What to Serve with Jerk Chicken: 25 Mouth-Watering Side Dishes
Exactly what to serve with jerk chicken! These delicious side dishes will make your flavorful chicken dinner complete!
Jerk is a SUPER flavorful Jamaican style of cooking that coats meat or veggies – most commonly chicken breasts or chicken thighs as the main ingredient – with tons of spices and grilled.
A dry rub or jerk marinade made from scotch bonnet peppers, lime juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar creates a smoky, spicy chicken with a hint of sweet flavor.
What is traditionally served with jerk chicken?
Jerk chicken dinner sides commonly include rice dishes, vegetables, and potatoes.
You can serve it as jerk chicken tacos, skewers, wraps, or stand alone as an authentic Jamaican jerk chicken breast or thigh.
I put together an entire list of ideas, so let’s dive into these jerk chicken side ideas!
What to eat with jerk chicken
1. Coconut rice
Fluffy coconut rice pairs perfectly with a tropical main dish like jerk chicken.
Coconut milk and flakes give it a deliciously rich and slightly sweet flavor that kids and adults all adore.
2. Sweet potatoes
Either mashed or baked sweet potatoes offer the perfect mixture of sweet and savory.
They’re nutritious while still feeling indulgent.
You can flavor them with spices that mirror those in your jerk chicken, or balance the spice with cinnamon or brown sugar.
3. Jamaican rice and peas
Hands down, rice and peas are one of those Jamaican side dishes that everyone makes.
It is actually more like red beans and rice, because the ‘peas’ are actually red kidney beans.
The beans and rice are flavored with coconut milk, and seasoned to perfection with peppers, ginger, thyme, garlic, and allspice.
4. Plantains
Mashed or pan-fried plantains offer the perfect sweet balance to spicy jerk chicken.
Even though they look like bananas, they aren’t eaten raw. Plantains become sweeter when cooked, with the outsides getting crispy and soft, tender centers.
5. Coleslaw
Coleslaw is so creamy and refreshing, and offers a cooling counterpart to the heat of the Jamaican jerk seasoning.
You can pick it up pre-made at your grocery store, or make homemade coleslaw with just 4 ingredients!
6. Caribbean corn
Caribbean corn is a twist on traditional corn kernels. It incorporates pineapple juice, soy sauce, garlic, cumin, and ginger.
It’s so easy to make, but feels like a special treat!
7. Roasted garlic potatoes
Garlic herb roasted potatoes are flavorful, inexpensive and very simple to prepare.
Their crispy yet creamy texture will have everyone going back for seconds.
8. Plait bread
Plait bread is a homemade Caribbean bread that gets its name from its braided look.
It’s so soft and tender that it just might steal the show!
9. Black beans
Cuban black beans have a thick, gravy-like sauce made from sauteed onions, peppers, and garlic.
Canned black beans allow this easy side dish to come together in under 20 minutes, and may become your go-to side for all kinds of dinners.
10. Empanadas
Empanadas are a baked or fried turnover made from pastry and a delicious filling.
They’re a staple in Spanish cuisine, and can be made with chicken, beef, pork, or vegetarian filling.
11. Sweet potato fries
Jamaican jerk sweet potato fries are baked, not fried, and have crispy edges and soft, tender centers.
They’re coated in a seasoning blend that packs major Caribbean flavor.
You won’t regret trying this fun twist on french fries!
12. Trinidad macaroni pie
Basically the Caribbean version of macaroni and cheese, Trinidad macaroni pie is a cheesy, flavor-packed baked pasta dish.
It’s super easy to make, and just might be the most flavorful mac and cheese you’ll ever eat!
13. Collard greens
If you’ve ever wondered what vegetables go with jerk chicken, callaloo is it.
It’s a popular Jamaican dish, and is kind of their version of collard greens.
Leafy greens flavored with onion, garlic, tomatoes, thyme, and Scotch bonnets for tons of flavor.
14. Yuca fries
Yuca fries, aka cassava, are a fun alternative to regular or sweet potato fries.
