If you’ve been looking for an easy way to add a bit of complex spiciness to your meal, you’re going to love this jerk seasoning! With warm spices, subtle sweetness, and a bit of heat, this dry rub can take any meal up a notch.
What is Jerk Seasoning?
Jerk seasoning originated in Jamaica and is commonly used to make jerk chicken, though it can be used in a variety of other dishes, too. A blend of sugar, aromatics, and spices, it’s sweet, savory, and spicy and is the perfect way to upgrade so many meals! Use it as a rub or transform it into jerk sauce.
Ingredients
It may seem like a long list, but you probably already have most of these ingredients!
- Light Brown Sugar – Brown sugar adds sweet molasses-like flavor and balances out the spice.
- Dried Thyme – This spice adds an earthy, herbal flavor.
- Coarse Kosher Salt – Salt is the key to bringing out the flavor of the other ingredients.
- Ground Allspice – Made from ground allspice berries, allspice is warm and a little bit sweet.
- Paprika – This spice gives the seasoning a bit of red color and a slight sweetness.
- Garlic Powder – Using the powder adds garlicky goodness to the seasoning.
- Onion Powder – This powder adds a zing of oniony flavor.
- Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne brings the signature heat to the seasoning.
- Ground Ginger – This spice adds warm flavor.
- Ground Cloves – Cloves also add warmth and a bit of sweetness. They also have just a slight bitterness that is well balanced by the other ingredients.
- Ground Cinnamon – The warmth of cinnamon rounds out the other spices.
- Ground Black Pepper – Black pepper adds gentle heat to the seasoning.
- White Vinegar – The acidity of vinegar balances out the heat in the seasoning. It also helps to tenderize meat if you use this as a marinade.
Variations
Switch up a few ingredients and you can have your own version of this seasoning.
- Sauce – Turn this into a jerk marinade by combining it with vegetable oil and vinegar. You can also add a citrusy juice like lime, lemon, or orange juice, a splash of soy sauce, or a handful of diced scallions for even more depth of flavor.
- Vinegar – You can choose to use a different variety like balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Heat – Adjust the cayenne for your palette. Tone it down or sprinkle more in. Or, for a different flavor profile, try using dried scotch bonnet peppers.
- Spice Blend – Try adding other spices like nutmeg, cumin, dried parsley, or smoked paprika to taste.
What To Serve With Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Blend
You can use jerk seasoning with all kinds of proteins! It’s particularly popular on chicken but it can also be used on pork, beef, or seafood. The traditional way of preparing the proteins is to grill them but you can use any style of cooking.
Using jerk seasoning is also a fabulous way to jazz up soups, stews, and chili. You can also add it to roasted vegetables and snacks like nuts or air fryer chickpeas.
How to Make Jerk Seasoning
It couldn’t be any easier to make this flavorful seasoning.
- Combine. Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and whisk them together.
- Store. Transfer to an airtight container or mason jar and store with your other spices.
Storage
Be sure to store the seasoning in an airtight container or a jar with a tight lid so that it remains fresh and doesn’t absorb the smell of other spices in your cabinet or other cool, dry place. If you’ve made it without the vinegar, it will keep for up to a year. With the vinegar, be sure to store it in the fridge.
Store the seasoning in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Common Questions About Jerk Seasoning
Jerk seasoning is a blend of warm and earthy spices with brown sugar and cayenne pepper powder.
You can use jerk seasoning on nearly any meat! Chicken, pork, beef, and lamb all work well. You can also sprinkle it on seafood like shrimp or salmon.
Jerk seasoning is also sometimes called Caribbean seasoning.
More Recipes with a Spicy Kick
If you’re looking for more ways to Infuse a touch of heat into your meals, you’ll want to check out these simple recipes!
Jerk Seasoning
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt
- 4 teaspoons ground allspice
- 4 teaspoons paprika
- 4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
Instructions
- Combine the brown sugar, thyme, salt, allspice, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
- Use in desired recipe as a rub, seasoning, bread dip or marinade.
- If you have used this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
