If you love bold and smoky flavors, this Jerk Chicken recipe is a must-try! I made it using the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker, and let me tell you it came out perfectly juicy with a smoky finish that tastes like it’s straight from the islands. 🇯🇲 This grill is electric, so no need for gas or charcoal. Just plug it in, add some wood pellets, and you’re good to go! The chicken is seasoned with a mix of jerk spices, herbs, and lime, then grilled to golden perfection. It’s spicy, flavorful, and super fun to make!
Method
1 – Season the Chicken
To start, place your chicken legs in a large mixing bowl. Make sure they’re washed and patted completely dry so the seasoning sticks well. Pour in the olive oil, then sprinkle over the jerk seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, and toss in the thyme sprigs. Add the sliced onions and squeeze in the juice from half a lime. For extra depth of color and flavor, you can also add a teaspoon of browning, though this part is optional. Now use your hands or tongs to coat the chicken well, rubbing all that spicy goodness into every part of the meat. Once the chicken is fully coated, let it marinate for at least an hour at room temperature. For the best flavor, though, I like to cover the bowl and refrigerate it overnight this gives the spices plenty of time to soak in.
2 – Set Up the Grill
Once your chicken is ready to cook, it’s time to prep your Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker. Start by adding a scoop of Ninja Woodfire Pellets into the smoker box, which gives your chicken that delicious smoky finish. Place the smoker box into the grill plate where it belongs. Then turn the grill on and select the GRILL function. Set the temperature to HI and the cooking time to 16 minutes. Don’t forget to press the Woodfire Technology button before hitting START. This activates the wood pellet smoker feature and infuses the chicken with that signature jerk smokiness. The grill will begin to preheat, and once it’s ready, the screen will flash “ADD FOOD.”
3 – Grill the Chicken
When the grill tells you to add food, lift the lid and carefully place the chicken legs directly onto the grill plate. Close the lid and let the chicken cook for 8 minutes on the first side. When time’s up, open the lid and flip each piece using tongs. Close the lid again and let it cook for another 8 minutes. After the full 16 minutes of cook time, check the internal temperature of each piece with a meat thermometer. You’re aiming for 165°F (75°C) in the thickest part of the chicken. If it’s not quite there yet, close the lid and cook for another couple of minutes until done. Once everything is cooked through, turn off the grill.
4 – Serve It Up!
Carefully remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes so the juices settle. Then squeeze some fresh lime juice over the top for a bright, zesty finish. Serve hot with your favorite sides like rice and peas, grilled corn, or fried plantains. That’s it perfectly smoky, spicy jerk chicken made right in your backyard!
Necessary Tools
- Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker
- Ninja Woodfire Pellets
- Large mixing bowl
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer
- Knife and cutting board
Jerk Chicken (Spicy, Smoky, and Packed with Flavor!)
Cuisine: JamaicanDifficulty: Easy4
servings1
hour16
minutes1
hour16
minutesIngredients
4 chicken legs, washed and patted dry
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons dry jerk seasoning (use an authentic Jamaican brand for best flavor)
1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning
2 sprigs thyme
1 onion, sliced
1 lime (half juiced, half sliced for serving)
1 teaspoon browning (optional, for color)
Directions
- Season the Chicken
Place your chicken legs in a large bowl. Add olive oil, jerk seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, thyme, onion slices, lime juice, and browning. Toss everything together so the chicken is fully coated. Let it sit for at least 1 hour, or even better marinate it overnight in the fridge! - Set Up the Grill
Add a scoop of Ninja Woodfire Pellets into the smoker box. Place the box into the grill plate. Turn the grill on, select GRILL mode, set the temperature to HI, and time to 16 minutes. Press the Woodfire Technology button, then press START. - Grill the Chicken
When the display says “ADD FOOD,” lift the lid and place the chicken legs on the grill. Close the lid and cook for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 8 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken has reached 165°F (75°C) inside. Once done, turn off the grill. - Serve It Up!
Place your jerk chicken on a plate, squeeze fresh lime juice over the top, and enjoy with your favorite sides!
Notes
- Always preheat the grill fully before adding the chicken.
- Don’t skip the marinating time this is where all the flavor builds.
- Flip only once to keep those beautiful grill marks.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic rice and peas
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Fried plantains
- Lime wedges for extra zing
- A cool mango salad on the side
Fun Fact
Jerk chicken comes from Jamaica and is famous for its smoky flavor and spicy kick. The word “jerk” comes from the Spanish word charqui, which means dried or jerked meat. Traditionally, it’s cooked over pimento wood but with the Ninja Woodfire grill, you can get that flavor in your backyard!
Conclusion
This Jerk Chicken is bold, smoky, and full of flavor! I love how easy it is with the Ninja Woodfire Grill you get that backyard BBQ taste without the mess. Whether you’re serving it for dinner or a weekend cookout, it’s always a hit. Give it a try, and don’t forget to save the recipe for later!
