Tasty Caribbean Jerk Chicken Rice Bowl Recipe

We have created a taste of vacation at home with an incredible Caribbean jerk chicken rice bowl. This recipe takes layers of flavors with seasoned grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, set over fluffy rice for a fun dinner. When I want to escape the weekday grind and transport myself to an all inclusive resort, I make this dinner and tune out the world. 

Flavors from Jerk Chicken Bowls

When I think about a summer beach vacation, I think about different kinds of food than I'm used to. If I were to pick one island food to create that vacation vibe at home, its jerk chicken loaded with fresh tropical fruits and a few veggies. The unique spices from the jerk marinade include warm cinnamon and nutmeg along with lime juice, spicy peppers, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Jerk chicken is a taste of the tropics brought home. 

Simple and Wholesome Ingredients

This recipe has three main parts: the grilled jerk chicken, fresh fruits and vegetables, and rice. The main part of this meal is focused on super flavorful and juicy chicken. There are a lot of ingredients in the Caribbean jerk marinade, but it is so incredibly worth it. Everything in this recipe is fresh, bright, and brings a special combination of fresh flavors to break up the weekday routine. 

Jerk Chicken Ingredients

Most of this recipe is built around the jerk chicken marinade, which brings a ton of spicy flavor and unique spices. 

• 1 pound of chicken- this can be boneless/skinless chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or chicken tenders (my preference)
• 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves minced Garlic
• 1 Scotch Bonnet or Habanero Pepper
• ¼ cup Soy Sauce
• ¼ cup Lime Juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh Thyme
• 2 teaspoon fresh Ginger
• 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon Allspice
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black Pepper

Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a smoothie blender and blend for 60 seconds. Pour the marinade over your chicken pieces and cover. Refrigerate overnight for the best results. 

Fruits and Vegetables for the Mango Salsa

The fresh ingredients really balance out the heat and the salt from the jerk chicken. My favorite combination is fresh mango diced into small pieces, red bell pepper, avocado and ultra-minced red onion. The bold Caribbean flavors of fresh mangos with the cooling lime is the perfect combination of flavors to top off the rice bowls. 

• ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper
• 2 tablespoon Red Onion minced super fine
• 1 Fresh Mango
• 1 medium Avocado diced
• 2 teaspoon Lime Juice
• Pinch of Salt
• Fresh Pineapple (optional)
• Sweet Corn (optional)

To make the salsa, cut all of the produce  into small pieces. The red onion does especially well if it's cut to a very fine mince. Combine all of the fruits and and vegetables in a medium bowl. Add a squeeze lime and a pinch of salt. Set the mango salsa to the side until you are ready to serve. 

Cilantro Lime Rice

In a medium sauce pot, add 2 cups of rinsed white rice with 3 cups of cold water over medium-high heat.  Bring the rice up to a boil, cover with a lid, and set to a medium-low heat. Cook the rice for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice rest for 5 minutes before removing the lid. 

After the rice has cooked, fluff it up with a fork and add the olive oil, fresh squeezed lime juice, chopped cilantro and salt. Fold all of the ingredients together with a rubber spatula and cover until you are ready to serve. 

• 2 cups Long Grain Rice
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
• 2 tablespoon Fresh Cilantro
• 1 teaspoon Salt

How to Make Jerk Chicken Rice Bowls

Step one is to marinate your chicken. You'll get the best results if you can marinate it for 12-24 hours. If your chicken is already marinated, when it's time to cook, you'll have a quick dinner in no time.

1. Set a large skillet over medium-high heat and add about a tablespoon of your preferred vegetable oil. 
2. Once the skillet is hot, add half of the chicken to the pan and cook for 3 minutes per side, about 5-7 minutes total for chicken breast pieces or chicken tenders.  The chicken should build a golden brown crust on both sides. 
3. After the first batch of chicken has cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside. 
4. Add the rest of the chicken to the pan and repeat the cooking process.
5. After all of the chicken is cooked, you can assemble your bowls: start with a base of cilantro rice, add 4-6 ounces of cooked jerk chicken, top with the mango salsa, diced avocado, and season with a pinch of salt.
6. Serve with lime wedges, sliced green onions, or chopped cilantro to garnish. 

Notes: the cook time for the chicken will vary depending on the thickness of the skinless chicken breast or chicken tenders. Chicken thighs will take a little longer to cook than white meat. 

Saving and Reheating Leftover Chicken Bowls

If you have leftovers or are trying to meal prep, combine the cooked rice and chicken in an airtight container. Save the mango salsa and diced avocado separately. When you are ready to eat, heat the rice and chicken in the microwave on medium heat for 60 seconds. Stir the chicken and rice, repeat the heating interval if necessary. Top the warm jerk chicken rice bowl with the mango salsa, add diced avocado, and garnish if you have the effort in you. 

Recipe Modifications

Do you love a lot of heat? If you do, you can keep the seeds in the scotch bonnet pepper or add more than one if you're really crazy. 

I love this recipe with the cilantro lime rice recipe, but another popular option is coconut rice. Give that a try if you want a fluffy coconut rice instead. 

Similar Bright and Flavorful Recipes

If you love this jerk chicken rice bowl, I think you'll like some of these recipes as well. Another new favorite dinner of mine is a Thai Peanut Dressing and Salad with Grilled Chicken Skewers. This is another complete meal in a bowl that has tons of bright flavor, protein, and veggies.

My chicken and sausage jambalaya vibes like the jerk chicken rice bowls too. It has some great spice built around tender chicken with rice, vegetables, and intense flavor.