Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings (2024)

If you haven't indulged in traditional Jamaican jerk, then you're truly missing out and thisBaked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.Made with an easy garnish sauce mixture that helps to cool down the spices in the jerk flavor, these wings are seasoned to perfection, and boast of a nicely juicy center. The perfect appetizer or main meat that can be served with your favorite sides---whether during lunch, dinner or a savory snack. Dairy-free option.

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When it comes to chicken wings, I'm such an avid lover. Growing up, chicken wings were one of the few things that I would eat constantly to the point that my childhood nickname growing up was "chicken wing"---haha! This Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings recipe is the perfect rendition of classic jerk chicken and wings despite not being grilled and charred as it's traditionally done.

Believe it or not, oven baked wings truly can be absolutely delicious and they will remain juicy on the inside and nicely crispy on the outside with just a few tweaks. The best part is that you can also use whole pieces of chicken for this recipe if you aren't the best fans of wings, so it's a win-win. Plus, this Baked Jamaican Pineapple Jerk Chicken recipe is the next thing that you need to try because it's AMAZING! Besides, wings are super versatile and you can create the most delicious flavors like Classic Oven Baked Buffalo Wings, Sticky Peach Chicken Wings, Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings, Sticky Gochujang Chicken Wings, and Sticky Orange Chicken Popcorn Chicken. This Plant-based Jamaican Oxtail Recipe is the best twist on classic oxtail and It's full of flavor and comfort and entirely meatless.

This chicken recipe is overall super easy to make, the perfect balance between spicy, sweet, and savory, can be done in both theoven or air-fryer, and is thebest addition to so many meal ideas.

What is Jerk Wings Made of?

This jerk wings recipe is made of homemade dry rub jerk seasoning as the marinade and an easy BBQ jerk sauce consisting of BBQ sauce, juices from the baked wings, chicken stock, jerk seasoning paste, and cornstarch.

What is Jamaican Jerk Chicken?

Traditionally, Jerk chicken is a staple Jamaican dish that is often enjoyed with hard-dough bread or sometimes rice and peas. The chicken is usually seasoned well with a jerk seasoning and marinade and is left to fully marinade 1-2 days (or overnight) so that everything soaks in and the chicken is nice and tender when cooked.

My favorite store-bought brand of jerk marinade is byGrace Foods, which is available to purchase at your local grocer or online via Amazon, however, when making your own sauce, it consists of blended spices and seasonings and the spiciness can be adjusted based on preference.

How to Make Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings

The THREE parts of these JerkWings are the chicken wings, jerk seasoning, and the homemade BBQ jerk sauce.

The best part about any wing is the crispy coating that is formed without an “actual coating”. And these jerk chicken wings do not disappoint. I talk more about tips to making these wings nice and crispy, but let’s talk about this delicious recipe, especially the marinade and the sauce.

Ingredients

Here’s what you need for these delicious Jerk Chicken Wings:

• Chicken wings.I like to use organic wings that are disjointed (comes in two pieces) for a better cook.You can also use whole pieces of chicken (i.e. drumsticks, thighs, etc.) if preferred.
• Jerk seasoning.I like two layers of seasoning for this dish. You can purchase a store-bought version or create a homemade blend using: onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, dried thyme, brown sugar, ground allspice, dried parsley, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cumin.
• Thyme.I recommend fresh, but if you only have dried, use a half teaspoon.
• Scotchbonnet. If you don’t like spice, use less of the peppers. You can also sub with habanero peppers.
• BBQ sauce.Make your own or use a premium store-bought sauce.
• Unsalted butter. This adds additional flavor to the sauce. For a dairy-free option, feel free to use vegan butter.
• Chicken stock.I like to use organic chicken stock, you can also use veggie stock if preferred.
• Jerk seasoning paste. I love using a store-bought paste from Grace foods, however, you can always make your own homemade seasoning.
• Cornstarch.Used for the thickening of BBQ jerk sauce. You can sub with arrowroot starch, flour, tapioca flour, etc.

What are the Two Types of Wings?

When it comes to wings, there are two types: Drums (a.k.a.drumettes) and flats (a.k.a.wingettes). The drums actually look like miniature chicken legs and have one single bone in the middle surrounded by meat, whereas the flats are “flat” and contain two smaller bones that runs the length of the wing.

What are the 3 Main Ingredients in Jerk?

In jerk sauce or marinade,the 3 main ingredientsthat MUST be present are: scotch bonnet, thyme, and allspice (aka pimento seeds). You can't remove any of these ingredients or else it wouldn't be considered "jerk".

For Homemade Jerk Seasoning Paste

To make your own jerk seasoning paste instead of using a store-bought version, you'll need to add all of the following ingredients in a high-powdered blender or food processor until completely broken down and smooth:

• 3 scotch bonnet peppers
• ½ red onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves
• handful of scallions (aka green onions)
• 2 Tbsps white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt + black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• ¼ cup pineapple chunks
• 2 Tbsps brown sugar
• 1 carrot, peeled + chopped
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 Tbsps pimento seeds (aka allspice)
• ¼ cup filtered water

How to Prep + Season Jerk Wings

Baking Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings are generally an easy process—in total about 1 hour due to the process of cooking the chicken wings and "drying out" of the sauce. You first start by cleaning and washing your chicken pieces to ensure that they are clean and ready to be seasoned. I like to wash my chicken wings with both vinegar and lemonto help keep things clean and sanitized.

