Jamaican Curry Chicken for Cozy Family Dinners
A bold, aromatic Jamaican curry chicken made with bone-in chicken, Jamaican curry powder, garlic, Scotch bonnet, thyme, and potatoes. Rich, comforting, and full of island flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
2.5–3 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken (legs/thighs)
3 tbsp Jamaican curry powder, divided
1 tbsp oil (vegetable or coconut)
1 medium onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-inch ginger, grated
2 green onions, chopped
1 whole Scotch bonnet pepper (pierced)
2 sprigs thyme
1 tsp crushed pimento seeds (allspice)
2 medium potatoes, diced
1/2 cup water or broth
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Season chicken with 1 tbsp curry powder, salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, green onions. Marinate 30 min or overnight.
- In a large pot, heat oil. Add 1 tbsp curry powder and stir 30 sec to bloom.
- Add chicken and brown both sides (5–7 min).
- Add onion, Scotch bonnet, thyme, pimento, and water. Cover and simmer 30 min.
- Add potatoes. Simmer 20 more min until tender and sauce is thickened.
- Remove Scotch bonnet. Serve hot with rice or roti.
Notes
Add coconut milk for creamier version. Adjust Scotch bonnet to control spice. Great for meal prep and leftovers.