In our house, we love Jamaican Jerk Seasoning on everything. The deep flavor of allspice mixed with a little bit of heat is a flavorful addition to any meal.
This Homemade Jerk Seasoning is such a delicious addition to chicken, pork, or beef – and we love it best on Instant Pot Jerk Chicken. This seasoning has such a bold flavor that it can stand alone as a Jamaican Jerk Marinade with some citrus and olive oil on so many different kinds of meat – you can make so many easy dinners with it!
It is a Paleo Seasoning Blend and is also Whole30 compatible, Keto, and free of any added junk. It is also surprisingly tasty – even just sprinkled on roasted vegetables. It is such a versatile spice blend with such a unique taste, and we always keep a jar in the pantry.
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Pin ItIngredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for the best jerk seasoning recipe. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Homemade Jamaican Jerk Seasoning is made with spices that you probably already have in your kitchen. It’s such an easy recipe to make. You will need:
- Allspice
- Chili Powder – This recipe uses US chili powder, which is a blend of spices made for seasoning chili and is not overwhelmingly spicy. Outside of the US, chili powder is often made from purely ground chili peppers and is HOT. So, make sure to use the right one! (If you want to make this recipe spicier, you can add a little cayenne pepper.)
- Ground Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Dried Thyme
- Garlic Powder
- Kosher Salt
- Nutmeg
- Onion Powder
- Smoked Paprika
Traditionally, jerk seasoning has a little bit of sugar added, so if desired, you can add brown sugar to your seasoning. (It helps to caramelize the outside of the meat and balances out some of the spice.) We try to avoid adding sugar to our own seasoning mixes unless absolutely necessary, and I’ve found that this recipe doesn’t really need sugar unless it is used on pork that is cooked or smoked for a long time.
You can also change out the red pepper flakes for more spicy options – homemade dried habanero peppers are one of my favorite things to cook with. I call it fire dust because if you breathe it in or get it in your eyes, it feels like fire.
How to Make Jerk Seasoning
To make jerk seasoning, combine all ingredients in a mason jar or airtight container and shake or mix well to combine. This recipe makes about 1/4 cup of seasoning. (If you are using the spice mix right away, you can just mix it all up in a small mixing bowl.)
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Store in a cool, dark place at room temperature.
Uses for Jerk Seasoning
My favorite things to put jerk seasoning on are chicken breasts, Chicken wings, chicken thighs, or pork chops – really any meat – as it creates such a flavorful crust on the meat. It is also delicious sprinkled on roasted vegetables or french fries.
Our favorite meal using this seasoning is Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken with crispy sweet potato noodles from Nom Nom Paleo. The chicken is coated in olive oil or avocado oil, then the homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning blend, and is cooked in an Instant Pot, so it comes out so flavorful and juicy with a delicious crispy crust on the outside from the dry rub.
Something about the pop of Jamaican Jerk flavor mixed with the rich and tasty bacon flavor on the sweet potatoes makes this combo a real winner. It’s topped with lime juice and green onions or fresh chives, and is one of our favorite meals!
We love using this Caribbean jerk seasoning recipe to make all kinds of healthy recipes – and we like to use leftover chicken to make jerk chicken tacos.
Have You Tried This Recipe?
Please rate it and leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you think!
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes add more if you like it hot!
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅙ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a mason jar or airtight container.1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ⅙ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Shake well to combine and shake before each use as contents will settle.
Notes
Jerk Seasoning Tips
- Coat chicken breasts in this seasoning and cook in the oven or follow my recipe to make it in an Instant Pot.
- Keep seasoning in a sealed jar in a dark cabinet when not in use to preserve freshness.
Special Equipment Needeed
- measuring spoons
Nutrition
Nutrition information is approximate and is automatically calculated, so should only be used as a guide.
Other Homemade Spice Mixes
We love to make homemade seasonings – here are some of my favorites:
Why is it Called “Jerk”?
Jerk is the name for a type of Jamaican cooking where holes are poked into meat so that more seasoning can seep into it and add more flavor. This is called “jerking,” and jerk seasoning is often used with the method of cooking.
What is a Good Substitute for Jerk Seasoning?
There really is no good direct substitute for jerk seasoning. If you can’t find a Jamaican or Caribbean jerk spice mix at your local grocery store, just make it yourself using this recipe!
