Jerk Chicken With Pineapple Salsa
Spiced marinated chicken breasts that can be grilled or seared then topped with fresh pineapple salsa. This tropical style Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Salsa is a fun and fresh meal that will liven up any dinner hour.
Why You'll Love Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Salsa
- A flavor packed family friendly meal
- Healthy dinner idea
- Fresh ingredients
- Mildly spicy with a touch of sweetness
A Perfect Summer Dinner
Summer is not over and we are still enjoying the fresh ingredients the warmer weather has to offer. While fresh pineapples can be enjoyed all throughout the year, they are most sweet and juicy during spring and summer. This Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Salsa is the perfect meal to make when you want to enjoy the tropical flavors of sweet and tart pineapple.
Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Salsa Recipe
This recipe comes together very quickly and has incredible flavor. The marinade for the chicken consist of a handful of bold seasonings and spices giving it great flavor, then topped with a fresh pineapple salsa. Each bite is literally a burst of summer goodness!
Simple Ingredients
- Chicken breast- We use large boneless skinless chicken breasts for a leaner option.
- Marinade- Olive oil, soy sauce or coconut aminos, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, nutmeg, all-spice, and red pepper flakes.
- Pineapple salsa- fresh pineapple, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, honey, lime juice, salt and pepper.
Substitutions:
- Chicken- If you prefer dark meat, boneless skinless chicken thighs are also a great option.
- Marinade- Other ingredients and seasonings that work well for the marinade are cinnamon, garam masala, fresh garlic, and lemon juice.
- Pineapple- When pineapple is in-season I recommend using fresh, but you can also use canned pineapple chunks, drained well.
How To Make Jerk Chicken
See full instructions in recipe card below
Step One. Add all the marinade ingredients and chicken to a large Ziploc bag. Seal and place in the refrigerator for 30-minutes.
Step Two. While the chicken is marinating add all the pineapple salsa ingredients to a small bowl and toss to combine. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Step Three. Heat grill or skillet to medium high heat and cook chicken for 5-7 minutes on first side and then another 7-8 minutes on second side. Chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Step Four. Transfer cooked chicken to a serving plate and top with fresh pineapple salsa. Serve immediately.
What To Serve With Jerk Chicken:
A classic to serve along side Jerk chicken is white rice. To enhance the experience even more try making my Cilantro Lime Rice or Easy Coconut Rice.
Recipe Tips:
- Marinating chicken- For the best flavor make sure to give the chicken at least 30-minutes to marinate.
- How to pound chicken thin- Place chicken breasts in between two pieces of plastic wrap. Make sure the pieces are big enough to leave room to seal around all the edges. This will ensure there isn't any splatter. Use the flat side of a meat mallet or a rolling pin to pound chicken into the thickness desired.
Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Salsa
Equipment
- 1 small bowl
- outdoor or indoor grill pan, or large skillet
Ingredients
Chicken and Marinade:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast pounded out ¼ inch thick
- ¼ cup olive or avocado oil
- 1 large lime, juiced
- 3 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon all-spice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Pineapple Salsa:
- 1 cup fresh pineapple cut in small chunks
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced small
- juice of ½ lime
- 1 teaspoon honey or use agave
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all the marinade ingredients to a large Ziploc bag. Seal and give it a good toss. Add chicken pieces, seal the bag, and toss again. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30-minutes or up to 4 hours.
- While the chicken is marinating combine the pineapple salsa ingredients in a small bowl. Toss to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve with cooked chicken.
Outdoor Grill:
- Heat an outdoor grill to medium high heat, about 400°. Once grill is hot, place chicken directly over the flame and discarding the rest of the marinade. Grill on the first side for 5-7 minutes or until charred in spots and deep golden brown. Flip and grill on the other side for another 7-8 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil and allow to rest for 5-minutes. This will make sure the chicken stays nice and juicy.
Skillet Method or Indoor Grill Pan:
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once pan is hot add chicken pieces, discarding the rest of the marinade. Sear chicken for 5-7 minutes on first side and another 5-7 minutes on the second side. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken. Check to make sure the internal temperature has reached 165° before transferring to a plate. Cover the chicken with foil and allow to rest for 5-minutes. This will make sure the chicken stays nice and juicy.
- Serve chicken with pineapple salsa and rice if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
More Recipes To Enjoy This Summer
Be sure to check out some of my other favorites you can enjoy when the weather is warm. Fiesta Chicken with Zucchini Street Corn, Pineapple BBQ Chicken Foil Packs, and my go-to easy dinners-Greek Chicken Meal and Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken.
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