Easy Instant Pot Shredded Jamaican Jerk Chicken
This is an easy instant pot shredded Jamaican jerk chicken recipe. This jerk chicken is slightly spicy but is cooled down with some tangy lime juice. Perfect for meal prep or any day of the week. If you want more chicken recipes, try this blackened chicken tenders, teriyaki chicken, salsa chicken recipe, or Qdobe chicken recipe.
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I love Instant Pot recipes because they simplify cooking and eliminate the guesswork. This Instant Pot jerk chicken is no exception—it’s flavorful, hassle-free, and perfect for an easy, delicious meal.The best part about this Instant Pot jerk chicken recipe is that it’s perfect for meal prep. Plus, the versatile chicken can be used in a variety of dishes throughout the week.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Quick and Easy: The Instant Pot drastically cuts down on cooking time, making it perfect for busy days without sacrificing flavor
- Full of Flavor: Jerk seasoning packs a punch with its bold, spicy, and aromatic blend of herbs and spices
- Tender and Juicy: The pressure cooking process locks in moisture, making the chicken incredibly tender and juicy
- Versatile: You can use it in tacos, salads, rice bowls, or even sandwiches, making it great for meal prep
- One-Pot Convenience: Everything is cooked in one pot, which means fewer dishes and less cleanup
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS INSTANT POT JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN
- Jerk marinade: to cut down on prep time, this recipe calls for a pre-made jerk sauce. The one I prefer is WalkersWood Milk Jerk seasoning. They do sell a hot & spicy version, but trust me, the mild one packs enough heat for my tastebuds.
- Chicken: I prefer chicken thighs for this recipe, but you can use any cut of meat like chicken breast, chicken tenderloins or chicken drumsticks
- Lime: fresh lime juice to help cut through the heat of the marinade
- Chicken broth: infuses the chicken with some additional flavor while it’s cooking
- Paprika
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT JERK CHICKEN
In a small bowl, add the jerk seasoning and the lime juice and mix together to make a wet marinade.
Put a pound of chicken in a large bowl and season with the paprika. Add the chicken marinade and rub into the chicken thighs until they are all evenly coated. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the thighs and allow to marinade for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to overnight.
Once the chicken thighs are marinaded, spray the instant pot with some cooking spray. Put the chicken into the instant pot and pour the chicken broth on top. Set the lid onto the instapot and cook on high pressure for a cook time of 15 minutes.
When the chicken is done cooking, release the steam valve for a quick release of the pressure for about 2-3 minutes. Let the remaining pressure release naturally for another 5 minutes. When the pressure is done releasing, open the lid and shred the chicken and stir in it’s natural juices.
Remove the cooked chicken from the instant pot and serve.
WAYS TO MAKE IT YOUR OWN
Spice level: if you really like spicy foods, you can add some cut scotch bonnet peppers, habanero peppers or chili peppers to the chicken while it’s cooking or incorporate cayenne pepper for an extra kick
Modify the marinade: add some herbs like thyme or rosemary, use some acid like lime or lemon, or give it a slightly sweet hint by mixing in some brown sugar or honey
Side suggestions: serve this flavorful chicken with sides like brown rice, white rice, black beans , sweet potatoes or ripe plantains
HOW TO SERVE
You can serve this instant pot jerk chicken in a variety of ways. You can make:
- Jerk chicken meal prep bowls
- Jerk chicken wraps
- Jerk chicken pizza
FAQ’s
Yes, you can use frozen chicken. Just increase the cooking time by about 5-8 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken. The Instant Pot will take longer to come to pressure with frozen chicken.
Yes! Searing the chicken on “Sauté” mode before pressure cooking gives it a nice browned crust and helps lock in flavor. After searing, remove the chicken, deglaze the bottom of the pot with some liquid (e.g., broth), and return the chicken for pressure cooking.
You need at least 1 cup of liquid for the Instant Pot to function properly. This recipe uses chicken broth, however you can also use water or coconut milk for added richness. Some people use a mixture of lime juice, water, and broth to keep it authentic and flavorful.
To prevent the burn notice, make sure to add enough liquid (at least 1 cup of broth or water) and After sautéing, deglaze the pot by scraping up any brown bits with a splash of liquid.
I promise this is one easy pressure cooker recipe that you will come back to again and again. It’s filled with such great flavors and is so simple to make. If you make this recipe and enjoy it, feel free to leave a comment and star rating down below. Follow me on my social media as I share more healthy recipes, fitness workouts and motherhood. Give a follow at: Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest!
Easy Instant Pot Shredded Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot
- 1 Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Chicken thighs
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1.5 tbsp Jerk seasoning
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 Juice of lime
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the jerk seasoning and the lime juice and mix together to make a wet marinade.
- Put a pound of chicken in a large bowl and season with the paprika. Add the chicken marinade and rub into the chicken thighs until they are all evenly coated. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the thighs and allow to marinade for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to overnight.
- Once the chicken thighs are marinaded, spray the instant pot with some cooking spray. Place the chicken into the instant pot and pour the chicken broth on top. Place the lid onto the instapot and cook on high pressure for a cook time of 15 minutes.
- When the chicken is done cooking, release the steam valve for a quick release of the pressure for about 2-3 minutes. Let the remaining pressure release naturally for another 5 minutes. When the pressure is done releasing, open the lid and shred the chicken and stir in it’s natural juices. Remove the cooked chicken from the instant pot and serve.
