This Instant Pot Jerk Chicken recipe is about to become your favorite mid week meal! So simple and easy to make and packed full of flavor, this marinated chicken needs very little hands on time.
Since I got a pressure cooker, mid week meals have become so much easier! I love that you can just set it and forget it until it’s ready to serve! This Instant Pot jerk chicken is no exception and it’s so delicious and rich in flavor!
How To Make Instant Pot Jerk Chicken
It’s so easy to prepare this flavorful meal!
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Prepare the marinade: Place all the ingredients except the chicken in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is mostly smooth. Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl and pour in the marinade. Toss chicken in the marinade until well-coated. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator to marinate at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
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Cook the chicken: Place the chicken and marinade in the Instant Pot. Press the Manual Button and set the timer for 30 minutes on high pressure. Naturally release or manually release the pressure once cooking is complete. Remove the chicken to shred and then return to the pot to soak in the juices until ready to serve.
What is Jerk?
Jerk is a style of cooking that is native to Jamaica. Meat is marinated in a hot spice mixture, called jerk seasoning, before being cooked. The most common types of jerked meat are chicken and pork, but it is no means limited to just these.
What is in Jerk Seasoning?
There are, of course, lots of variations on jerk seasoning, but an authentic mix will always contain scotch bonnet peppers and all spice. My jerk marinade recipe is made of:
- Green and white onions
- Scotch bonnet peppers
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Thyme
- Allspice
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Salt and pepper
- Apple cider vinegar
- Lime juice
Instant Pot Jerk Chicken for an easy weeknight meal and meal prep
I love how hands off this recipe is, it’s perfect on a busy week day. The chicken gets better the longer you marinate it, so you can easily prep that in the morning and just pop it into your pressure cooker in the evening.
You can also keep leftover jerk chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and serve it with salads for easy and tasty lunches.
What do you serve with jerk chicken?
I love serving this chicken with a side of rice and top it with some fresh mango for a hit of sweetness and chopped parsley and raw red onion.
Top Tips to Make Instant Pot Jerk Chicken
- Remove the ribs and seeds of the peppers to reduce the spiciness of the marinade.
- Marinate the chicken as long as possible – up to 8 hours.
- Keep the chicken warm in the pressure cooker until you are ready to serve it.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Be sure to check out these other spicy chicken recipes!
Spicy Mexican Chicken Soup Recipe
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili Recipe
Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Chicken
If you have tried this easy Instant Pot jerk chicken recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Instant Pot Jerk Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 green onions roughly chopped
- 1/2 onion roughly chopped
- 2 Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers* SEE NOTE
- 1 small knob fresh ginger 1 inch, peeled
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 tablespoon ground allspice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or any vinegar
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: Place all the ingredients except the chicken in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is mostly smooth. Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl and pour in the marinade. Toss chicken in the marinade until well-coated. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator to marinate at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
- Cook the chicken: Place the chicken and marinade in the Instant Pot. Press the Manual Button and set the timer for 30 minutes on high pressure. Naturally release or manually release the pressure once cooking is complete. Remove the chicken to shred and then return to the pot to soak in the juices until ready to serve.
Courtney O'Dell says
So easy and so much flavor – we couldnt get enough of this jerk chicken!
Becky Hardin says
xoxo
Chelsea says
This made for the yummiest, easy dinner! We’re obsessed with this dish! Thanks for sharing!
Becky Hardin says
That’s awesome!! Thanks for letting me know.
Toni says
This was a huge hit for dinner! My family loved it!
Becky Hardin says
Just love to hear that 🙂
Natalie says
I love Jerk chicken! It has great, delicious flavors!! I am breaking out the instant pot for this!
Becky Hardin says
Hooray!
Katie says
Can always use more instant pot recipes! This one is definitely going to be a hit!
Becky Hardin says
YES!
Elizabeth says
Just came across your Recipe in Taste of Home! So Cool Becky:)
Becky Hardin says
Oh how awesome! Thank you!!
Adam says
This was absolutely DELICIOUS! Perfect for meal prep. I must say though, I was very skeptical about the 30-minute cook time on high pressure as all other chicken break I cook is only 8-10 minutes. I ended up going with 8-10 and it was great, so I would think that 30 minutes would be wildly overcooked. Must not be the case if others have had success at that time?
Becky Hardin says
Thanks for sharing, Adam!