This Jamaican Curry Chicken recipe came to us from a friend from Jamaica. It's full of flavor, super easy and nourishing, and perfect for upcoming fall and winter days.
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What is Jamaican Curry Chicken?
Jamaican curry chicken is a Jamaican comfort food dish consisting of chicken, potatoes, vegetables, Jamaican curry powder, and other spices. Jamaican curry powder is different than other types of curry powders (such as Indian curry powder) because it generally has higher amounts of turmeric and different types of peppers, but it does have some similar flavors.
Our Jamaican friend, Yohan, introduced us to this recipe, and we instantly fell in love. It's saucy, warm, and so so comforting. We have made a few variations based on the ingredients we are able to easily find and cook. We love serving this with rice on cold and dreary days. I always go back for seconds.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Some of the ingredients for this recipe can be hard to find at regular grocery stores, but they're easy to order and last a long time. Here are some notes to help you out:
Chicken: Our friend makes this recipe with bone-in dark meat chicken (thighs would work well). We tend to have boneless chicken breast on hand, so that's what we use. Use whatever you normally prefer. Dark meat tends to be a little more moist and tender.
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning: Jerk seasoning is a combination of spices that's popular throughout the Caribbean. You can buy it or make it yourself.
All-Purpose Seasoning: We use a Caribbean all-purpose seasoning that includes cumin, coriander, ginger, and Jamaican pimento, but you can use whatever your grocery store carries.
Chicken Seasoning: Again, we use a Caribbean chicken seasoning, but you can use whatever all-purpose chicken seasoning you have on hand or your grocery store carries.
Jamaican Curry Powder: Jamaican curry powder is different than other types of curry powders (such as Indian curry powder) because it generally has higher amounts of turmeric and different types of peppers, but it does have some similar flavors. We buy ours online or at specialty international grocery stores.
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and amounts.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut the chicken into 2 to 3 inch chunks. Add it to a large mixing bowl and add oil, garlic, all-purpose seasoning, jerk seasoning, chicken seasoning, and curry powder. Massage all of the spices into the chicken.
Step 2: Add oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ginger and more garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for one minute. Then add more curry powder to the oil and stir until combined.
Step 3: Add the chicken to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, or until cooked halfway. Then add the green onions, thyme, green pepper, onions, and potatoes to the pot.
Step 4: Add enough water to the pot just to cover everything, then stir to combine. Cover the pot with a lid and let it cook until the chicken is cooked through and tender, at least 25 minutes, but more time if you have it (the longer it simmers, the better it tastes).
Top Tips
- Let the curry simmer for as long as you have time—the chicken gets more tender as it cooks and the sauce gets more flavorful.
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts if you prefer dark meat. Bone-in chicken also works well (and is the more traditional way to prepare it, from my understanding).
- Use Jamaican-specific seasonings for the best, most authentic flavors. We've had good luck finding things at international grocery stores or online.
- Taste the curry throughout the cooking process and add more spices if necessary.
- Use this recipe for meal prep! It lasts several days in the fridge and actually tastes better the longer it sits. Serve it with rice for a super easy complete meal!
Frequently asked questions
We've had good luck finding Jamaican spice mixtures at international grocery stores (we go to Coco's) or online. We've linked our favorites in the ingredients section above.
Store this curry chicken in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a pot until warm. This curry actually tastes better on the second day, so it's perfect for meal prep.
It's a Jamaican comfort food dish consisting of chicken, potatoes, vegetables, Jamaican curry powder, and other spices. Jamaican curry powder is different than other types of curry powders (such as Indian curry powder) because it generally has higher amounts of turmeric and different types of peppers, but it does have some similar flavors.
More Comfort Recipes
📖 Recipe
Jamaican Curry Chicken
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Jamaican Curry Chicken recipe came to us from a friend from Jamaica. It's full of flavor, super easy and nourishing, and perfect for upcoming fall and winter days.
Ingredients
2 pounds chicken breast (see note)
4 tablespoons avocado or canola oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, divided
1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning (see note)
1 tablespoon jerk seasoning (see note)
1 tablespoon chicken seasoning (see note)
3 tablespoons Jamaican curry powder, divided (see note)
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
3 green onions, chopped
2 stems thyme, whole
½ green pepper, diced
½ sweet onion, diced
1 pound yellow potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks
Water
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into 2 to 3 inch chunks. Add it to a large mixing bowl and add 2 tablespoons of the oil, 2 cloves of garlic, all-purpose seasoning, jerk seasoning, chicken seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of the curry powder. Massage all of the spices into the chicken.
- Add the remaining oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ginger and the remaining garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for one minute. Then add the remaining curry powder to the oil and stir until combined.
- Add the chicken to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, or until cooked halfway. Then add the green onions, thyme, green pepper, onions, and potatoes to the pot.
- Add enough water to the pot just to cover everything, then stir to combine. Cover the pot with a lid and let it cook until the chicken is cooked through and tender, at least 25 minutes, but more time if you have it (the longer it simmers, the better it tastes). Remove the thyme sprigs before serving. This is great served with jasmine rice!
Notes
Chicken: Our friend makes this recipe with bone-in dark meat chicken (thighs would work well). We tend to have boneless chicken breast on hand, so that's what we use. Use whatever you normally prefer. Dark meat tends to be a little more moist and tender.
All-purpose seasoning: We use a Caribbean all-purpose seasoning that includes cumin, coriander, ginger, and Jamaican pimento, but you can use whatever your grocery store carries.
Jerk seasoning: Jerk seasoning is a combination of spices that's popular throughout the Caribbean. You can buy it or make it yourself.
Caribbean chicken seasoning: We use a Caribbean chicken seasoning, but you can use whatever all-purpose chicken seasoning you have on hand or your grocery store carries.
Jamaican curry powder: Jamaican curry powder is different than other types of curry powders (such as Indian curry powder) because it generally has higher amounts of turmeric and different types of peppers, but it does have some similar flavors. We buy ours online or at specialty international grocery stores.
Nutritional information is only an estimate.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One Pot
- Cuisine: Jamaican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙th of recipe
- Calories: 397
- Sugar: 2.4 g
- Sodium: 1270.5 mg
- Fat: 15.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 26.8 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 110.3 mg
Michael says
absolutely love this curry chicken! it's filled with flavor!
Ronda M. says
Tasted just like the curry my good friend from Jamaica makes me!
Brian says
A really good curry recipe!
Brian says
Such a good curry!
Sharie says
This is packed with flavor!!