The flavors in this dish just scream warm and sunny tropical island.
So much so that it makes me wish I was on a tropical island right about now.
It’s a fast, easy recipe the whole family will love and it’s ready in less than 15 minutes. This isn’t traditional jerk chicken but who said we always have to be traditional.
I love the warming flavors in jerk seasoning and it varies from brand to brand but allspice, peppers, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, brown sugar, garlic, and salt are common.
Combined with a sauce made with pineapple juice, honey, and brown sugar for sweetness, and lemon juice and apple cider vinegar for tanginess, the chicken is bursting with sweet-and-tangy flavor and wonderfully moist.
I am all about sauces and dips, always need extra, and this one is ridiculously good. You’ll have more than you like need for the chicken and it’s wonderful drizzled over rice, pasta, or vegetables.
I caramelized pineapple and mango to top the chicken. I used coconut oil which enhances the tropical flair, but you can substitute with another oil.
I used canned pineapple since I needed the juice anyway for the sauce for the chicken and I used frozen mango but if you have fresh, even better. Pineapple holds up to heat and the caramelization process better than mango because it’s firmer, but I adore any caramelized fruit.
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Sweet and Tangy Jerk Chicken with Caramelized Pineapple and Mango
Ingredients
Chicken
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup pineapple juice, from one 16-ounce can pineapple chunks, reserve the pineapple for caramelizing
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for sauce + 1 tablespoon for cooking chicken
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon jerk seasoning for sauce + more for sprinkling over chicken
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 1 1/2 pounds
Caramelized Pineapple and Mango
- ½ to 1 tablespoon coconut oil, or another preferred oil
- about 1 cup pineapple chunks, reserved from can
- about 1 cup mango chunks, I used frozen that I allowed to thaw
- ½ teaspoon salt, optional and to taste
Instructions
- Chicken – To a medium bowl or large measuring cup, add the honey, pineapple juice, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon jerk seasoning, salt, pepper, and stir to combine; set aside.
- To a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, generously sprinkle each chicken breast on both sides with jerk seasoning. Add chicken to skillet and cook chicken over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side so that it has a nice sear. Cooking time will vary based on thickness of chicken breasts. Chicken should be about 80 to 90% cooked through.
- Remove skillet from heat, turn heat to medium-low, and carefully add the sauce noting that it will bubble up vigorously in the first few seconds.
- Place skillet back on the heat and allow chicken to cook for about 10 minutes, or until sauce has thickened and reduced some, has darkened in color, and chicken is cooked through. Flip chicken a few times throughout. While chicken cooks, caramelize the fruit.
- Caramelized Pineapple and Mango – To a separate large skillet, add the coconut oil, pineapple, mango, optionally sprinkle with salt, and cook over medium-high heat until golden brown and caramelized, about 8 minutes, flipping every few minutes to ensure all sides are evenly cooked.
- Top chicken with caramelized fruit and serve immediately. Chicken and fruit are best warm and fresh, but leftovers will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days. I store fruit and chicken separately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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So good!!! Made into a burger once, then over rice.
So good!!! Made into a burger once, then over rice.
Way to get creative! I bet it was delicious both ways!
The Best! I improvised the seasoning because I didn’t have jerk seasoning! Also added no sugar to the mango and pineapple. Husband and I have had this 4 times in a month! Love it!
The Best! I improvised the seasoning because I didn’t have jerk seasoning! Also added no sugar to the mango and pineapple. Husband and I have had this 4 times in a month! Love it!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it’s been on repeat for you and your husband this month!
So super tasty! I have been enjoying cooking my way through your blog as we have been stuck at home!!!
Thank you for your wonderful recipes 💗💗💗
So super tasty! I have been enjoying cooking my way through your blog as we have been stuck at home!!!
Thank you for your wonderful recipes 💗💗💗
Thanks for sharing the recipe, it was amazing! So delish! And easy to make!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it was delish and easy!
Thanks for sharing the recipe, it was amazing! So delish! And easy to make!
Absolutely incredible! I made this for my wife and our five children and it was a hit. We could barely keep our oldest daughter away from the kitchen while we were cooking – it smelled THAT good! If my son hadn’t been napping, I’m sure he would’ve been sneaking pieces off the stove. I paired it with garlic risotto and I can’t get enough. Can’t wait to make this a family staple!
Glad that it was a hit with everyone and that this will become a staple for your family!
I made this today with my niece and put it in a pinapple bowl, with jasmine rice. We won first place to taste. The exact comments were: “the food was really good, low sodium, seasoned very well and very good.” So good they said it twice.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad to hear you won first place and that it was a literal winner for you and your niece!
I made this today with my niece and put it in a pinapple bowl, with jasmine rice. We won first place to taste. The exact comments were: “the food was really good, low sodium, seasoned very well and very good.” So good they said it twice.
Hi Averie,
I really hate pineapple, would you recommend any other fruit as substitute?
thanks!
Just omit it then and go with only mango.
Yes! Swap out the pineapple and mango for orange marmalade, orange zest or apricot or peach jam! Not as sweet and makes a sauce that coats the chicken nicely and goes well with anything.
Oh my, Averie! This was simply delicious!! Both my husband and I agree this will be our contribution for the family reunion in Hawaii this year. Can’t wait to WOW the kiddos with the flavors in this recipe. Just outstanding. Because of the season, I did get to use fresh mango and pineapple. Never caramelized fruit before, so this was a nice surprise. It went so well with the chicken. I found a recipe for the jerk seasoning and put that one together myself. This was so quick and easy. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this was good enough that you are going to make it for your family reunion in Hawaii!
Oh my, Averie! This was simply delicious!! Both my husband and I agree this will be our contribution for the family reunion in Hawaii this year. Can’t wait to WOW the kiddos with the flavors in this recipe. Just outstanding. Because of the season, I did get to use fresh mango and pineapple. Never caramelized fruit before, so this was a nice surprise. It went so well with the chicken. I found a recipe for the jerk seasoning and put that one together myself. This was so quick and easy. Thank you so much.
what is Jerk seasoning? Can it be made with the seasoning I have?
Google Jerk Seasoning. You can find out all about it.
I just discovered your blog a few weeks go because of all your delicious bars. I had leftover fresh mango from another jerk chicken recipe I made 2 days ago when I stumbled across this one. I used pork chops instead just so my husband wouldn’t ask why we were having jerk chicken twice in one week. The flavors are just amazing – definitely knocked it out of the park, so I’m excited to peruse your other non-dessert recipes!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you with pork! Way to use up what you had on hand! The irony is that this chicken recipe is the very first chicken recipe I ever posted on my site because before that, I was a baking-only blog or salads and veggie type sides.