Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken is a quick recipe with fantastic authentic Jamaican flavors of peppers, onions, allspice and cloves and with no mess to clean up.
Jerk Chicken in the Slow Cooker is Easy
Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken is an easier way to make a delicious authentic Jamaican meal than firing up the grill and you’ll have no worries about the smoke you’ll be making on the indoor grill or the peppers burning your eyes standing above the outdoor grill.
Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken is actually a take on my classic Jerk Chicken recipe that I used to roast for clients (I would spatchcock the chicken and rub the mixture into it and roast it in a cast iron skillet for basically the best roast chicken ever!) but adjusted for the fact that I never have time or patience to keep my eye on the oven now that life is basically a circus.
Jerk Chicken Spice
The herbs and onions in the marinade for this Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken is about as delicious and authentic as I’ve had. I de-seed and de-vein the jalapeno before using it but when I know I don’t have to share with a spice-wimp I double the jalapeno and leave the ribs in. The added heat makes it an even more authentic version with the extra spicy kick. Plus since you’re using the slow cooker all that delicious heat mellows out a bit and melts into the chicken thighs which are going to be super moist and perfect for enjoying over a bowl of steamed rice or fried plaintains and a delicious Red Stripe beer.
Looking for more slow cooker chicken recipes? They’re a favorite around here:
- Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken
- Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Pot Pie
- Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
- and there are many more slow cooker meals on the site…
Tools used in the making of this Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken Recipe:
Slow Cooker: Love this slow cooker and how programmable it is, it has been a workhorse for me… until…
My New Slow Cooker: This recipe was made in this slow cooker. I browned the chicken in the cast aluminum insert before cooking the chicken on low, so I didn’t have a second pan to clean. For larger roasts I also brown the meat in the insert and not lose a bunch of the flavor by transferring the meat and leaving the browned bits behind. If you’re thinking of a new slow cooker, consider it if your budget is open.
AllSpice Spice Rack: I use this spice rack and fill up the bottles with freshly purchased spices. It’s basically one of the most beautiful things in my kitchen and when you’re working with a large quantity of spices, not having to hunt and peck through your cupboards makes everything go at warp speed.
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs bone and skin on
- 3 green onions from tip to tail with root trimmed
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 1/2 jalapeno pepper de-seeded and de-veined
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Add the chicken thighs to a large skillet and brown them on medium high heat on both sides for 3-5 minutes.
- In a food processor add the green onions, onion, jalapeno, soy sauce, vinegar, vegetable oil, brown sugar, thyme, cloves, nutmeg and allspice and puree until smooth.
- Add the chicken to the slow cooker skin side up and pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
Hi!
Do you know approximately how much the 5 chicken thighs weighed? The ones I have look a bit smaller than the ones in your pictures.
Thanks!
I’m not exactly sure but I would say it was probably between 6-8 ounces each.
This was amazing!! My husband (who is an extremely picky eater) stated that this was the best chicken dish that he has ever had, and I can’t agree more! We like our food spicy, so do you have any recommendations for making this a little spicer for the next time I make it?
If you love it spicer, I would double the jalapeños and leave the ribs in for next time.
Found d this recipe and I am making it as we speak! Smells delish so far! Can’t wait until it is done!
I made this the other night for dinner and it was amazing! This was the first dish made in my new slow cooker and needless to say, it is definitely a top contender in family favorites now!
Yay!! Thanks for the 5 star rating!
Trying this today. Would appreciate a picture of the jerk chicken at start and finish. Its a green sauce at start and its hard to believe it will finish up looking like the pictures you posted. Are your posted pictures from the crockpot version or your grilled version. Your chicken looks like an orangy sauce with lots of caramel. I dont think there is enough brown sugar in the recipe to produce that type of caramel texture, unless maybe you broiled it at the completion however the appearance would still remain green I think
It might just be the lighting but this chicken is directly from the slow cooker and wasn’t broiled at the end. I hope you enjoyed it!
Made this tonight and it was burnt to a crisp? What did I do wrong? 🙁
Oh no! Sounds like your slow cooker might run hot.
Mine was the same way 🙁 maybe cutting the time in the slow cooker might work?
Oh for those who are interested I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs and they turned out tender !!! Did I say perfect ****YUM
So good to know, Shari! Thank you for coming back to let me know how it turned out. Glad you enjoyed it!!
This was great! If your looking for heat you’ll need more peppers … for my family it was perfect!!! I served it with a coconut jasmine rice with a mango salsa!! Thank you!
I personally think that the information that you are sharing with us is pretty amazing and I just want to thanx for it a lot. Your blog is amazing.
Thank you!
If I want to add potatoes and carrots when should I add them ?
Unfortunately the chicken needs room in the slow cooker to cook and adding the veggies would crowd it and causing too much liquid to not allow the chicken to crisp up. I would suggest just roasting your veggies in the oven instead. Sorry.
Sabrina! I was nervous, but you were NOT kidding! This recipe is everything! It turned out to perfectly! I have ruined so much chicken trying to get the results that your recipe gave me in a snap! This one is a keeper. I made it last night and my husband wants me to make more tonight!
