Homemade Jerk Seasoning (2025)

byChristine |Vegetarian| 08.30.24

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5 from 2 votes

This Homemade Jerk Seasoning recipe is incredibly fast (5 minutes) and easy to whip up, and the best part? It stores beautifully for 3-6 months, so you’ll always have it on hand to add a burst of bold, Caribbean flavor to your meals. I absolutely love using this seasoning—it’s my secret weapon for transforming simple dishes into something extraordinary.

Homemade Jerk Seasoning (1)

Table of Contents

  • Jump to Recipe
  • What’s In It?
  • How to Make It
  • How to Use It
  • Tips
  • Storing

Why You’ll Love This Jerk Seasoning Recipe

  • Bold Flavor – There is nothing subtle about this punchy seasoning blend. Use it to bring vibrance and excitement to all sorts of dishes.
  • Caribbean Taste – The unique combination of sweet and spicy, earthy and savory makes it a great alternative to traditional flavors of garlic, onion, salt, and pepper.
  • Ready in 5 Minutes – The measuring of the spices takes a few minutes, but then all you need to do is mix them together. That’s it!
  • Easy to Store – Store your Jerk Seasoning in an airtight jar for 3-6 months, or extend the life of your spice blend in the fridge or freezer for up to 1 year.

Jerk Seasoning Recipe

I’ve perfected this blend to capture all the authentic flavors I crave—spicy, savory, and a touch of sweetness. Trust me, once you start using this homemade jerk seasoning, you’ll never go back to store-bought! Whether I’m grilling, roasting, or even making a quick stir-fry, I often find myself planning meals around being able to sprinkle a little jerk seasoning magic into the mix.

Try my Lemon Pepper Seasoning, BBQ Seasoning Recipe, and Taco Seasoning Recipe, too!

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What’s in Jerk Seasoning?

  • Dark Brown Sugar – I love the deep, rich flavor of dark brown sugar, but you can use light brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand. Another option is coconut sugar, but you’ll need to double the amount to ensure the blend is balanced.
  • Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt
  • Thyme – Earthy, woody, and a little bit peppery, thyme is an essential element in the jerk seasoning.
  • Allspice – Ground Allspice is very complex in flavor and is used in lots of Caribbean cooking. You will love how the warmth comes through.
  • Cayenne Pepper – Spicy and fruity, the cayenne can be adjusted to your preference.
  • Cinnamon – The cinnamon brings out the allspice even more and highlights the sweetness of the Jerk flavors.
  • Ginger – Punchy and a little spicy, the ground ginger is so good when mixed with all of the other ingredients.
  • Smoked Paprika – For a little smokiness in the spices, smoked paprika is strong so we just add a little. If you prefer no smokey flavoring, feel free to substitute with sweet paprika.
  • Cumin – This helps round everything out. It’s earth, warm, and brings the Jerk flavors together!
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How to Make Jerk Seasoning

Making homemade spice blend at home couldn’t be simpler!Here’s how to make Jerk Seasoning:

  1. Measure all of the ingredients carefully, and combine them in a small bowl.
  2. Whisk them well, and store the mix in an airtight spice jar for 3-6 months.

TIP: I love theseglass seasoning jarsto store them in my pantry!

How to Use the Best Jerk Seasoning

  • Jerk Chicken Tacos – Use this perfect Homemade Jamaican Jerk Seasoning in this recipe for these tacos. They are SO good. My husband and I love them!
  • Roasted Vegetables – Heat the oven to 375 degrees F, add whatever veggies you love to a sheet pan, and toss the vegetables with 1 Tablespoon of avocado oil and 2 Tablespoons of Jerk Seasoning. Bake for 20 minutes or until desired doneness. Try it on brussel sprouts, onions, zucchini, carrots, and sweet potatoes!
  • Jerk Chicken Wings – Toss chicken wings in 2-3 Tablespoons of the jerk seasoning and bake at 425 degrees F for about 1 hour, flipping them every 20 minutes. YUM.
  • Grilled Meats – Take your grilling to the next level! Rub the jerk seasoning liberally into the protein of your choice and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before grilling. It’s going to blow your mind how good it turns out! I love using it on chicken breasts, boneless center-cut pork chops, and shrimp.
  • Paleo Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken Meal Prep Bowls – Swap out the seasonings in this recipe for 2 Tablespoons of your homemade seasoning. Easy peasy.
  • Jerk Spice Grains – Mix 1 teaspoon of jerk seasoning per cup of grains while cooking. This makes a super flavorful side dish!
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Tips

