Make your own Jamaican jerk seasoning spice blend at home with this easy recipe, filled with loads of piquant and aromatic spices.
Don't you love a good jerk seasoning? Jerk cooking originated in Jamaica and you'll get all those wonderful Caribbean flavors when you cook with these spices. It is traditionally used with chicken, but it works great over shrimp and other seafood. I'm not very picky in how I use it.
When I want jerk spice, I want some spice! With these flavors, it can work with any protein of your preference. Tofu, anyone? Why not? It also works on vegetables, like grilled corn on the cob. Vegetables love a good spice rub.
There are quite a lot of seasonings that go into this jerk seasoning - fifteen, to be specific, with my personal blend. You can easily buy some from the grocery store or your favorite online spice shop, but I like to make mine at home.
It is so much better when you make it at home, as you can control everything that goes into it.
Why Homemade Jerk Seasoning is Better
First, I can emphasize certain ingredients over others. Want less clove? No problem. A bit more allspice? Go for it!
Secondly, I can easily slip in a few (or more!) dashes of a superhot blend that I've recently dehydrated. Consider this! A Jamaican Jerk Seasoning blend with a half teaspoon of Moruga or Reaper powder? Oh yeah, some extra heat for me. So happy! Consider the addition of the Scotch Bonnet or habanero, something more local to Jamaica.
But whatever works for you!
Let's talk about how we make it, shall we?
What Ingredients Go Into Jamaican Jerk Seasoning?
Here is a list of the ingredients you will need:
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme (or use 1 teaspoon ground thyme)
- 2 teaspoons sugar (or use brown sugar)
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground clove
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Making the Blend
Once you've gathered up your ingredients, add all of them to a small mixing bowl.
Mix it all together evenly. Make sure it is nicely uniform.
BOOM! DONE! You now have your own homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning blend. Have at it!
Store in an airtight container. Use as needed.
Make it Your Own
As mentioned above, I like to sometimes slip in some spicier chili powders into the mix. Ghost pepper powder is probably a favorite. Not a lot, mind you. Just a pinch or so to bring up the heat for me. If you can get scotch bonnet powder, that would be awesome.
I like to dehydrate my own scotch bonnet peppers, then grind them into a powder for this recipe.
You can easily adjust the ratios to make it your own personal blend, though. Bump the garlic, double the cayenne, cut back on the onion, dial back on the sugar or use brown sugar instead.
Whatever you prefer!
It's your blend now. This is my favorite jerk seasoning recipe. One of the best spice blends out there.
Why is it Called "Jerk"?
Jerk is the term used for the style of original Jamaican cooking, which is poking holes into meat so it can be permeated with more flavor. This is called "jerking".
"Jerk" became associated with the particular spice rub used to spice up those meats, and the name stands today. Jerk can refer to jerk spice blends, jerk marinade, and the cooking technique in general.
What is a Good Substitute for Jerk Seasoning?
There really is no good direct substitute for jerk seasoning. If you are unable to find a Jamaican or Caribbean jerk blend at your local grocery store, your best bet is to make it yourself using this recipe.
However, if you are unable to find certain specific ingredients, try to get as close as possible with what you are able to obtain.
Or, try taking a Cajun Seasoning or Creole Seasoning blend and add the following ingredients: Brown Sugar, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Clove, Allspice. That might get you fairly close.
This Recipe Is In our Cookbook - FLAVOR MADNESS
Did you know that you can find this recipe in our new cookbook FLAVOR MADNESS? It's waiting for you on PAGE 32.
Try it Out on These Recipes
- Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe
- Grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings
- Jerk Salmon
- Jamaican Jerk Marinade
- Rasta Pasta with Shrimp
- Jerk Rubbed Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Jamaican Rice and Peas
Check Out Some of My Other Homemade Seasoning Blends
- Steak Seasoning Mix
- Homemade Cajun Seasoning Blend
- Homemade Fajita Seasoning
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Homemade Rib Rub
- Homemade Sazon Seasoning
- Jamaican Curry Powder
- Homemade Seasonings/Powders Recipes
If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.