Yuca is a starchy root vegetable native to the Caribbean and South America. It has a chewier texture than potatoes, with a slightly sweet and nutty flavor.
If you like potatoes, you enjoy these!
15. Caribbean potato salad
The addition of peas, carrots, hard-boiled eggs, and a particular dressing make this potato salad uniquely Caribbean.
It’s creamy and luscious, and a cooling counterpart to spicy food like jerk chicken.
16. Maque choux
Maque choux is a Cajun side dish of corn and peppers sauteed in bacon grease with Cajun seasoning and a touch of cream.
It’s so flavorful that your family will be asking for it again and again!
17. Cilantro lime rice
This easy, cilantro lime rice has such a refreshing and fun flavor combination.
Make it once and you’ll be putting it on the menu every week.
18. Jamaican fruit salad
Fruit salad with lime and honey is packed with Caribbean flavors.
The sweetness from this salad complements spiciness so well, making it the perfect side dish for jerk chicken.
19. Corn on the cob
Mmm…crunchy, juicy, corn on the cob is one of the many things that make summer so magical.
It’s so easy to make, totally inexpensive, and always a crowd pleaser.
20. Jamaican fried dumplings
Johnny cakes are a Jamaican comfort food that basically every household makes.
The fried dumplings are crispy on the outside and tender in the center.
Kind of like donut holes, without the intense sweetness.
They’re seriously addicting, so be sure to make enough!
21. Caribbean salad
You’ll feel like you’re on a tropical vacation with this Caribbean salad.
Tender salad greens are topped with pineapple, mandarin oranges, and dried cranberries.
The honey lime dressing is inspired by one that’s served at Disney’s ‘Ohana restaurant at their Polynesion resort.
22. Grilled vegetables
If you’ve wondered what vegetables go with jerk chicken, these Jamaican jerk grilled vegetables are it!
They’re the perfect combo of sweet and spicy flavor, and will have even the most carnivorous say “wow, these are good.”
23. Trini Corn Pie
Basically the perfect casserole side dish, this Trini corn pie is a traditional recipe that’s both savory and slightly sweet.
The budget-friendly ingredients turn into something magical that you’ll want to make all year long.
24. Cucumber salad with lime and cilantro
This cool and refreshing cucumber salad is so light, and yet so very flavorful.
Cucumbers, red onion, fresh herbs, and lime juice come together in a magical way.
It’s just what you need alongside the spicy jerk chicken seasoning.
25. Grilled pineapple or mango
Grilling pineapple or mango gives it a caramelized, sweet flavor that won’t disappoint.
It’s the perfect side dish or dessert if you’re cooking your jerk chicken recipe on the grill – just throw it on right alongside it!
What sauce goes with jerk chicken
The one thing that can make jerk chicken even more delicious is adding a dipping sauce.
The best sauces to serve with jerk chicken are:
- Honey lime dipping sauce
- Mango habanero sauce
- Yogurt sauce
- Green sauce
- Jamaican jerk dipping sauce
- Scallion pepper sauce
- Mango salsa
Drinks to serve with jerk chicken
A meal is just never complete without a complementary beverage!
Whether you want to serve alcohol or not, there are tons of fun drink ideas to consider.
The best drinks to serve with jerk chicken are:
- Bob Marley cocktail
- Ginger beer
- Jamaican rum punch
- Sangria
- Red Stripe beer
Of course, you can’t go wrong with good old fashioned iced tea or Coca-cola, either!
Ready to try these jerk chicken sides?
I hope this list of sides has given you lots of inspiration for what goes with jerk chicken.
The special flavor profile of jerk deserves a memorable side dish.
There are almost infinite flavor combinations!
Exactly what to serve with jerk chicken! These delicious side dishes will make your flavorful chicken dinner complete! 1. Decide which side dishes you'd like to serve with your Jamaican jerk chicken
What to Eat with Jerk Chicken
Ingredients
Instructions
2. Gather the ingredients and prepare your meal
3. Serve and enjoy!
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