Once your chicken wings are clean, then it’s seasoning time! I’m all about seasoning every “layer” of my food, therefore, the chicken gets direct seasoning and so does the sauce. Let everything marinate for 10-15 minutes or 1-2 days (or overnight tightly wrapped in the refrigerator) for the best results.

What Does Jamaican Jerk Wings Taste Like?

Basically, Jamaican jerk wings super packed with flavor that is spicy and sweet with a smoky, char taste if made on a grill. Overall, jerk seasoning has warm, complex, and salt undertones, which makes it the perfect flavor for any taste buds.

Is Jerk Chicken or Wings Very Spicy?

These wings are spicy, but not overly hot. When it comes to making jerk anything, the amount of spicy and hot flavors would depend on the amount of scotch bonnets you add to both your marinade and sauce. You can always adjust the amount of peppers based on your personal preference.

Baked Chicken Wings versus Air-Fried

Of course, both methods of making these jerk chicken wings are effective. However, if you’re wondering whether you’d be able to also make these wings in an air-fryer—-then yes! Absolutely!

Simply do all steps the same (minus the sauce) and cook them in your air-fryer for the amount of time needed (somewhere between 10-15 minutes I believe). Once crisp, make the BBQ jerk sauce in the saucepan, brush or spoon on the sauce unto the wings and cook again for 2-3 minutes.

As you know, this recipe is for baked wings and honestly, they’re just as crispy as using them in the airy-fryer (especially when you broil them in the last round), so the choice is yours!

Tips + Tricks for The Crispiest Chicken Wings

To make sure your chicken wings get as crispy as possible without needing an actual “coating”, follow these simple tips:

• After rinsing your wings, be sure to pat dry completely until they are as dry as possible before marinating them.
• Make sure each wing has plenty of space on the baking sheet or baking dish. The airflow helps things crisp up.
• When using a baking sheet, add a wire rack atop the parchment paper so that wings can crisp up nicely on all sides.
• Cook wings until crisp prior to adding sauce so that they have minimal liquid.
• Broiling your wings for about 5 minutes or so helps to get them nice and crispy without burning.

What Meat is the Best to Jerk?

Making traditional jerk doesn't have to be left to only chicken or chicken wings. In Jamaica, it's also used for other types of meat and the possibility of switching things up with another meat or alternative is also a good idea:

• Pork (often done in Jamaica as well. Perfect combination of grilling and jerk flavors)
• Beef
• Tofu
• Chickpeas
• Other beans (black beans, kidney beans, etc.)
• Lamb
• Fish (also done in Jamaica)
• Other seafood (lobster, shrimp, etc.)

How to Serve Jamaican Jerk Wings

You can eat these Jerk chicken wings hot out of the oven dipped in your favorite creamy sauce as a standalone food. I likeranch. To keep things more traditional, jerk chicken is often served with sliced hard-dough bread, which thoroughly soaks up the sauce and cools the heat factor from the chicken itself.

However, if you're thinking about serving these jerk wings with something to create a complete, full meal, then I recommend trying my favorite ways to incorporate them:

• Enjoy them with a salad.I’m obsessed with this Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad.
• Make a fun meal by pairing them with light handheld sides.My top fave handheld side recipes areSeasoned Crinkle Cut Fries,Crispiest Seasoned French Fries, andCrispiest Jumbo Garlic Herb Fries.
• Eat them with more traditional sides.This Stovetop Southern Mac and Cheese orSouthern Baked Mac and Cheeseare the absolute best! Plus, I love these Garlic Herb Biscuits,Flaky Honey Buttermilk Biscuits,Vegan Quinoa Fried Rice, andGarlic Herb Smashed Potatoes.
• Create a full eating experience as an addition to other dishes.I’m always in love with theseDairy-Free Mexican Street Corn Nachosas well as thisUltimate Summer BBQ Chopped Kale Salad,Easy Weeknight Creamy Tuscan Ravioli,Grandma’s Cheese Sheet Pan Pizza,Ultra-Creamy Southern Cheese Grits, andCreamy Jamaican Rasta Pasta.

Common Q + A's for these Jerk Wings

New to Jamaican Cuisine? Try these Next!

Now that you're on a Jerk flavor kick with this Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings recipe, give these other Jamaican recipes that your entire family will love a try next:

• Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
• Crispy Baked Jerk Potato Wedges
• Vegan Jamaican Beef Patties
• Jamaican Rum Punch Mocktail
• Vegan Jamaican Stew Peas
• Spicy Jamaican Beef Patties
• Creamy Jamaican Shrimp Rasta Pasta
• Jamaican Vegan Peanut Punch
• Jamaican Rum Cream
• BBQ Jerk Salmon Burgers

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