Grilled Jerk Chicken with Summer Zucchini
A fast Jamaican-inspired jerk chicken dinner with smoky grilled zucchini and sweet Washington summer corn brightened with lime and cilantro.
This recipe may need another look before cooking.
It scored 7/10, below our 8/10 retry mark.
- Total time: 40 min
- Servings: 2 servings
- Estimated total cost: $13
- Calories per serving: 560 cal
- Grill
Ingredients
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Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs1 pound $6.49
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Organic Zucchini Squash12 ounces $2.77
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Bi-color Corn2 ears $0.79
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Lime2 $0.69
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Organic Garlic2 cloves $6.99
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Cilantro Bunch1/4 cup chopped leaves and tender stems $1.19
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Extra-virgin olive oil2 tablespoons
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Light brown sugar2 teaspoons
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Ground allspice1 1/2 teaspoons
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Dried thyme1 teaspoon
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Smoked paprika1/2 teaspoon
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Cayenne pepper1/4 teaspoon
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Kosher salt1 1/4 teaspoons
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Black pepper1/4 teaspoon
Instructions
Swipe or drag a step aside when it’s done. ↔
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1.
Heat a grill to medium-high, about 425–450°F, and clean the grates. Cut 12 ounces zucchini lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick planks. Husk 2 ears corn.
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2.
Make the jerk paste by combining:
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Zest and juice of 1 lime
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Stir until evenly blended.
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3.
Pat 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs dry and season all over with 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Coat thoroughly with the jerk paste and let stand for 10 minutes while the grill finishes heating.
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4.
Coat the prepared zucchini and corn with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.
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5.
Grill the chicken with the lid closed for 5–6 minutes per side, until lightly charred and the thickest pieces reach 165°F. Transfer to a clean plate and rest for 5 minutes.
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6.
At the same time, grill the corn for 10–12 minutes, turning every few minutes, and grill the zucchini for 3–4 minutes per side, until charred and tender. Transfer both to a clean cutting board.
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7.
Cut the kernels from the grilled corn and slice the grilled zucchini into bite-size pieces. Toss them with the juice of 1 lime and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems to make the summer vegetable side.
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8.
Divide the lime-cilantro zucchini and corn between two plates. Slice the rested jerk chicken, arrange it alongside the vegetables, and spoon any clean resting juices over the chicken.
Drink pairing: An off-dry Riesling cools the jerk spices while complementing the sweet grilled corn.