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Home / Recipes
5 minutes
4.51 from 308 votes
74 Comments

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

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by: Joanna Cismaru
08.07.19
Updated: 01.29.20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Jamaican Jerk Seasoning blend is made right at home. Save your money and make your own with a kick from a blend of spices such as cayenne pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg to name a few.

jerk spice blend spilling out of a glass jar with a small wooden spoon

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

Today I have something different to share with you, a spice blend recipe. Jamaican jerk is such a versatile spice blend to have in your cupboard. It adds heat, dimension, and complexity to many a dish. This is my favorite particular little mix but it’s completely customizable!

Packed full of aromatics, sweet yet smokey notes, complex nutmeg, and spices from across the globe, this seasoning is famous for a reason. We’re thankful it made its way across the ocean because it tastes so good on just about anything! So let’s get into it shall we?

What Is Jamaican Jerk Seasoning?

Today’s spice blend is a dry Jamaican Jerk seasoning or spice blend which is amazing. It actually refers to a style of cooking that just involves rubbing a hot spice blend over your choice of meat. I decided to dial down the heat today, as a lot of jerk seasoning you’ll find in the store includes powdered habanero.

So thank me later.

Ingredients In Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

  • Aromatics – Powdered onion and garlic.
  • Spices – Cumin, nutmeg, allspice, smoked paprika, cinnamon.
  • Heat – Red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper.
  • Sugar – Just some brown sugar for a well rounded depth of flavor.
  • Seasoning – Salt and pepper.
  • Herbs – Dried parsley and thyme.
jerk seasoning blend in a bowl with a small wooden spoon

How To Make Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  1. Make the spice blend: Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Recipe will yield about 1/2 cup. Store in a spice jar in your spice cabinet.

What Can I Use Jamaican Jerk Seasoning On?

There’s so many ways you can use this delicious spice blend! Feel free to play around with it.

  • Prawns
  • Jerk chicken
  • Jamaican Jerk Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Fish, any nice white fish or even salmon!
  • Pork chops
  • Toss Air Fryer Chicken Wings in this seasoning after it’s done cooking
  • Cauliflower – drizzle an entire head with olive oil and rub this spice blend in. Bake it in the oven and believe me you’ll have to resist eating the entire thing!

How To Tell If Your Spices Are Still Fresh

We all know spice blends can last a while, but they do go stale eventually. If you want to ensure both the spices you add to your seasoning and your seasoning itself is fresh just keep an eye on the color. If the pigment starts to fade and the spices begin to look dull, your blend may be starting to go stale.

How Long Can I Store Jamaican Jerk Seasoning?

Jerk seasoning can be safely kept in your pantry, if stored properly for about 1 to 2 years.

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning coming out of a jar

More Spice Blends To Add To Your Pantry

  • Moroccan Spice Blend
  • Fajita Seasoning
  • Taco Seasoning
  • Emeril’s Essence
  • Cajun Seasoning

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a jar of jamaican jerk seasoning laying on its side with seasoning spilling out

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

4.51 from 308 votes
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 8
Print Pin Rate
This Jamaican Jerk Seasoning blend is made right at home. Save your money and make your own with a kick from a blend of spices such as cayenne pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg to name a few.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika (regular paprika is fine)
  • 1 tsp allspice ground
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper ground
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp cumin ground
  • ½ tsp nutmeg ground
  • ½ tsp cinnamon ground
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp thyme dried
  • 1 tbsp parsley dried
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Recipe will yield about 1/2 cup. Store in a spice jar in your spice cabinet.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. You can adjust the salt to your preference, or completely omit it from this recipe.
  2. Keep spices and herbs away from heat and moisture. Although spices and herbs will keep for a long time if stored properly (4 years), they will lose their strength. 
  3. To tell if your spices are still fresh, just look at their color and if the color has faded, their flavor probably has faded as well.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 8gCalories: 19kcal (1%)Carbohydrates: 4.27g (1%)Protein: 0.53g (1%)Fat: 0.29gSaturated Fat: 0.08g (1%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.103gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.054gSodium: 584mg (25%)Potassium: 60mg (2%)Fiber: 0.9g (4%)Sugar: 1.58g (2%)Vitamin A: 1050IU (21%)Vitamin C: 0.8mg (1%)Calcium: 10mg (1%)Iron: 0.5mg (3%)
Course:Spice
Cuisine:Jamaican
Keyword:jamaican jerk seasoning, spice
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. Geoffrey Martin says

    March 28, 2021 at 10:44 am

    4 stars
    This resiepe is just what I was looking for! great like to try the cauliflower thing

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team AMJ says

      March 29, 2021 at 9:48 am

      We are so happy you enjoyed this!

