What to Serve with Jerk Chicken

Published: Jan 13, 2022 · Modified: Mar 7, 2023 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

Jerk chicken is a Jamaican dish that's typically served with rice and peas. What to serve with jerk chicken can depend on the country you're in, but generally, it will be some type of carbohydrate and a vegetable. Here are our favorite recipes to serve alongside your jerk chicken!

WHAT IS JERK CHICKEN?

Jerk chicken is a Jamaican dish that's made with spicy, marinated chicken. The chicken is usually cooked over an open flame, and it's often served with rice and peas. We make our jerk chicken in our air fryer and eat it regularly. I urge you to try it!

There are many different recipes for jerk chicken, but all of them include Caribbean spices like allspice, thyme, and Scotch bonnet peppers.

Chicken is a low-cost protein that can be prepared in countless ways. We love chicken and love all of the different ways you can prepare it. Chicken never has to taste the same way more than once with all of the different choices of ways to season it. Jerk chicken is just one of many ways to prepare chicken.

Serving a side dish no matter how you prepare your chicken, but especially with jerk chicken is important. It makes a healthy well-balanced meal. Sides also allow everyone to have something on their plate that they love.

WHY YOU SHOULD SERVE SIDES THIS DISH

When you serve jerk chicken, you should also have a side dish to complete the meal. What to serve with jerk chicken will depend on where you are in the world, but there are some general guidelines that can help. Starch such as rice or pasta is a common side for jerk chicken, as well as a vegetable.

If you're eating in Jamaica, they typically serve rice and peas with their jerk chicken. What to eat with jerk chicken in the US will often be served with Spanish or yellow rice, pasta salad, couscous, or roasted vegetables.

If you're looking for a side dish that's more of an appetizer than anything else, try serving plantain chips on the side. Plantains are a type of banana that's often used in Caribbean cuisine. They have a sweetness to them and pair well with the spicy jerk chicken.

Whatever you choose to serve as your side dish, make sure it's something that will complement the flavors of the jerk chicken and not compete with them.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH JERK CHICKEN

Below are some of our favorite recipes to serve with jerk chicken. What you need will depend on the recipe, but these should give a good starting point for your meal planning!

Jamaican Rice and Peas Recipe

This Jamaican rice and peas recipe is loaded with the bold authentic flavors of Jamaica and makes a great side dish for almost anything.

Slow Cooker Bacon Mac and Cheese

This Crockpot Bacon Mac and Cheese is the best, easy, creamy, cheesy, comfort food! It requires minimal effort for a terrific side dish for meals or the ultimate comforting main course for weeknight dinners.

A bowl of slow cooker bacon mac and cheese with a fork holding up a bite above the bowl.

BBQ Mac and Cheese

This bbq mac and cheese is so much better than the boxed version. Made with 3 kinds of cheese, lots of pulled pork, BBQ sauce and then topped with crumbled cornbread. Baked in the oven till bubbly, then served with your favorite salad.

A close up spoonful of mac and cheese.

Easy Rosemary Macaroni and Cheese

Easy Rosemary Macaroni and Cheese is classic comfort food, made even better, with the addition of rosemary. Creamy, cheesy, goodness in every bite!

Rosemary White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese

Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese

Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese is full of rich flavors including three of my favorite things, ranch dressing, jalapeños and macaroni and cheese.

Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese in bowl.

Smoked Pineapple

Smoked Pineapple is a simple dish that combines both sweet and smoky flavors. You will be amazed at how delicious this fruit turns out.

Baked Brazilian Pineapple

Our simple baked Brazilian pineapple recipe combines juicy fresh pineapple, cinnamon and sugar and then cooks it in the oven or on the grill until caramelized into a delicious dessert.

Baked Brazilian Pineapple on parchment.

Creole Smoked Potato Salad

This creole smoked potato salad may look like the classic, but don't let it fool you. Loaded with delicious creole flavors and a healthy dose of smoke, this is one potato salad recipe you'll want to make again and again!

Smoked potato salad on a plate.

Smoked Sweet Potatoes

This smoked sweet potatoes recipe is something totally different. Coated with brown sugar, cinnamon and perfectly-smoked, these sweet potato wedges are to die for!

Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes

Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes are crispy, flavorful and super simple to make. If you're into delicious breakfast side dishes, then this is the recipe for you!

A close-up of a fork lifting seasoned crockpot potatoes garnished with parsley and tomatoes.

Air Fryer Crispy Roasted Little Mini Baby Potatoes

Easy Air Fryer Crispy Roasted Little Mini Baby Potatoes recipe creates the best small baby potatoes in an air fryer EVER for breakfast or dinner!

How to Make Candied Sweet Potatoes

How to Make Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe is the way to making the best, old-fashioned, southern candied maple sweet potatoes on the planet!

Candied Sweet Potato Casserole Two Ways

Get ready for the best sweet potato casserole recipe you've ever tasted! Or rather, the best TWO recipes since we're showing you two ways to make candied sweet potato casserole! We keep it classic with marshmallows or you can choose a pecan streusel topping!

A collage image showing the two different ways to make candied sweet potato casserole.

Oven Baked Sliced Potato (aka Potato Blossom)

This Easy Oven Baked Sliced Potato (aka Potato Blossom) recipe shows how to bake the best crispy oven roasted potatoes with cheese and more!

Potato Blossom

Easy Cheesy Potato Casserole

This sliced potato casserole is made with layers of real potatoes, bacon, onions, and cheese for the best comfort food ever! Perfect for any occasion, it's one recipe you'll keep coming back to again and again.