Homemade Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme (or use 1 teaspoon ground thyme)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground clove
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl.
- Mix it all together evenly.
- Store in an airtight container. Use as needed.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This recipe was updated on 4/15/19 to include new photos and information. It was originally published on 10/4/15.
Kwanjai says
I really love and want to cook Jerk Chicken. I live in South East Asia and really can't find bonnet peppers. Does it really make the dish without Bonnet pepper? What can i substitute for that? Thank you.
Mike Hultquist says
Kwanjai, you can use habanero peppers instead, or other hot peppers that have a slightly fruity flavor.
Ben says
Looks great man, it's my birthday tomorrow so I'm making a jerk dry rub for a butterfly chicken I'm gonna have
Mike Hultquist says
Nice! Enjoy, Ben! And a very happy birthday to you!
Julie M says
My family really enjoyed this recipe, we didn't have ground cumin, cinnamon or cayenne pepper so I substituted it for 1/4 tsp dried chilli (which I'll use more next time) but it still tasted great. We had the rub on some chicken drumsticks which were smoked with cherry wood chips on the grill, it was delicious.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Julie. Thanks for sharing.
Sandy says
OMG. I tried this recipe for the first time and it was awesome.even my daughter loved it and she’s very picky when it comes to food. I was used to cooking with the store bought jar of jerk seasoning…no more of that. I even made extra and save it in a zip lock bag and the aroma smells like I’m cooking in a Jamaican restaurant. Thanks so much for this recipe (both thumbs up)
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome to hear! Glad you enjoyed it, Sandy! This is definitely a favorite around here. We LOVE it!
G says
How can I turn this into a marinade?
Mike Hultquist says
Absolutely. YOu can use these seasonings with certain liquids to make a GREAT marinade. I have a recipe for that here - Jamaican Jerk Marinade (https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/jerk-marinade/). Enjoy!
Almonica Speight says
My go to jerk seasoning recipe!!!!!❤️❤️❤️
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Thanks, Almonica!
Karen says
We celebrate Christmas each year with serving foods from different cultures. This year is Caribbean and I thought I would do something using jerk seasoning. Thank you for your recipes. It was a big help. Happy Holidays
Mike Hultquist says
Wonderful! I love that tradition, Karen. Glad to help.
Michael K says
I put all the ingredients into a food processor and pulsed until powdered. This incorporated the ingredients much more evenly and then allowed for a nice shaker of jerk to sprinkle over smoked wings. Fantastic flavor!
Mike Hultquist says
Nice technique!
Bea says
For an awesome food mashup, skip the salt and apply to spam (lite or less sodium varieties are our favorites- they both have plenty of salt for us!) slices before frying for spam musubi.
You're welcome.
Vicky Smith says
Made this last night as a last minute idea to put on fish. It was delicious and I love that it was made from spices I usually have on hand! Thanks for sharing
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Vicky! Glad you enjoyed it!
Jane says
Made this last night and cooked the chicken on the BBQ. Absolutely delicious!! Will be making in bulk and storing in the cupboard. No more packet mix for us. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Jane! Thanks for sharing!! Yay!
Peter bateson says
What’s the best way to cook a whole chicken in oven with the rub, do I rub on when I start to cook chicken or part way through the cooking process…thank you in advance
Mike Hultquist says
Peter, you can use your regular baked whole chicken recipe, but rub the whole bird down with this seasoning before baking. I would use a 1/4 cup or so of seasoning, perhaps a bit more, to really get it rubbed down with flavor.
Bronwyn says
I made this to use with a recipe for Jamaican chilli that came in a meal box. The original seasoning had been used when we made the recipe the first time. This seasoning was absolutely to die for, so I'm about to make my second batch and I'm going to double it so that I can make chilli for a group that will be going away for a long weekend soon. Thanks so much!!!
Mike Hultquist says
Awesomeness! Glad you enjoy it that much! Thanks, Bronwyn. I appreciate the comments here.