Jerk Chicken Tacos Recipe: How to Make Jerk Chicken Tacos
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: May 6, 2022 • 3 min read
Jerk chicken tacos consist of jerk-spiced chicken. For the perfect taco bite, you can balance spicy Caribbean jerk chicken with sweet, tangy fresh pineapple.
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What Are Jerk Chicken Tacos?
Jerk chicken tacos feature grilled, jerk-spiced chicken in a corn tortilla. Jerk sauce is a mixture of chiles, spices, garlic, sugar, and soy sauce blended until smooth. Cooks marinate the meat, grill it until smoky and juicy, then serve it in warm tortillas. You can dress Jamaican jerk chicken tacos simply with diced radishes, onions, and pineapple. Popular finishes include a sprinkle of cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
What Is Jerk Sauce?
Jerk sauce is typically made of onion, ground allspice, brown sugar, nutmeg, Jamaican Scotch bonnet peppers, garlic, soy sauce, and other spices blended in a food processor until a thick sauce forms. Jerk cooking is a Caribbean style of cooking meat, either dry-rubbed or wet marinated in Jamaican jerk seasoning.
How to Make Jerk Chicken Tacos
Follow these simple steps to make the best jerk chicken tacos:
- 1. Make the jerk sauce. Combine all of the ingredients for the jerk sauce in a food processor and blend until smooth. You can customize the seasoning by adjusting the pepper quantity depending on your spice preference. Scotch bonnet peppers are extremely hot, so a little goes a long way. You can substitute a jalapeño pepper if you are particularly sensitive to spice.
- 2. Marinate the chicken. Rub jerk sauce over the chicken and set aside to marinate so the chicken can absorb the flavor. Let the chicken come to room temperature before grilling so the meat cooks evenly.
- 3. Grill the chicken. Cook the chicken on a covered grill to maximize the smoky flavor in a short period. Boneless chicken breasts and thighs will cook on a hot grill in about ten minutes.
- 4. Assemble the tacos. Serve jerk chicken in warm tortillas with fresh pineapple and the toppings of your choice. Add whatever toppings you like, such as cilantro, pico de gallo, guacamole or avocado slices, cabbage slaw, radishes, sour cream, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. You can serve tacos with a side of refried or black beans, if desired, for a more filling meal.
Spicy Jerk Chicken Taco Recipe
makes
12 tacosprep time
30 mintotal time
52 mincook time
22 minIngredients
- 1
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the red onion, allspice, brown sugar, scallions, garlic, peppers, soy sauce, thyme, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Blend until thick and smooth.
- 2
Transfer the jerk sauce to a large bowl. Add the chicken and rub to coat all over. Cover and chill for 8 hours to marinate. Set out for 1 hour to come to room temperature.
- 3
Preheat a gas grill or charcoal grill over medium-high heat.
- 4
Brush the grill with oil and add the chicken in a single layer. Cook, covered, flipping halfway until chicken is cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit and well browned all over, about 10 minutes total. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and rest briefly until cool enough to handle.
- 5
While the chicken cools, warm your corn tortillas on the grill, flipping halfway, about 1 minute each. Wrap warm tortillas in a kitchen towel to keep them warm.
- 6
Thinly slice chicken against the grain.
- 7
Divide the chicken between the warm tortillas. Top with onions, radishes, and pineapple. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over the top.
Note: Total time does not include 9 hours of inactive time.
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