I’d say this one’s a winner then! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know how much you all enjoyed it!
What if I wanted to use wings instead of thighs, how long do you think it would take?
Low for 3 hours then I’d broil to crisp. 🙂
Can you use boneless and skinless thighs and just put it in cooker without browning?
Unfortunately the chicken would dry out as the skin protects keeping the moisture in.
Amazing recipe!! Did mine a little different can’t wait to see the end result. ThanksaBunch!
Thank you! I’d love for you to come back and let me know what you though of it.
Looks delicious, if I needed to do 12 could I double the recipe and layer the thighs in the cooker?
I don’t recommend layering it because the chicken doesn’t cook as well and doesn’t achieve a crisp when layered. My suggestion would be to use 2 slow cookers to be able to double it or I have a grilled version you could make as well.
Oh my goodness. I have my delicious food on now. Just smelling it, I know it’s going to be good. Love trying different recipes
I’m trying this tonight. I’m always use to recipes saying you have to marinade it over night. So I can’t wait to see how this comes out without doing that. I will let you know later. ??
Thanks, I’d love to hear what you think!
Hi there! Can’t wait to try this. Do you think that I could prepare the food processor items a day or 2 ahead of time?
Of course! I love doing these steps ahead of time too to make putting it together in the morning a breeze!
Omg i can’t wait to make this. Thank you for the info!
Do you think this would adapt to an Instant Pot? Or not? I am thinking the time in spices is important, so maybe not.
I haven’t tested it in a pressure cooker yet so I don’t feel comfortable recommending it. I’m sorry.
Hi, recipe looks amazing. My husband hates chicken skin. Can I use skinless chicken thighs instead?
Yes! Just cut the cooking time by an hour.
I’m trying to do this recipe, but I only have dried thyme. Is it okay to use it dried or does it need to be fresh
Go for dried I’ve used it in a pinch too.
Can I use boneless chicken thighs instead of bone in?
Yes, cut the cooking time by an hour. 🙂
If using boneless chicken thighs do I still fry the chicken
Yes 🙂
I never post feedback, but just had to take the time to do it this time. Soooo good, One of my favorites and will keep making. Served it with brown rices and veggies. Really is a keeper! Thank you!
Thank you so much for taking the time Natalie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
So I tried this recipe last night and still haven’t had the chance to taste it yet (will do for dinner). But my chicken is not looking anything close to the picture you posted.
The sauce mixture produced a lot and I thought pouring it over the chicken was too much?
Sorry this got snagged in the spam filter, I definitely included the puree with it. How did your chicken turn out?
I dont have nutmag can i substute for something else
Nutmeg is a pretty important flavor for the jerk chicken. Here is a resource for best substitutes for nutmeg, but I can’t speak for how they would taste in the recipe: https://www.thebalance.com/nutmeg-substitute-1388893
HELP!!! I was so looking forward to having this tonight but my slow cooker has decided to die on me this morning as I am prepping this….how would you recommend cooking it on the stove top? (in a dutch oven on low?, about how long would you suggest?)
Oh no! So sorry I’m just now seeing this. I do have a grilled version of this recipe too. //dinnerthendessert.com/easy-grilled-jerk-chicken/
Made this today, exactly as written.
It was great, and I’d make it again.
Next time I will not remove the seeds and veins from the jalapenos, and will probably add extra onion, and extra jalapenos and maybe some paprika and garlic.
I served it with rice cooked in chicken broth.
I’ll probably serve a steamed vegetable next time as well like broccoli. Or maybe some mushrooms or beans.
So glad you enjoyed it Abbi!
Can Brown sugar be substituted with coconut sugar? Don’t eat much refined sugar, don’t really want to buy a box that will just take up space in my pantry for a tsp.?
I’ve never substituted with it before but from what I can find from my research, it seems to be a great substitute for it. I’d say go for it and let me know what you think.
Hello Sabrina,. Does the salt come from the Soy Sauce?
There’s no additional salt in this recipe. If you’re looking to limit the sodium, you could always try a low sodium soy sauce.
I want to try this for an upcoming dinner, but was wondering, would it come out ok if I marinate it in the blended mixture overnight before slow cooking it for 8 hours? I plan to brown it before starting the slowcooker.
Yes, you can definitely marinade it overnight. Hope you enjoy it!
Could bone in, skin on chicken breasts be used also with a few changes in this recipe?
I would hesitate to say yes because breasts tend to get dried out in the slow cooker. I do have a grilled version using breasts. //dinnerthendessert.com/easy-grilled-jerk-chicken/
Delicious, adding this to my favorite meal rotation! I have tried several Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken recipes and this is the best. I subbed molasses for brown sugar, added extra jalepeno and more onion because I did not have green onions. I used chicken breast with skin, it was done and falling off the bones in 3 hours and it was not too dry. I tasted the sauce before cooking and it was not great, but after cooking it is perfect with incredible depths of flavor.
Awesome…Glad you have fun playing with the flavors!
