• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simply Scrumptious
  • Quick and Easy
  • Courses
  • Desserts
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Quick and Easy
  • Courses
  • Desserts
  • Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Quick and Easy
    • Courses
    • Desserts
    • Recipes
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » 30 Minutes or Less

    Jerk Chicken Tacos

    Published: Feb 14, 2022 by Nicole · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    3 jerk chicken tacos on a plate with a bowl of pineapple.

    Jamaican Jerk Chicken Tacos are soo yummy. Spicy, yet sweet and tangy. We've brightened up the seasoning with pineapple and lime, the perfect pairing for them. They're so full of flavor, this will be your new go to chicken taco recipe!

    jerk chicken tacos on a plate with a bowl of pineapple in the back.

    These are a great option for Taco Tuesday all year round! We especially love to make them in the summertime. They are a great no-oven dinner (see our directions below for the stovetop version) with lots of fresh bright flavors.

    This was inspired by our Jerk Chicken Kebabs and our Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta. For other tacos ideas, check out our roasted cauliflower black bean tacos and our air fryer chicken tacos. Yum! The bright flavors of these also goes great with our Passionfruit Cheesecake!

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • Recipe
    • Food safety

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Family Friendly - these are perfect to serve for family dinner. If you have small kids who are more sensitive to heat, hold back on the jerk seasoning for them and go full force for the adults.
    • Quick and Easy - these are an easy meal to make and it's healthy with fresh, bright ingredients
    • Great For Entertaining - with their vibrant colors and more unique flavor, they are perfect for entertaining guests! They are also easily customizable to make according to flavor preferences.
    • Gluten Free- these are naturally gluten free and perfect for those who are sensitive to gluten.
    • Simple Ingredients - no hard-to-find or expensive ingredients here! Everything can be found at Wal-Mart or a basic grocery store.

    Ingredients

    pineapple, jerk, tortillas, lime juice, olive oil, garlic and greek yogurt.
    • raw boneless skinless chicken breasts- check out our substitutions for directions for shredded chicken or slow cooker.
    • lime juice- fresh limes produce a tangy-er, fresher taste, but lime juice concentrate works great too.
    • olive oil - could be substituted with avocado or vegetable oil
    • minced garlic- minced garlic is highly recommended over powdered
    • brown sugar - this is recommended, but can be skipped
    • jerk seasoning - we tested many types of jerk seasoning, and Great Value kept coming back as the winner for most flavor!
    • plain greek yogurt - feel free to substitute with sour cream, if desired
    • salt - regular table salt or pink Himalayan
    • pepper- we used freshly ground
    • tortillas- this is great with either corn or flour tortillas
    • purple cabbage- a slaw mix also works fine. The purple cabbage is very eye catching though!
    • pineapple- again, fresh is recommended but canned will work in a pinch.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Start by chopping then marinading your chicken. Cut chicken into bite sized pieces- around 1" cubes and place in a bowl. Pour the lime juice and olive oil over the chicken and stir to combine.

    lime juice, olive oil, jerk seasoning and garlic on raw chicken in a bowl.

    1. Chop the chicken into 1" cubes. Place in a bowl. Add the garlic, brown sugar and jerk seasoning.

    jerk flavored raw chicken in a bowl.

    2. Stir to combine then cover and refrigerate 2-24 hours. You can make immediately in a pinch, but we highly recommend letting the flavors marinate and seep into the chicken for maximum flavor.

    3. Cook the chicken. Preheat the oven to 400*F. Bake in a 9x13 baking dish for 10 minutes. Take out and stir. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes, until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165*F. Alternatively, heat cooking oil in a pan over medium heat then cook until heated through.

    4. Chop pineapple, cilantro and cabbage.

    greek yogurt, lime juice, and jerk seasoning.

    5. Combine greek yogurt, Jamaican jerk seasoning and lime juice together in a bowl.

    greek yogurt, lime juice and jerk seasoning in a bowl.

    6. Whisk together until smooth.

    7. Finally, assemble your taco. Place meat on your taco shell then top with cabbage, cilantro, jerk sauce and pineapple. Then devour!

    Hint: The longer your marinade your chicken, the more flavorful it will be!

    Substitutions

    • Oil - feel free to use any mild flavored oil here: avocado, vegetable, etc.
    • Chicken- this is also a great recipe to make with chicken thighs. You can also use shredded chicken. To do this: add the marinade to the shredded chicken and let is sit at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. Warm in a 400* oven for 4-5 minutes, until hot. Make the rest as normal.
    • Cabbage -a slaw mix or even green cabbage is fine with this recipe
    • Plain Greek Yogurt- sour cream could be used instead.

    Variations

    • Spicy - add some chopped jalapenos or habaneros for a real kick!
    • Deluxe- add some chopped fresh mango and avocado.
    • Kid friendly -if you have kids that are sensitive to heat, jerk can be a little spicy. Use half the jerk seasoning for a milder yet still delicious meal.
    • Air Fryer- make these in the air fryer- simply follow the directions in our air fryer chicken tacos recipe.
    • Stove top - we love this recipe in the oven, as it helps the chicken be even more flavorful. We also understand sometimes you need to cook on the stove top if it's summertime or your oven is occupied with something else. Heat 2 Tablespoons cooking oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
    3 jerk chicken tacos on a plate.

