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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

Jerk Chicken Skewers

Modified: Jun 30, 2023 · Published: Jul 2, 2018 by Keith · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Fire up the grill for some sizzling flavor! Inspired by Manhattan street food, this Jerk Chicken Skewers recipe is sure to add a "kick" to your cookout.

jerk chicken skewers on white plate with bowl of jerk seasoning + tomatoes & lime wedges

We love the “meat on the street” that is found on many corners in Manhattan. Food carts crowd the street, creating lines down the block and delectable aromas that stick with you. The scents and spices inspired me to recreate these Grilled Chicken Skewers (Chicken Kabobs) at home. Like our Grilled Citrus Chicken, or Shrimp Skewers, this recipe is perfect for summer cookouts. Serve it with Mashed Potato Salad.

HINT: I choose chicken thighs (rather than chicken breasts) for this recipe because they are moist and juicy, and they absorb the jerk flavors very well.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • How to make jerk seasoning
  • Top tip
  • Substitutions and variations
  • FAQ
  • Related recipes
  • Jerk Chicken Skewers recipe

Ingredients

jerk chicken thigh skewers ingredients on white plate

For the chicken:

  • LIMES: for fresh squeezed lime juice
  • CILANTRO: fresh cilantro, chopped
  • OLIVE OIL: use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford
  • CHICKEN: boneless skinless chicken thighs

For the Jerk Seasoning:

  • CHIVES: we use dried chives (from the spice aisle)
  • SUGAR: white or brown granulated sugar
  • NUTMEG
  • SALT: kosher salt
  • GARLIC POWDER
  • CUMIN
  • CRUSHED RED PEPPER: crushed red pepper flakes
  • PAPRIKA: we like dark red paprika or smoked paprika
  • CAYENNE PEPPER: adds that KICK
  • WHITE PEPPER
  • BLACK PEPPER
  • ALL SPICE
  • CINNAMON
  • ONION FLAKES: dehydrated onion flakes
  • THYME: dried time
  • BROWN SUGAR: dark brown sugar or light brown sugar

*see recipe card for quantities

close up of chicken skewers on white plate with bowl of jerk seasoning + lime wedges

Instructions

  1. PREPARE THE CHICKEN: Cut all chicken thighs in half lengthways
  2. MAKE THE MARINADE: In a mixing bowl, combine juice of limes, cilantro and oil.
  3. MARINATE THE CHICKEN: Marinate the chicken thighs for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator
  4. MAKE THE JERK SEASONING: (see instructions below or use store-bought seasoning)
  5. GRILL THE CHICKEN SKEWERS: Remove marinated chicken thighs and place onto skewers. Coat both sides heavily with Jerk spice mixture and grill on open flame until cooked to at least 165°

How to make jerk seasoning

  1. Mix together: 2 teaspoon dry chives, 2 teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, 3 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper, 1 teaspoon dark red paprika, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon all spice, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion flakes, 2 teaspoon thyme, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon black pepper
  2. Coat your favorite meat and grill.

Top tip

Do not marinate the shrimp for longer than 30 minutes prior to grilling. Lime juice is an acid and will begin to cook the shrimp if le

hand grabbing jerk chicken skewers on white plate

Substitutions and variations

  • MAKE AHEAD: make the Jerk Seasoning ahead of time and store it in an airtight container until you are ready to use it. Marinate the chicken overnight on the day before you plan to grill.
  • ADD VEGGIES: these skewers look and taste great with fresh veggies! Add cherry tomatoes, zucchini, red onion, red peppers or yellow peppers directly onto skewers.
  • SWITCH UP THE PROTEIN: Jerk Seasoning tastes great on salmon, shrimp, and chicken wings. Try our favorite: Jerk Turkey Burgers!

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FAQ

How long should I marinate the chicken?

We recommend marinating the chicken for at least 2 hours for optimum flavor.

What is the best way to eat chicken skewers (chicken kabobs)?

The safest way to eat a chicken skewer is to slide the meat off onto a dish. Using a fork or tongs, carefully slide the meat off the skewer. Do not eat directly off the skewer.

What kind of skewers are best? Metal skewers or bamboo skewers?

We like metal skewers because they do not burn on the grill.

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    Grilled Ribeye Steak
  • grilled chicken breasts on white platter with grill marks + fresh lemon and lime slices
    Grilled Chicken Breast with Citrus Marinade
  • 4 grilled shrimp skewers on white ceramic plate with lime wedges and cilantro leaves
    Grilled Shrimp Skewers (Shrimp Kabobs)
  • buffalo chicken sandwich on white platter topped with sauce
    Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

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chicken skewers + spices + hand

Jerk Chicken Skewers recipe

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Print Recipe

Fire up the grill for some sizzling flavor! Inspired by Manhattan street food, Jerk Chicken Skewers add a kick to your cookout.

  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Yield: 6 skewers 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the Jerk Seasoning:

  • 2 tsp dry chives
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 3 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1 tsp dark red paprika
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tsp all spice
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp dehydrated onion flakes
  • 2 tsp thyme
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp black pepper

For the chicken:

  • 2 limes
  • 1 C chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ C olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs

Instructions

  1. Cut all chicken thighs in half lengthways
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine juice of limes, cilantro and oil.
  3. Marinate the chicken thighs for at least 2 hours.
  4. Remove chicken thighs and place on skewers. Coat both sides heavily with Jerk spice mixture and grill on open flame until cooked to at least 165°.

Notes

  • We recommend using chicken thighs for this recipe because they are moist and juicy, and they absorb the jerk flavors very well.
  • Author: Superman Cooks
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Category: Entrée
  • Cuisine: Caribbean

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