Slow Cooker Caribbean Jerk Chicken Recipe



Happy Friday! It's the last day of September, which means CROCKTOBER begins tomorrow! 

It's the most wonderful time of the year....
 
Today's recipe is one of my new favorite chicken recipes. I used a whole chicken, but this spice rub would work great on whatever you've got in the house---it might be really fun to do party drumsticks or wings, too.

I skin my chickens because of my weird issues. If you don't want to skin the bird, you don't have to. You can also insert a rack under the bird to let the drippings settle away from the bird, if you'd like. If you don't have a wire rack, you can make a foil snake (3 feet long, then twist up and create a coil at the bottom of the pot) and use that instead.

The chicken pictured was skinned as much as I could with poultry scissors, then cooked in the crock, breast-down. I didn't throw in potatoes or use a rack, but you certainly can if you'd like.

The Ingredients.
serves 4 to 6
4-5 pound whole chicken
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon all spice (not a typo, I used a whole tablespoon!)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3 limes, juiced (about 1/3 cup)

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Skin the bird as much as you can (or don't. it's your choice.) and place it into the slow cooker. I prefer to cook my chickens upside down, to keep the breast meat as juicy as possible. Make sure all the giblets, neck, etc. are out!

In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and dry spices. Rub this spice and sugar mixture all over the bird, inside and out. Pour on the lime juice.

Cover, and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for 4. Check doneness with a meat thermometer, or cut in to make sure the meat is no longer pink. Usually the bird falls completely apart--which is great. Moist, juicy, wondefully-flavored meat.

You can serve with lime wedges for a bit of extra citrus flavor, if you'd like.

mmm.

The Verdict.

My family and my friend Sharyl's family ate this chicken and we all loved it. Even my super-picky 10-year-old (I can NOT believe she's ten. #nothappyaboutthis) ate her serving and said it was good.
Sharyl asked for the recipe, which is always a good sign.

The bit of heat from the cayenne is there--- but not enough that any of the kids (six in all) complained. The pan drippings would be great to cook your rice in as a side dish.


more chicken? no problem!



Have a great weekend! 

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Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at September 30, 2011

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What they say about this article

  1. Can never have too many chicken recipes! I am always looking for a new way to prepare it.

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  2. This sounds yummilicious...can't wait to try it. Maybe my not-so-fond-of-chicken-hubby will like it!

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  3. I am always looking for a good recipe! Now that it has decided to finally cool off a smig I am all about using the crockpot for yummy comfort food. It saves me a lot of time too.

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  4. I bought two whole chickens today to use in my newly purchased crockpot and this recipe sounds incredibly delicious. (plus I have all the ingredients in my house already!)

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  5. Anonymous9/30/2011

    I love chicken and I love my crockpot - thanks for a great recipe for the next time I want chicken for dinner.

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  6. This looks wonderful and I bet the leftovers would make a nice change-of-pace chicken salad.

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  7. Sounds wonderful!

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  8. Can't wait to try this. We tried the apricot teriyake pork chops a few weeks ago and it was a big hit. Love your blog and recipes.

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  9. I only have a 3 quart pot.

    Would using chicken parts equaling 2 - 2.5 pounds work, do you think?

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  10. I would love to win! looking forward to crocktober. Now if the weather would just coorperate!

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  11. EmilyR9/30/2011

    Looking forward to Crocktober! Thanks for the opportunity to win your recipes.

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  12. Crocktober --- already?! I wonder if Hallmark makes a card for that (oh, they should!)? I yelled out with glee the coming of Crocktober!

    You should have seen the looks the family gave me. Oh well. Happy wife, happy life. And that goes for the Mommie, too.

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  13. Kristina10/01/2011

    YUMMMMMMMMY!!!!Thanks so much! Our family loves your recipes...

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  14. Awesome Dawson10/01/2011

    Made this last night and it was TERRIFIC...nothing better than sweet 'n hot with a dash of lime.

    The only "issue" I have about cooking chicken w/skin on is the incredible amount of fat that lurks underneath it and ends up inches deep in the bottom of the Crockpot. After many feeble attempts to skin 'em easily, I finally found a great video on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/6bog4fr

    Because of the chef's accent, I almost passed it by thinking it was a joke, but it really works! The only change I'd make is to put the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet to catch all the juices and stuff so they don't end up on your cutting board or counter.

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  15. Made this today using drumsticks instead of a whole chicken. It was amazing!!

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  16. Sounds yummy, I am off to see if there is a substitution for all spice! I just don't have any no other reason.

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  17. Made this last night and oh my, it was delicious!! Can't wait to have the leftovers for lunch today! Love your site!!

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  18. Oh this sounds good! I will try this next time for a change from my usual crockpot chicken. Thanks!

    My only regret is that I didn't see this sooner so I could enter this contest & win your books. My birthday was this last weekend & it would have been great to win your books. :)

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  19. Whenever people ask for the recipe you know it's good! I love when people ask for my recipes, thats how I know to add them my recipe book for future seccess.

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  20. Made this last night and Hubs LOVED it!!! He asked if there would be leftovers for his lunch today!!

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  21. So my question is do you post suggestions to your main dish? Like what would you suggest as a side for this dish? Thanks much!!

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  22. I am going to try this tomorrow, so the the bird is cooked breast side down in the crockpot?

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  23. YUMMY! Loved this!

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  24. Could you do this with boneless skinless chicken breasts? Is there enough liquid to cook it? I have had a couple of major flops with crockpot cooking where I did not have enough liquid cooking with the meat and it was a dry mess cooked to the bottom of the pot.

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