      Reply
  2. BCK says

    February 22, 2021 at 7:55 pm

    How would I put this seasoning on baked boneless skinless chicken thighs? Saw the reco to bake at 400 for 30-35 mins and broil at the end… Would you first brush chicken lightly with small bit of olive oil and then add seasoning?

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      February 23, 2021 at 9:44 am

      You can refer to the baked chicken recipe! And just use this seasoning instead of the dry rub that is provided in the recipe 🙂

      Reply
  3. Barbara McLuskey says

    February 15, 2021 at 3:33 pm

    5 stars
    This is really authentic, full of aroma, delicious!

    Reply
  4. Stephen K says

    February 12, 2021 at 8:34 pm

    5 stars
    Made this recipe for 6 deboned chicken thighs and it was spectacular on the grill! I’m no expert on jerk recipes but this felt right. Thanks, I will save it for future use.
    One quick note, it is traditional to capitalize Tbsp in a recipe to differentiate it best from tsp – at least that is what my mother taught me. Thanks again for a great recipe.

    Reply
  5. Matty T says

    January 10, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    After much searching and trial and error this is the best jerk recipe I have found. Excellent on baked chicken

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      January 11, 2021 at 9:49 am

      Love to hear it!

      Reply
  6. Karen Blake says

    September 26, 2020 at 9:49 am

    Absolutely brilliant recipe!! Love it! Thanks Jo!

    Reply
  7. Kathy G says

    September 19, 2020 at 7:03 am

    Just made the marinade, used 3 tbsp and rubbed into 1.6kg shoulder of pork. Will give you an update on how it turns out…

    Has anyone mixed this with a liquid eg pineapple juice? Only asked as I had previously purchased a jerk mix from a specialist store and they said to mix with pineapple juice…

    Reply
  8. Travis L Holloway says

    September 4, 2020 at 9:51 am

    Is it best to use dark or light brown sugar with this recipe?

    Reply
    • jo says

      September 4, 2020 at 12:46 pm

      I don’t think it would matter much, but I used dark brown sugar.

      Reply
  9. Bianca says

    August 24, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    Hi Jo!

    Can you substitute ground thyme for this? And would you use the same amount?

    Reply
    • jo says

      August 24, 2020 at 7:03 pm

      You can, use half the amount.

      Reply
  10. Gail says

    August 20, 2020 at 11:20 pm

    Very useful thanks

    Reply
  11. Jess says

    July 30, 2020 at 6:41 am

    Is this the amount of seasoning I mix together to season one serving? ( 2 chicken breasts ) ?

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      July 30, 2020 at 9:49 am

      It’s up to you how much you want to use! You’ll get about 8 tbsp of spice mix so that may be too much for 2 chicken breasts.

      Reply
  12. Wendy says

    July 24, 2020 at 10:11 pm

    5 stars
    I love this Jamaican Jerks seasoning

    Reply
  13. Sanaz says

    July 16, 2020 at 11:35 am

    Why do all recipes have to have a novel written before they give you the darn ingredients and recipe?! 🙄

    Reply
    • jo says

      July 16, 2020 at 12:58 pm

      It’s not a novel and it’s information my readers find useful about the recipe. However, you are not forced to read the entire post, at the top of each recipe, there’s a jump to recipe button, so you are free to use it!

      Reply
    • Trish says

      August 21, 2020 at 5:05 pm

      Why don’t you skip ahead next time- there’s a “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page. Personally, I love Jo’s extra info and find it useful. Grateful that she gifts all of these great recipes to use for free.

      Reply
  14. Brett says

    July 2, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    This was soooooo good on my smoked brisket. I now know why this had such incredible and accurate ratings.

    Reply
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I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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