    Equipment

    • knife
    • cutting board
    • mixing bowl
    • measuring cups and spoons

    Storage

    Store the ingredients separately in the refrigerator in airtight containers for up to 4 days.

    The jerk chicken will freeze, but the other ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.

    Top tip

    Don't overcook the chicken. Make sure it reaches at least 165*F to be fully cooked. Try to keep it as close to that number as possible for maximum tenderness and moisture.

    How to Make Jerk Chicken Tacos

    Marinate your chicken in a mixture of jerk, lime juice, olive oil and garlic. Marinate 2-24 hours. Cook chicken. Make lime jerk dressing using jerk seasoning, lime juice and greek yogurt. Top corn tortilla with chicken, fresh pineapple, cabbage, cilantro and dressing.

    What to serve with Jerk Chicken Tacos

    Serve some chips and guacamole, corn salsa, rice and beans, plantains, sweet potato fries, mango salsa, fruit salad made with tropical fruits, or tamarind or churro chips.

    How to Make Jerk Chicken?

    Make Jerk Chicken by making a delicious marinade using jerk seasoning, lime juice, a touch of olive oil, and garlic. Then cook!

    Are jerk chicken tacos spicy?

    They are a little bit spicy, about medium heat.

    Recipe

    3 jerk chicken tacos on a plate.

    Jerk Chicken Tacos

    Nicole
    These yummy jerk chicken tacos are spicy, sweet and tangy and so full of flavor. They'll be your new go-to taco recipe!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories/serving 430 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 24 corn street tortillas or other tortilla of choice!

    Marinade:

    • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
    • ¼ cup lime juice
    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 package jerk seasoning reserving 1 ½ teaspoons for dressing
    • 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoons minced garlic

    Dressing:

    • ½ cup plain greek yogurt
    • 2 Tablespoons lime juice
    • 1 ½ teaspoons jerk seasoning reserved from packet used for marinade
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper

    Toppings:

    • 1 pineapple
    • 1 small head of cabbage I used purple
    • cilantro

    Instructions
     

    • Cut raw chicken into 1 inch cubes and place in a bowl. Pour lime juice and olive oil and top and stir to combine. Add garlic, brown sugar and jerk seasoning and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate 2-24 hours.
    • Preheat oven to 425. Place chicken in a 9x13 baking dish and bake for 10 minutes. Remove chicken and stir then return to the oven. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165*F.
    • Assemble tacos. Place meat on a tortilla then top with cabbage, cilantro, jerk sauce and pineapple.
    • Devour!

    Notes

    Store ingredients separately in air tight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 
    Chicken can be frozen in airtight container for up to 2 months.
    It isn't recommended to freeze the other ingredients.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2street tacosCalories: 430kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 40gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 470mgPotassium: 1157mgFiber: 10gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 1765IUVitamin C: 86mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was in the comments below
    Tag us on Instagram!We love seeing people make our recipes. Mention @simplyscrumptiouseats_

    Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Spread the love

    More 30 minute or less recipes

    • Gigi Hadid Pasta (Spicy Vodka Pasta)
    • Frozen Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot Taco Meat
    • The BEST Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Katherine

      February 19, 2022 at 10:47 am

      5 stars
      Mmmm that dressing goes so well with the jerk flavors in the chicken tacos! We loved it with the pineapple. So spicy and sweet and tangy. Will make again!

      Reply
    2. Nicole

      February 24, 2022 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy! These are so full of flavor. I love jerk with pineapple and these were so fresh and flavorful! We had some mango on hand and added that on too, and it was good!

      Reply
    3. Shadi Hasanzade

      March 06, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      5 stars
      That marinade is so flavorful and I love that the dressing is made with yogurt! Great recipe. We love Jamaican Jerk!

      Reply
    4. Chenée

      March 21, 2022 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      These were incredible! And that creamy sauce was so perfect. We love tacos, and made them in the air fryer following your other recipe, and they were so yummy. Such a robust yet bright flavor! The sweet and spicy together, so good.

      Reply
    5. JC

      May 27, 2022 at 3:47 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yes, these jerk chicken tacos are exactly what I needed. They are absolutely bursting with flavor and that pineapple on top. I'll be coming back for more!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    nicole and andrea

    Hi, we are Nicole and Andrea! As busy moms our favorite meals are easy, healthy and delicious. While we love eating nutritious meals, we also strongly believe in moderating them with yummy desserts! We love hiking, going to the beach and doing Spartans.

    More about us →

    Trending

    • How To Thicken Chili
    • Paula Deen Green Bean Casserole
    • Best Rattlesnake Pasta
    • Easy Homemade Baguette Recipe
    • Deviled Strawberries (Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries)
    • Gigi Hadid Pasta (Spicy Vodka Pasta)
    • Edible Brownie Batter
    • Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

    Recent

    • The Best Baked Churro Chips
    • Five Cheese Marinara
    • Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
    • Snickerdoodles without Cream of Tartar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About

    Browse Recipes

    All recipes

    Contact

    Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Simply Scrumptious Eats