoy.

Oven Cooking Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the skewers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, flipping at the halfway point. Ensure the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Then remove, garnish with fresh herbs if desired and enjoy.

Grilling Cooking

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, or use a grill pan if you don't have access to an outdoor grill. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, or until the chicken is cooked through with grill marks. Ensure the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Then remove, garnish with fresh herbs if desired and enjoy.

Notes

The exact cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer and the size of your chicken pieces.
If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes before threading the chicken. This prevents them from burning on the grill or in the oven.
Marinate the chicken for at least a few hours, or ideally overnight, to allow the flavours to penetrate the meat.

See blog post above for additional tips, tricks and notes for success.

Nutrition