This deliciously potent seasoning blend has a gorgeous mix of herbs and spices that will transport you straight to a Caribbean island. Jamaican jerk seasoning is a pantry staple must-have, super versatile, and complements anything from fish and chicken to beef and pasta.
Jamaican jerk seasoning is an all-purpose seasoning everyone should have on hand. It elevates just about any food to the next level of deliciousness. Sure, the Caribbean vibes are incredible, but it easily crosses cultural borders. Sprinkle it on a pasta dish, and you’ll see what I mean.
Plus, if you love grilling, it’s a must. Whenever peak BBQ season rolls around, I make a double batch of homemade jerk seasoning.
Literally, any protein or vegetable you throw on the grill goes from boring to can’t-wait-for-seconds good with a generous sprinkling of this addictive stuff. You’ve been warned! 
Why Make Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Homemade spice blends are where it’s at. You can customize them to fit your personal taste preferences and make them diet- or kid-friendly.
And not only do homemade seasonings taste way better, but they’re also cost-effective! Homemade seasonings can save you a ton of money. Feel free to pass up those fancy pre-made jerk seasonings at the supermarket because your homemade version is going to be killer. 
What You Need
Okay, so there is a long ingredient list for homemade jerk seasoning, but don’t let it scare you. These are mostly pantry staples you already have at home, with only a few exceptions. And with this kind of mega blend, if you don’t have one or two ingredients, there’s no need to worry; it will still be great.
- Aromatics – You’ll need onion and garlic powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. These add aroma, flavor, and a nice zing to the mix.
- Seasonings – Thyme, white pepper, and smoked paprika add earthy notes with a subtle mintiness that always benefits savory dishes. If you don’t have smoked paprika and are okay with a little heat, replace it with ground chipotle.
- Sweetness – Coconut sugar adds sweetness to the mix, but you can always use brown sugar instead.
- Flavor Enhancers – Bouillon powder is a must, too, but using chicken or vegetable variety is up to you.
- Heat – Finally, we bring the heat with chili powder. You can use any spicy seasoning you love here, whether red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or just plain old chili powder.
Pro tip: I also like adding homemade dried green onion flakes. Chop a few green onions and let them dry for 2-3 days during dry summer months (or in a low oven for a few hours). Store them in an airtight container and save them for garnishes or adding flavor to any kind of dish.
How to Make the Best Jerk Seasoning
Mix the ingredients in a medium bowl, then store your Jamaican jerk seasoning in an airtight jar. How easy is that?
Recipe Variations
- Make it mild. You can omit the spicy pepper powders if you aren’t a heat seeker like me. Or adjust the heat to your desired level.
- Add your favorite flavors. Some people like to include bay leaves, black pepper, cumin, turmeric, and other spices. You can do the same. Homemade seasonings are all about making it your own.
- Make it a sauce. Easily turn this seasoning blend into a sauce by adding a good amount of the dry seasoning to ¼ cup of pineapple juice. Add a dash of soy sauce with a little cooking oil, and then use it as a marinade for meats and veggies. (This is also an excellent technique for grilling.)
FAQs
Hot pepper (typically scotch bonnet), thyme, and allspice give this seasoning that classic Caribbean flavor unique to jerk seasoning. You can add just about anything else you want and still retain the jerk seasoning essence.
Jerky comes from the Quechua word charqui, dried and preserved meat. The name stuck to the spice mixture used in slow-roasting meat over a smokey fire. The fusion of Amerindian and African cultures is an awesome combination.
No, it isn’t. Cajun seasoning is mainly herbs and hot pepper. Jerk seasoning features spices like allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg that you won’t find in Cajun mixes.
How to Use and Store It
Jerk seasoning typically seasons chicken and pork, but honestly, it goes great on just about any meat or fish. You can use it to replace Cajun or blackened seasonings for delicious results in any meal. Grilled jerk seasoning chicken wings is one of my absolute fave recipes, Caribbean jerk BBQ ribs are a must-have for cookouts, and leftovers from either one make drool-worthy jerk tacos. 
I store my jerk seasoning sealed in a glass jar on my spice rack. It should last two years if you don’t use it up before that.
More Easy Seasoning Recipes to Try
- Creole Cajun Seasoning
- Blackened Seasoning
- Zaatar Seasoning
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Taco Seasoning
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”0TsHOLgi” upload-date=”2020-03-07T14:10:12.000Z” name=”Jamaican Jerk Seasoning” description=” Jerk Seasoning – Save money and make your own homemade Jerk Spice, it is quick to put together and can be easily customized for personal preference. ” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”]This blog post was first published in April 2015 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video