  • If you really like things spicy, add an additional1/2 – 1 teaspoon of cayenneor red pepper flakes to the Jerk Seasoning Recipe.
  • Check the expiration dates on your spicesbefore using them. The flavors fade as spices age so your blend will taste much better with fresher spices.
  • Give it as a gift!Mix up a large batch and divide the spice intocute spice jars. They make great gifts for a housewarming, wedding showers, or stocking stuffers.
  • Extend the lifeof your Jerk Seasoning by storing it in the fridge or freezer. It’ll stay good for up to a year!

Storing Homemade Seasoning

  • Room Temperature– Store in an airtight jar or container for 3-6 months.
  • Fridge or Freezer– Extend the life of your seasoning by storing it in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 1 year in an airtight jar, container, or freezer bag.
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More Bold Flavor Recipes

  • Sweet Chili Chicken Meatball Bowls
  • Chili Lime Steak Tacos w/ Mango Salsa
  • BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls
  • The BEST Lemon Balsamic Lentil Salad
  • Kung Pao Shrimp Tacos with Jalapeño Sauce

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Homemade Jerk Seasoning (6)

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5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe

Homemade Jerk Seasoning

This Homemade Jerk Seasoning is incredibly fast and easy to whip up, and the best part? It stores beautifully for 3-6 months, so you’ll always have it on hand to add a burst of bold, Caribbean flavor to your meals. I absolutely love using this seasoning—it’s my secret weapon for transforming simple dishes into something extraordinary.

Course: Dinner, Main Course, Seasoning

Cuisine: American, Caribbean

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 Servings

Calories: 6 kcal

Author: Christine McMichael

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 Tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 Tablespoon thyme
  • 1 Tablespoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin

Instructions

  • Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk very well until completely combined.

  • Store in an airtight container or spice jar for up to 3-6 months!

Notes

  • Store in an airtight jar or container for 3-6 months at room temp, or in the fridge or freezer for up to a year!
  • Add a little more spice by adding more cayenne.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 teaspoon | Calories: 6 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 0.2 g | Fat: 0.1 g | Saturated Fat: 0.02 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02 g | Sodium: 195 mg | Potassium: 18 mg | Fiber: 0.3 g | Sugar: 1 g | Vitamin A: 92 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 7 mg | Iron: 0.2 mg

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Homemade Jerk Seasoning (2025)

FAQs

What is Jamaican jerk seasoning made of? ›

Jerk seasoning is a blend of garlic powder or granules, onion powder, dried thyme, ground allspice, ground ginger, cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, smoked paprika, ground cloves, ground white pepper, and dark brown sugar.

What can I use if I don't have jerk seasoning? ›

In a small bowl, thoroughly mix together paprika, garlic powder, allspice, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Generously coat on your choice of protein and cook. Serve and enjoy.

What mixture gives you a jerk flavor? ›

Jerk seasoning principally consists of allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers. Other ingredients may include cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, brown sugar, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, and salt.

What is the secret in jerk chicken? ›

It's wonderfully spicy, smoky, and fragrant — everything you want jerk chicken to be. But what puts this one above all others? The key is including five-spice powder in the marinade, a Chinese spice blend made of cinnamon, fennel seed, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise.

How long should you let jerk chicken marinate? ›

How long should I marinate jerk chicken? We recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes, and up to 24 hours. Marinating not only imparts amazing flavor but also helps to tenderize the meat. Longer isn't necessarily better, but ideally, several hours will allow the flavors to really sink in.

