Pineapple Chipotle Jerk Chicken is a fusion of lively flavors. Tangy. Sweet. Smoky. Chicken breasts are coated in a homemade chipotle jerk seasoning blend, seared until golden brown, and then simmered in a sauce of pineapple and light beer.
Jamaican cuisine meets Mexican flavors. See ya later, bland chicken dinners!
Traditionally, jerk chicken is cooked over a fire. But we’re getting our smoky flavor from the chipotle powder and taking the easy way out by cooking this on a skillet (although if you want to channel your inner Bear Grylls and practice your wilderness skills, go for it!).
Why KJ Loves Pineapple Chipotle Jerk Chicken
If you’re looking for a fun and vibrant way to spice up your chicken dinner, then this recipe is for you! I love how taking one bite of this Pineapple Chipotle Jerk Chicken transports you straight to a beach, listening to the waves crash against the shore and the wind blowing through the palm trees. Ok, ok, it might not have those superpowers, but it will still bring the beach to your kitchen! The flavors are bright, colorful, tropical, and delicious. Sounds like a winner to me!
How to Make Jerk Chicken
Making this chicken dish is just as simple as it is delicious. You’re just a few steps away from a meal packed with lively flavors!
Here’s what you need to do:
01) Make a homemade jerk seasoning blend with spices on hand. Or, if you want to simplify things, mix together 2 tablespoons of cajun seasoning with 1 tablespoon chipotle powder.
02) Coat the chicken with the seasoning. If you’d like, you can use different cuts of chicken, like thighs. Just remember that different cuts will have different cooking times. Bone-in thighs take a little longer to cook.
03) Add the chicken to a large skillet over medium heat and sear until golden brown on both sides. Set the chicken aside.
03) Add the pineapple into the skillet and deglaze with light beer. We recommend using fresh pineapple, as canned pineapple gets mushier. If you don’t want to use alcohol, you can substitute chicken stock or an NA beer.
04) Add the chicken back in. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through (165°F) and mouthwateringly delicious! Warning: KJ & Company is not responsible for burnt tongues due to overeager taste-testing.
Ways to Serve Pineapple Chipotle Jerk Chicken
With Jamaican and Mexican flavors, you can serve this dish in several ways. Try Jamaican one night, Mexican the other. Talk about spicing up your weekdays!
Keep it tropical: Serve your jerk chicken with fresh/grilled pineapple (or a pineapple or mango salsa) and rice! We highly recommend Coconut Cilantro Rice.
Make a burrito bowl: Use the Coconut Cilantro Rice as a base, and top with the chicken, avocado/guac, salsa of choice, cheese, beans, and lettuce!
Tacos or burritos: Use the burrito ingredients, but throw them on top of taco shells! You can never go wrong with a good taco. That’s a fact.
Quesadilla: Toss the leftovers into a quesadilla the next day – you won’t be disappointed!
FAQ
What is jerk chicken?
It’s not mean-spirited poultry. Jerk chicken is coated in spices and slow cooked over a fire or grill. It’s a cooking method that is popular in the Caribbean.
What is jerk seasoning?
Traditionally, jerk seasoning is a blend of allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers. This homemade jerk seasoning blend leaves out the Scotch bonnet peppers and uses chipotle powder instead, for a smoky twist on this classic.
What is deglazing?
Deglazing is adding liquid to a hot pan to release the caramelized food stuck to the bottom. It adds complex flavor to your dish.
Looking for other Chicken Recipes? Check these out!
Pineapple Chipotle Jerk Chicken
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Pineapple Chipotle Jerk Chicken is a fusion of lively flavors. Tangy. Sweet. Smoky. Chicken breasts are coated in a homemade chipotle jerk seasoning blend, seared until golden brown, and then simmered in a sauce of pineapple and light beer. Jamaican cuisine meets Mexican flavors. See ya later, bland chicken dinners!
Ingredients
For the chipotle jerk seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
For the chicken:
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 cup cubed pineapple, either fresh or canned that has been drained
- 8 oz light beer
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the chipotle jerk seasoning together in a small bowl. Evenly coat the chicken breasts with all of the seasoning.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts for a few minutes on each side, or until each side is golden brown. Don’t worry about cooking all the way through at this point. Set the chicken aside on a plate for later use.
- Add the pineapple pieces into the skillet and lightly sauté. Deglaze the pan with the beer and bring the sauce to a simmer. Nestle the chicken back into the sauce, cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let simmer, covered, on low for about 20 minutes.
- Remove the lid and allow to simmer uncovered for about 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced slightly. Serve the chicken with the sauce spooned over the top. If you are not a fan of cooked pineapple, discard the pineapple pieces before serving. Can also be served with additional fresh pineapple. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe can be used for any cut of chicken! Chicken breasts, tenders or thighs work great. Smaller cuts of chicken will cook faster.
- If you are concerned about using beer, try to find a non-alcoholic light beer or use chicken stock in place of the beer.
- Discard the pineapple pieces before serving if you are not a fan of cooked pineapple. Serve with fresh pineapple pieces if desired.
- Nutritional information for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sauté
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 258
- Sugar: 5.8g
- Sodium: 849mg
- Fat: 8.7g
- Carbohydrates: 9.7g
- Fiber: 1.3g
- Protein: 32.5g
- Cholesterol: 96mg
Keywords: Pineapple Chipotle Jerk Chicken
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Recipe originally posted on April 15, 2020 – updated with new words and photos on June 22, 2022.
Hi, I’m KJ!
Here you’ll find simple, delicious recipes for the home cook. I strive to make wholesome meals with easy-to-find ingredients that you feel comfortable making in your own kitchen—but I won’t shy away from a few indulgences! (I see you: butter, bacon, cookies!)
Where’s the chipotle? I made this as written but I think some chipotle powder would have made it better
Hi Barbara! The chili powder is in the ingredient list for the seasoning blend that is rubbed on the chicken 🙂