Baked Jerk Chicken

I love easy chicken dinners like my slow cooker chicken pot pie, my potato chip chicken, and my chicken noodle casserole. If you love big flavor with zero fuss you need to try my newest recipe: baked jerk chicken thighs. The chicken cooks up super crispy in a cast iron skillet. Then its finished in the oven with flavorful rice and beans. Every single bite is so flavorful.

Why This Recipe Works: A Sprinkle of Food Science

• Skillet To Oven: A good sear renders fat and add flavor while the oven cooks the meat without drying it out.
• Chicken Thighs Not Breasts: : They have higher fat which makes them juicy and moist. Bone in adds flavor you can't get any other way.
• Add Rice and Beans: Coconut milk and broth make the rice super flavorful and catch all those tasty pan drippings.

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

• Chicken Thighs: I used bone in, skin on chicken thighs for the best flavor. You can use breasts instead but they'll require a shorter cook time and are more likely to dry out.
• Jerk Seasoning: I used store bought, but homemade would be yummy too!
• Cinnamon: Don't be afraid of this ingredient in savory cooking. It brings a wonderful warm flavor to the dish.
• White Rice: Use a long grain rice. They have less starch so grains stay separate not clumpy or gummy. Basmati or jasmine are great options.
• Kidney Beans: Be sure to drain and rinse the beans. This removes excess sodium and improves flavor.
• Coconut Milk: Be sure to grab unsweetened coconut milk.
• Chicken Broth: Use low sodium if you can find it to avoid an overly salty dish.

1. Pat Chicken Dry: A dry surface gives you a better sear.
2. Always Sear Skin Side Down: This will melt the fat and give you crispy not rubbery skin.
3. Cook to 175°-195° NOT 165° F: Cooking dark meat to a higher temperature melts the connective tissue into silky smooth gelatin. Don't worry dark meat is forgiving and difficult to overcook.
4. Rest: Rest for a few minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.

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If you're looking for a super easy chicken recipe that will be a please everyone in your family, this Jamaican Jerk Chicken recipe needs to be on your radar. And if you're worried about it being too spicy for the little mouths in your family, alter the recipe a bit to tame down that heat.

What do you think of this jerk chicken?