Easy Cheesy Potato Casserole with Sliced Potatoes on the table.

Homemade Taco Bell Nacho Fries Air Fryer

Craving Taco Bell Nacho Fries? Look no further. These copycat Taco Bell nacho fries are crispy, cheesy and delicious! Just like the original only even better. Amped up with a bit of spice, these nacho fries are flavor personified!

How to Air Fry Asparagus and Asparagus Fries

Are you ready to learn how to Air Fry Asparagus and Asparagus Fries? The process is simple. they're perfect for dipping and they taste amazing!

Easy Broiled Asparagus

Beautifully crispy and charred on the outside, and perfectly tender on the inside- this broiled asparagus is a super easy 10-minute side dish you need to try!

A plate of easy broiled asparagus topped with shredded cheese and garnished with lemon slices.

Sour Cream Veggie Dip

This sour cream veggie dip is the perfect dip for almost anything. This creamy veggie dip goes great with crackers, chips, and veggies!

Sour cream dip surrounded by fresh vegetables.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Easy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus or Prosciutto is keto, with or without brown sugar, this oven baked, broiled or grilled asparagus wrapped in bacon is the best!

Bacon wrapped asparagus on plate with lemon slices.

Instant Pot Cheesy Broccoli Rice

This Instant Pot cheesy broccoli rice is always a crowd-pleaser. Easy to make and packed full of cheesy flavor, you'll want to make this Instant Pot broccoli cheese rice often!

Air Fryer Parmesan Green Beans

Green beans are a classic side but these air fryer parmesan green beans are so full of flavor, they beat classic by a long shot! These air fryer green beans are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of flavor.

Air Fryer Parmesan Green Beans on a white plate.

Homemade Chicken Fried Rice

This homemade chicken fried rice is a real crowd pleaser, and it's so easy to make. When you make this easy chicken fried rice, it goes fast!

Red Red Rice

Red Red Rice is an easy side dish that we have been making for years. So different and a tasty change from traditional rice dishes with so many options!

Red Red Rice

Air Fryer Crispy Roasted Little Mini Baby Potatoes

Easy Air Fryer Crispy Roasted Little Mini Baby Potatoes recipe creates the best small baby potatoes in an air fryer EVER for breakfast or dinner!

Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

These Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are a simple dish with sliced potatoes, onions and cheese baked in the most flavorful, creamy cheese sauce ever! It's perfect for family dinners but also a holiday favorite.

A bowl of easy cheesy scalloped potatoes stacked in another bowl with a fork lifting up a potato slice.

Sweet Potato Sheet Pan

Sweet Potato Sheet Pan dinners are flavorful, healthy and easy to prepare with minimal cleanup. This versatile, vibrant dish is a wonderful blend of sweet and savory flavors. Add sausage or chicken and you have an awesome well-rounded dinner!

Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole

This is by far the BEST Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole! Creamy mashed potatoes combine with sour cream, butter and cheese to make the base of the dish and then add on plenty of toppings. It's the perfect potato casserole for holidays, lazy weekends, or any time you need an easy, yet delicious potato side dish.

A spoonful of loaded mashed potato casserole up over a plate with more.

Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

Air fried corn on the cob is a simple and fast way to cook this summer favorite. So tasty, this great side dish is ideal for grill nights or any night of the week

Scalloped Corn Casserole

This creamy scalloped corn casserole with a buttery Ritz cracker topping requires just a few ingredients and comes together quickly. The savory, versatile corn side dish goes well with holiday dinners, and alongside practically any meal. It's a homey casserole that everyone will love.

Creamy Sweet Corn Casserole with Jiffy Mix

Cheesy Sweet Corn Casserole with Jiffy Mix is a quick and easy side dish. The sweet, custardy, and creamy corn casserole is made with Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix.

Baked Garlic Butter Carrots

Garlic Butter Carrots are easy and delicious, roasted at 350 degrees, cut or sliced in your favorite shape or using baby carrots, this dish doesn't disappoint.

A white bowl with a serving of garlic butter carrots in it.

Delicious Glazed Carrots

This Buttery Glazed Carrots recipe is a delicious, budget-friendly, and simple-to-make vegetable side dish. Every cook should have a good glazed carrots recipe in their kitchen repertoire. Delicious glazed carrots go well with just about any protein.

delicious glazed carrots

Green Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar

Warning: these green beans can be addictive! Made with bacon, brown sugar, onion, garlic, soy sauce and simmered in broth for hours, you can easily see why.

Smoked Green Beans

Smoked Green Beans are buttery, garlicky, and full of smoky flavor. This homemade green beans recipe has a ring of familiarity to it, but takes the taste of green beans to a whole new level!

Quick and Easy Balsamic Green Beans

This Sweet Garlic Balsamic Green Beans recipe is made with fresh green beans that are sauteed to perfection! It's the perfect answer to a quick and easy side for all types of meals.

Balsamic green beans in a bowl with fresh green beans on the table, a bulb of garlic, and a fork.

TAKE JERK CHICKEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Jerk chicken is a flavorful dish that's easy to make. What we love about it most, however, is how customizable your meal can be depending on what you and your family enjoy. What to serve with jerk chicken can depend on where you are, but there's no wrong way to make it! What do you like the most about jerk chicken?

We hope this article has helped you answer what to serve with jerk chicken. You can always experiment and try something new or mix and match different dishes to create a unique meal for your family and friends. Happy cooking!

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