If you have a blender or a food processor, this flavorful marinade comes together in two shakes. It’s great on pork and chicken, including this Grilled Jamaican Jerk-Style Chicken Breasts recipe. Marinate the meat for 4 to 12 hours in the refrigerator, then you can either grill or broil, depending on the weather or where you live.

Any jerk-marinated meat really brings the flavor with its bright notes of citrus and spice, particularly the singular taste of allspice. Serve your jerk dinner with lots of rice, sautéed greens, and Citrusy Mango Ginger Salsa.

Jamaican Jerk-Style Marinade: This flavorful Jamaican-inspired marinade works on everything from pork to chicken to fish.

What Is Jerk?

Jerk is defined both as a spice blend and a style of cooking, hailing from Jamaica, with its roots in Africa. Pork and chicken are the two most commonly “jerked” meats, but now jerk seasoning and cooking methods are applied to everything from tofu to beef.

Allspice (native to Jamaica) and hot peppers are the two most integral ingredients in a jerk marinade, which can be either dry or wet. Traditional jerk cooking involves smoking, though grilling is now a commonly used cooking method.

Jerk Marinade Ingredients

Don’t shy away from spice in this recipe — it’s supposed to be spicy.

• Vegetable or canola oil – Good for marinating and cooking your meat.
• Lime juice – The acidity penetrates whatever meat you are marinating.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is better than garlic powder here because of its pungent bite.
• Jalapeño pepper – You can pump up the heat further by adding an extra jalapeño and a bit more garlic or using Scotch Bonnet peppers, which are the classic peppers involved in jerk seasoning.
• Ground allspice – This is the most important ingredient for making a jerk marinade. Contrary to its name, allspice is just one spice, a type of pepper native to Jamaica.
• Ground ginger – Fresh ginger is sometimes used in jerk seasoning, though here we use dried.
• Brown sugar – Rounds out the marinade with important sweetness.
• Kosher salt – A good amount of salt helps flavor your meat, as well as keep it moist.
• Black pepper – Three types of pepper (allspice, chile, and black) keep this recipe exciting.
• Nutmeg – This is optional but very classic in jerk seasoning, rounding out the marinade with subtle warmth.
• Scallions – Use both the white and green parts of the scallion.

How to Make Jerk Marinade

1. Add the ingredients: Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a bowl, jar, or food processor.
2. Mix: Whisk, shake, or process to mix together all the ingredients.

Make Ahead Jerk Marinade

This will last for up to a week in the fridge. Be sure to give it a good shake before marinating your food so that the ingredients re-incorporate. And, you’ll want a few tips on marinating times and tips for different types of food.

What to Serve With Jerk-Marinated Meat

Tostones

Arroz con Gandules

Herby Brown Rice

More Easy Marinade Recipes

• Dijon, Garlic, and Lemon Marinade
• Spicy Sesame Asian Marinade
• Indian Curry Yogurt Marinade
• Lemon-Garlic Chicken Marinade