Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

Name: Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: jamaican
Ingredients: 1.6kg whole chicken; 11/2 tbsp demerara sugar; 400ml hot chicken stock; 1 tbsp browning sauce (I use Grace); 1 tsp plain flour mixed with 25ml cold water; 1-2 spring onions sliced, to serve; rice and peas and slaw, to serve (optional); 8 thyme sprigs; 1 onion finely sliced; 2 garlic cloves chopped; 1/2 scotch bonnet pepper chopped; 2 tomatoes cut into wedges; 2 tbsp all-purpose seasoning (I use Dunn’s River); 1 tbsp chicken seasoning (I use Dunn’s River); 6 whole pimento seeds crushed; 1 tsp black pepper; 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

4.50 (4)

⏱ 90 mins 🍽 Serves 4 🌶 jamaican ✅ Easy 🏷 Main course

This traditional Jamaican dish features chicken marinated in a rich, spicy blend of seasonings, then oven-baked to create a deep, flavourful stew. The method involves a long marinade for maximum taste, followed by a simple one-pot bake. It's a hearty meal ideal for serving with classic sides like rice and peas. The recipe yields enough for four people and requires about 90 minutes of total cooking time.

Ingredients

1.6kg whole chicken
11/2 tbsp demerara sugar
400ml hot chicken stock
1 tbsp browning sauce (I use Grace)
1 tsp plain flour mixed with 25ml cold water
1-2 spring onions sliced, to serve
rice and peas and slaw, to serve (optional)
8 thyme sprigs
1 onion finely sliced
2 garlic cloves chopped
1/2 scotch bonnet pepper chopped
2 tomatoes cut into wedges
2 tbsp all-purpose seasoning (I use Dunn’s River)
1 tbsp chicken seasoning (I use Dunn’s River)
6 whole pimento seeds crushed
1 tsp black pepper
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method

Take the skin off the chicken, joint it, halve the breasts and separate the legs from the thighs.
Place all the chicken pieces into a large bowl with the marinade ingredients. Toss to coat, then massage the mixture into the meat. Cover the bowl securely and refrigerate for 24 hrs.
Preheat your oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Transfer the chicken and its marinade into a deep, oven-safe dish. Cover with a lid and bake for 40 mins. Take off the lid and stir through the sugar, stock, browning sauce and flour mixture. Bake uncovered for a further 15 mins, turning the chicken and basting it every 5 mins.
Verify the chicken is fully cooked. If needed, return to the oven for 15 mins more and check again. Adjust the seasoning to your preference, then garnish with sliced spring onions. Serve alongside rice and peas and slaw, if desired.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories482 kcal

Fat24 g

Saturates5 g

Carbs17 g

Sugars13 g

Fibre2 g

Protein48 g

Sodium2080 mg

Salt5 g

Recipe details

Skill levelEasy

CategoryMain course

Cuisinejamaican