Can I do this for 3-4 hours on high instead of 8? Thanks!
Yes, you can cook it on high but I would let it go 4-5 hours. Enjoy!
I’m a little confused with an answer you gave to someone else about pureeing the ingredients: “really do recommend some method of blending/processing because the mixture stays on the chicken for grilling”. It’s the word “grilling”. Do you grill the chicken after cooking in slow cooker?
Also – do you have to/need to use vegetable oil or can you use canola? Thank you
My apologies, I have the recipe as both a slow cooker one and a grilled version! I accidentally replied as though it was the grilling post. You can absolutely use canola, and no, no grilling is needed for this version.
Thank you
If I don’t have a food processor, how should I go about combining the ingredients?
Do you have a blender? If not try to mince as finely as you can, but for this recipe I really do recommend some method of blending/processing because the mixture stays on the chicken for grilling.
Would this work with legs? I have some in the freezer and no idea what to do with them!!!
The legs may dry out a bit because they won’t have enough skin to protect them in the slow cooker? So I think if you’re going in with that expectation but wanting to use up an ingredient you have at home it will still be delicious.
What would you recommend to serve with it? Any healthy suggestions besides rice?
I also like the idea of grilled pineapple. Here’s mine //dinnerthendessert.com/brown-sugar-grilled-pineapple/ and I’d suggest the coconut and lime marinade. It’d be a great flavor combination to go with the spice of the chicken. Enjoy!
The sauce was green after being processed was that how it was suppose to look
Yep!
Hi, looks fab! How low should it be cooked?
Thanks Mette! You’ll want to cook it on low for 8 hours.
Could I use boneless skinless chicken breasts my family doesn’t like chicken thighs
I don’t recommend using boneless skinless breasts in the slow cooker as they will dry out. The extra fat from the thighs is what keeps the meat moist. You could definitely try it though.
Tried using boneless chicken breast, It actually turns out extremely tender. :). Great recipe love it
That’s fantastic! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for coming back to let me know!
What do you think about using boneless chicken thighs? Has anyone tried it? I purchased the wrong type of chicken (boneless, meant to get bone in). Thanks!
I don’t recommend using boneless skinless breasts in the slow cooker as they will dry out. The extra fat from the thighs is what keeps the meat moist. You could definitely try it though. I know a few commenters above stated they used it and theirs came out tender. Good luck!
That person actually asked about boneless thighs, not boneless breasts.
Sure 🙂
I’m a little confused. On the top of the recipe it says that the cook time will be 10 h and 50 m but when I read the instructions, the chicken shouldn’t be cooked for 8 hours… help! I dont want to mess it up. My husband loves jerk chicken
Yes, sorry about that! The recipe widget is super glitchy at the moment and is adding up numbers incorrectly for cook times. 8 hours on low will do it 🙂
This was great my husband said ” you can make this again!”
Yay!! Thank you so much for dropping back by to let me know how much you and your husband loved it!!
I’ve been on the hunt for a great jerk chicken recipe… no need to look anymore, this is the one!!
What a great slow cooker and chicken dish! Sounds amazing!
Thank you Krista!
I am definitely trying this! It looks so good, and I love those flavors!
Thanks Michelle!
Simply mouth-watering! My Hubby will love this!
This turned out gorgeous.
I’ve never attempted making jerk chicken before. However, I’ve had it at a restaurant once and loved the blend of spices and herbs. Delicious. I have no doubt this would taste similar.
“6 in” chicken thighs? Did you mean 6 thighs?
yes! Sorry the recipe plugin is being super glitchy recently.
The meal looks so full of flavor. I’ve tasted jerk chicken before but I want to taste yours. It’s the realness of the pics.
Fantastic! Once you make it, I’d love for you to come back and let me know what you think!
Hi! I don’t have a slow cooker, but I do have oven bags. How long would you cook the chicken in an oven bag? And at what temperature?
I would recommend using this recipe for a non-slow cooker version. https://dinnerthendessert.com/easy-grilled-jerk-chicken/
Recipe for jerk chicken is on point! I have a small slow cooker for 2. Made only 4 thighs. Only thing I did slightly differently was after I browned the chicken in the pan, I poured the chicken fat into the crock pot with the sauce. I also added about a 1/4 cup of vege broth +1 teaspoon of walkerswood jerk seasoning in lieu of jalapenos.
Hi I’m looking to make this tomorrow. Does the chicken crisp in a slow cooker? I always find the slow cooker produces to much liquid
If you brown the chicken before hand and use minimal liquids, it will have a slightly crispy texture. Since the marinade is liquid this will not be fully crispy. I’d cook in an oven at 375 for 35-40 minutes for crispy! 🙂
If baking in the oven, should I still brown first on the stove?
No, no need to brown if you’re making this in the oven.
I plan to make in oven. You said to use minimal liquid. How much of the Jerk Sauce should I use. Looks GREAT. I love Jerk Chicken.
You’ll want to make the sauce the same but don’t add any additional liquid before putting it into the oven. I hope you enjoy it!