Jerk Chicken Strips

Perfectly oven baked Jamaican jerk chicken tenders or strips with an authentic jerk seasoning blend and bbq sauce. If you like spicy and you like chicken, you are going to LOVE my jerk chicken strips. The chicken tenderloins are perfectly seasoned with my homemade authentic jerk seasoning blend then smothered in BBQ sauce and baked to make some delicious and juicy chicken. These are perfect for dinner, lunch or a quick appetizer. Plus, they go great with anything. You can put it on a salad, make a wrap, or it them on their own. You can add the BBQ sauce, like I do, or keep it more simple with just the seasonings.

These take about 15 minutes to make and only require chicken, BBQ sauce and seasonings.

Have you ever been to Jamaica? I went once, in I think 2012, with my entire family. All my immediate family, my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents. It was an event! It has been a while but I still remember that trip clearly and I still remember the Jamaican jerk chicken.

Jamaican jerk chicken is a classic dish on the island and available literally anywhere. Typically, you can get Jamaican jerk chicken thighs or breasts, or sometimes you can find some chicken wings. However, I am making this a little healthier and using lean chicken tenderloins. Who wouldn't want some Jamaican jerk tenders. But, if you want to keep this more of a classic dish, use my seasonings blend on anything you want.

Jamaican jerk chicken does not always have BBQ sauce on it; however, I like the addition of a good BBQ with this. You can, I have many times, make it without the BBQ sauce for more of a classic seasoned chicken strip.

Quick Tips from Allie Carte

• Turn up or down the heat
• Make extra seasonings to have on hand
• Skip the BBQ sauce if you want
• Make these for meal prep

What you Need for Jerk Chicken Strips

I typically make these in the oven, no fancy equipment! However, these are really good in the air fryer if you want something with a little more crisp to it.

To make jerk chicken strips, you need chicken strips, BBQ and seasonings.

• Chicken tenderloins
• BBQ sauce
• Seasonings

Jamaican jerk chicken is a classic dish on the island and available literally anywhere. Typically, you can get Jamaican jerk chicken thighs or breasts, or sometimes you can find some chicken wings. However, I am making this a little healthier and using lean chicken tenderloins, more like jerk chicken strips. You can use my seasonings blend and cooking technique for just about any cut of chicken and meat that you want.

I am making this Jamaican jerk chicken with some BBQ sauce. Jamaican jerk chicken does not always have BBQ sauce on it; however, I like the addition of a good BBQ with this. You can, I have many times, make it without the BBQ sauce for more of a classic seasoned chicken strip. I use sugar free BBQ sauce, to keep this healthier; however, use any BBQ sauce you like.

Authentic Jerk Seasoning

I love making a homemade authentic jerk seasoning blend. There are many different pre-made seasonings blend that you can purchase at a store; however, I get a little wary of those. With some seasonings blends, you may not know exactly what is in them. Some seasonings blends have additives such as sugar or wheat, and I do not want that. However, you are more than welcome to just used a pre-made seasonings blend.

I love making my authentic jerk seasonings blend in bulk. It is great to have on hand for just about anything you need. My husband loves spicy so he loves when I make my seasonings for him.

I will let you in on my secret blend but you can modify it how you want.

Seasonings Blend

• onion powder (1 teaspoon)
• garlic power (1 teaspoon)
• chili powder (1 teaspoon)
• brown sugar replacement (1 teaspoon)
• parsley (1 teaspoon)
• paprika (½ teaspoon)
• salt (½ teaspoon)
• ground red pepper (½ teaspoon)
• black pepper (¼ teaspoon)
• crushed red pepper (⅛ teaspoon)
• cumin (⅛ teaspoon)
• nutmeg (⅛ teaspoon)
• cinnamon (⅛ teaspoon)
• thyme (⅛ teaspoon)

That is how I make my seasonings blend, and it is perfect for one pound of jerk chicken strips. However, you can modify it how you want or use more of less.

I use brown sugar replacement because I am keeping it healthier and I really just like using it. However, if you are wary about using replacement sugars, you can substitute with regular sugar. In addition, if you do not want the sweet flavor, you can skip it. But, traditional jerk chicken does have some sugar in it.

I put a bit of salt in it; however, if you are watching your sodium, you can use less of it or none of it at all.

This is SPICY, there is no doubt about that. To make it less killer spicy, you can reduce or skip the ground red pepper and crushed red pepper. Alternatively, add more sugar. However, if you want it spicier, increase those two seasonings.

My recipe makes almost 2.5 tablespoons of seasonings mix, if using a pre-made blend, substitute with that amount.

How to Make Jerk Chicken Strips

Jamaican jerk tenders are one of the easiest recipes you can make, it is done in about 15 minutes. The hardest part is measuring all of the seasonings, which is really quite easy; however, as I mentioned, you can use a pre-made blend.

First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Then, like a baking tray with aluminum foil, spraying it with cooking spray.

Start off by mixing together all of the seasonings to make the jerk seasonings blend.

Lay the chicken tenderloins out flat, making sure they are not overlapping. If very wet, pat dry with a paper towel. However, mine are usually fine.

Sprinkle half the seasonings blend on the chicken tenderloins, pressing down to absorb into the chicken. After that, flip the chicken tenderloins over and repeat.

Place on the greased baking tray and bake for 4 minutes. Then, brush on half the BBQ sauce and place back in the oven for another 4 minutes.

Remove from the oven and flip over. Brush the other side with the remaining BBQ sauce and place back in the oven until fully cooked, about another 4-5 minutes.

You can brush on the BBQ sauce first; however, I like to let the tenders bake for a couple minutes first as this allows the BBQ sauce to spread easily, without disturbing the seasonings.

This makes for some delicious, juicy and flavorful Jamaican jerk tenders. These are also amazing in the air fryer, for more of a crispy coating.

Dipping Sauces

Pair these jerk chicken strips with some of my homemade greek yogurt ranch, to cool them down a little. But you can also try my spicy ranch to keep up the heat.

More Island Recipes

Now that you have tried my jerk chicken strips, do you need some more island style recipes!? Think Margaritaville, but in your kitchen! My pulled Hawaiian chicken is absolutely amazing with this recipe. The jerk chicken strips provide a very spicy beginning, then the pineapple chicken brings the sweetness back in. In addition, try my air fryer coconut shrimp for a different type of meat.

Video Tutorial

If you are more of a visual learner, you can watch my video tutorial then come back here for more detailed instructions.

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Jerk Chicken Strips

If you like spicy and you like chicken, you are going to LOVE my jerk chicken strips. The chicken tenderloins are perfectly seasoned with my homemade authentic jerk seasoning blend then smothered in BBQ sauce and baked to make some delicious and juicy chicken.

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What to pair with jerk chicken strips

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Are you on WW (Weight Watchers) and looking for a points value on these Jamaican jerk tenders? Click this link and you points will automatically calculate for you. The servings size is for ¼ of the recipe, which will vary depending on how many chicken tenderloins you have, some are big and some are small.