Authentic Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
Make the best Authentic Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken with real Caribbean and island flavors from fresh herbs, veggies, and a few must-have seasonings. This rich stew is sure to become a family favorite dinner during the week. Gluten-free.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 636kcal
Ingredients
CHICKEN:
- 3-4 lbs. organic chicken, skin removed (Drumsticks + Thigh pieces work great!)
- 2-3 Tbsps Jamaican Green Seasoning, optional
- 2 tsps On Everything All-Purpose Blend (You can purchase my On Everything All-Purpose Blend for authentic flavor or make your own blend----See Notes)
- 2 tsps smoked paprika
BROWN STEW:
- 3 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsps organic brown sugar
- 1 yellow or white onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
- ½ cup organic ketchup (You can also use tomato sauce, if preferred)
- 2 scallions, crushed (AKA green onions)
- 4 fresh thyme sprigs
- ½ teaspoon minced fresh ginger (You can also use ¼ teaspoon ground ginger instead if that's what you have on hand)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon On Everything All-Purpose Blend (You can purchase my On Everything All-Purpose Blend for authentic flavor or make your own blend----See Notes)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1-3 scotch bonnet peppers, minced or whole (You can also use habanero peppers)
- 4 cups organic chicken stock
Instructions
MARINATE THE CHICKEN:
- In a large bowl, add your freshly cleaned + rinsed chicken along with Green Seasoning, All-Purpose Blend, and smoked paprika, mixing everything together until chicken is fully coated. Add coated chicken to a securely sealed ziplock bag and place in the refrigerator for 3 hours (minimum). NOTE: Best if marinaded overnight. When ready to use, let chicken sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking.
BROWN THE CHICKEN:
- In a deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat, add 2 Tbsps of olive oil and once fully heated, add the brown sugar. Stir the brown sugar in oil and let it sit until it becomes wet like in texture in semi-dissolves. Now, add in the marinated chicken and cook on each side until seared, about 3-4 minutes each side. Remove from heat and set aside on a plate. NOTE: This creates a beautiful "brown" color which makes using the browning sauce optional.
TO MAKE THE BROWN STEW CHICKEN:
- In the same deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and once fully heated, add the minced garlic, ginger, minced garlic, and onions, sautéing until fragrant.
- Add the bell peppers, scotch bonnet pepper, and chopped tomatoes, sautéing for 1-2 minutes or until softened a bit. Add the All-purpose Blend, allspice, and salt, continue to stir until combined.
- Pour in the chicken stock/broth, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, stirring until combined. Let the mixture boil for a minute or so before adding the seared chicken, crushed scallion (aka green onions), and thyme sprigs, stirring to incorporate. Reduce the heat to simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through and tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat once done. NOTE: The sauce should be thick, but with a good amount of gravy for the side dish. It may take a few extra 10 minutes or so to get to the perfect gravy thickness.
- To serve, enjoy the brown stew chicken with your favorite side (i.e. rice, rice and peas, fried sweet plantain, coleslaw, veggies, etc.). Garnish with a bit of chopped scallion and/or a bit of Jamaican Pepper Sauce, if desired.
- Bon Appétit!
Notes
- STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, you can do this easily in the microwave or over the stovetop (adding ½ cup or so of chicken stock if needed) until warmed through and saucy.
- JAMAICAN SEASONINGS: If authentic Jamaican seasonings (i.e. browning, Green seasoning, Flavo Rice (all-purpose), Pepper Sauce, etc.) aren't readily available near you, they are available for purchase on my Amazon Shop. Otherwise, substitute with your favorite brand.
- GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: Ensure that all ingredients are GF-certified.
- HOMEMADE ALL-PURPOSE BLEND: 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, + 1 teaspoon dried parsley.
- SLOW COOKER, PRESSURE COOKER, + OVEN OPTIONS: For how to make this brown stew chicken using any of these methods, see post!
Nutrition
Calories: 636kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 80g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 245mg | Sodium: 1297mg | Potassium: 1279mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1752IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 5mg