Tender Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken {Recipe & Video}

Alright now, flavor chasers—this ain’t your everyday chicken, nah baby, this is Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken turned all the way up, bold and bumpin’ like Mr. Vegas' “Heads High”—keep that flavor level high, no shame here.

We’re talkin’ juicy chicken seared 'til golden, then simmered low and slow in a dark, rich gravy made with browning sauce, allspice berries, and fresh thyme—straight island magic soaking into every bite for a full hour of soul-warming goodness.

This ain’t no dry or bland chicken recipe; this Jamaican food classic brown stew chicken recipe solves that sad, tasteless dinner problem with layers of smoky, sweet, and spicy flavor that make your taste buds dance.

No browning sauce? A little molasses and Worcestershire will lay down that dark, deep vibe. Want extra heat? Toss in a Scotch bonnet pepper to make the pot sing.

Keep the Jamaican vibes going when you round out the menu with a few sides and beverages. I like pairing this with some coconut rice and steamed cabbage washed down with a cold glass of homemade summer shandy made with red stripe and ginger beer.

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Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

Authentic Jamaican brown stew chicken that is deeply flavored, intensely aromatic and straight classic island vibes.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 638kcal

Author: Marwin Brown

Ingredients

For the chicken

• ▢ 2 lbs Chicken Pieces 3 thighs and 3 drumsticks, cut into smaller pieces
• ▢ 1 whole lime juiced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Browning Sauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
• ▢ 2 teaspoon Paprika
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Ground Sage
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Onion Powder

For the marinade

• ▢ 5 whole All Spice Berries
• ▢ 1 medium Red Onion sliced thinly
• ▢ 1 Bell pepper sliced thinly
• ▢ 6 cloves Garlic grated
• ▢ 1 inch Fresh Ginger grated
• ▢ 1 whole Scotch Bonnet Pepper
• ▢ 3 sprigs Thyme
• ▢ ½ cup Green onions diced white and green parts

For the gravy

• ▢ 1 stick Butter
• ▢ ½ cup Ketchup
• ▢ 1 cup Chicken Stock
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Hot Sauce

Instructions

Season the Chicken

• Wash the chicken thoroughly with water and lime juice.
• Mix the spices together in a small bowl. Season the chicken pieces generously.
• Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add browning sauce and mix in well.
  

Marinate the Chicken

• Grate the garlic and ginger directly onto the chicken. Add the sliced vegetables, thyme sprigs, and all spice berries. Mix well with your hands. Place the chicken plus marinade in a large ziplock bag then let the chicken marinate overnight.
  

Brown the Chicken

• Separate the chicken from the vegetables, removing as many garlic and ginger pieces as possible.
• Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add oil and brown the chicken on top and bottom about 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and set aside.
  
• Add the the marinade mix plus the scotch bonnet chili to the skillet and saute 2-3 minutes. Add a pinch or two of the spice seasoning mix.
  
• Add the stock and deglaze the pan scraping up all the crispy stuff on the bottom of the pan. Add the butter, ketchup, and hot sauce then mix well.
  
• Add the chicken pieces back to the pan. Cover and simmer 30-45 minutes.
• Add Cup of stock, butter,½ cup ketchup, and tablespoon hot sauce.
• Remove the chicken, increase the heat, and reduce the sauce. Serve the chicken over rice topped with the sauce.

Video

Notes

If you don’t have browning sauce you can make your own by burning sugar in the skillet. To do this you cook brown sugar in a skillet until it melts to almost like a syrup consistency. Add boiling water (slowly) after it’s melted and constantly stir to a thinner sauce consistency.

Cut the pieces into smaller pieces. This makes for a faster cook and makes it easier to brown all parts of the chicken.

Habanero can be substituted for scotch bonnet. You can dice the chili and add to the marinade. Alternatively you can cut slits into the sides of a whole chili and place in the skillet during cooking.

Wash the chicken in something acidic like lime juice or cider vinegar.

For a quicker easy weeknight version try this instant pot brown stew chicken recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 1345mg | Potassium: 653mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2734IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 3mg

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