Authentic Jamaican Curry Chicken • Bold Caribbean Flavor
Authentic Jamaican Curry Chicken is a boldly seasoned, spicy-sauced comfort dish made with bone-in chicken, Jamaican curry powder, and Scotch bonnet pepper. It’s simmered to perfection and served with rice or plantains for a true island meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: ~1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–2.5 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken pieces
- 2 tbsp Jamaican curry powder (divided)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch ginger, grated
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 1 sprig thyme
- 1/2 Scotch bonnet pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1.5–2 cups water or broth
- 1 medium potato, diced (optional)
Instructions
- Clean chicken with vinegar or lime. Pat dry.
- Season chicken with 1 tbsp curry powder, garlic, ginger, onion, scallions, thyme, salt, pepper, and allspice. Marinate 30 mins or overnight.
- In a pot, heat oil and burn the remaining 1 tbsp curry powder for 30 seconds.
- Add chicken and brown on all sides. Add Scotch bonnet and sauté 10 minutes.
- Add water/broth and potato. Cover and simmer for 30–40 minutes.
- Uncover and simmer until sauce thickens. Remove pepper before serving.
- Serve hot with rice and peas, plantains, or steamed veggies.
Notes
- Use Jamaican curry brands like Betapac for authentic flavor.
- Add coconut milk for a creamy twist.
- Adjust heat by using less Scotch bonnet or leaving it whole.