What is the difference between jerk sauce and jerk seasoning? ›

Jerk seasoning is a dry spice blend and a jerk marinade comes in a liquid form. The spice blend is meant to be rubbed into your meat of choice and left in the fridge overnight before grilling. The marinade is a quicker version of the spice blend. Both can be used on any food of your choice.

Is jerk seasoning unhealthy? ›

Health benefits of the Jamaican jerk chicken

The allspice seasoning is healthy. It helps digestion. On the other hand, thyme spice kills certain bacteria producing inflammations. Cinnamon is used in the recipe helping to relieve arthritis pain.

What can I use instead of pimento wood for jerk chicken? ›

When I was last in Jamaica, a few years ago, everyone told me that pimento wood was in short demand. Substitute the fresh branches of any fruit tree, such as apple, pecan, or peach, and you will have a reasonable facsimile.

What meats are best for jerk seasoning? ›

And at the heart is heat—in this case from piquant habanero chilies. These dynamic and nuanced flavors work well with a multitude of ingredients. We use jerk on chicken, fish, and occasionally pork, but we also use the rub (which falls somewhere in the middle of wet and dry) to embolden several other dishes.

What are the ingredients in Cool Runnings jerk seasoning? ›

Salt, Sugar, Dehydrated Garlic, Dehydrated Onion, Corn Starch, Spices, Herbs, Vegetable Oil. Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, fibre, sugars, cholesterol, potassium, calcium or iron. Source négligeable de lipides saturés, lipides trans, fibres, sucres, cholestérol, potassium, calcium et fer.

Is jerk seasoning or marinade better? ›

With adding authentic jerk flavoring, neither dry rub nor wet marinade is really better than the other. Both types deserve a place in your pantry. For vegetables and other dishes where you want just a hint of spice, sprinkle on a little Booyah dry Jamaican seasoning.

Why is jerk seasoning so good? ›

It adds heat, dimension, and complexity to many a dish. This is my favorite particular little mix but it's completely customizable! Packed full of aromatics, sweet yet smokey notes, complex nutmeg, and spices from across the globe, this seasoning is famous for a reason.

What does jerk chicken do to your body? ›

Jerk sauce contains paprika and allspice for antioxidants, cayenne pepper for reducing blood pressure, garlic for immune boosting, nutmeg to aid in digestion and sleep, cinnamon for lowering blood sugar and cholesterol, vitamin C from citrus plus many more!

What is the main flavor of jerk chicken? ›

Jerk chicken gets its distinguishable flavor from spices that are native to the island of Jamaica. Spices like the scotch bonnet pepper give jerk chicken its spicy kick. Other spices that are incorporated into a jerk recipe are allspice, ginger, garlic and thyme.

Is Jamaican Jerk seasoning healthy? ›

Jerk sauce contains paprika and allspice for antioxidants, cayenne pepper for reducing blood pressure, garlic for immune boosting, nutmeg to aid in digestion and sleep, cinnamon for lowering blood sugar and cholesterol, vitamin C from citrus plus many more!

Is Jamaican Jerk the same as Cajun seasoning? ›

Is jerk seasoning the same as Cajun? No. Jerk seasoning and cajun seasoning are two different spice blends. Cajun seasoning is a combination of a few herbs and hot peppers.

Is Jamaican jerk seasoning the same as Jamaican curry powder? ›

They're very different. Jerk is BBQ, which tends to be spicy, salty, often a bit sweet, with allspice. Curry is a saucy dish that comes in MANY forms, which tend to be more savory IMO, often having cardamom & turmeric.

Is jerk seasoning very hot? ›

Be forewarned, if you cannot handle spicy-hot foods, jerk may not be for you. It has a real kick, that doesn't really come in levels. While some sauces come in levels, such as mild, medium or hot, jerk is one of those take it or leave it, kickers. It's really spicy.

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