Jamaican Jerk Chicken Tacos

The first time I tried jerk chicken on a skewer my taste buds said: “we want more!” And over the years I’ve attempted jerk chicken everything! But today’s recipe is one of my favorite ways to enjoy it, in the form of a taco.

Yup, these Jamaican Jerk Chicken tacos are perfectly grilled spicy and smoky tender pieces of chicken, wrapped up in a warm tortilla and drizzled with a creamy sauce that I’m head over heels for. And so will you when you make these Jerk Chicken Tacos.

No, Jerk is not a person but a style of cooking that originated in Jamaica. Meat gets dry rubbed with a seasoning and slow smoked to a tender, fall apart work of art.

Now since you and I don’t have a smoker sitting in the kitchen (and if you do, I’d like to meet you), we are gonna whip these bad boys in the skillet a lot faster. Watch how they are made in this video:

The skillet version makes this flavor experience fast and perfect for busy weeknights when you need to get a good meal on the table QUICKLY. It also gives us the opportunity to toss in some pineapple to amp up that WOW factor.

Seriously, you need to add the pineapple. Use frozen or canned if you must but don’t skimp on it. You need the sweetness to tame down the spicy.

The pineapple adds a sweet, tangy kick and gets that nice charred outer edge from the pan drippings. Pair that with smoky chicken, sour cream and lime drizzle, and you’ll fall in love all over again, with tacos.

Speaking of, the drizzle, it’s definitely worth the 1 minute it takes to put together. Make it a few days ahead of time, no more than 3, after that it’s not so great for drizzling. But it won’t last too long because this liquid gold is excellent on these tacos, or salads, sandwiches, and anything else your heart desires, I won’t judge.

I’d be cheating you if I said the chicken and pineapple mixture is great, only for tacos. There are so many other ways you can take this recipe and make other yummy meals! I like putting it on top salads for an over-the-top office lunch. Use it to top a cheese pizza for pizza night (pineapple does belong on pizza) or sauté it with some extra veggies for a quick stir-fry.

Me, I’m going to stick to these tacos for a while. More tacos = happy mama. Happy mama = happy house, which proves my statement that tacos are a part of a healthy lifestyle.

You’ll find all the direction and details in the Taco Tuesday Cookbook, it has it all.