Sticky BBQ Jerk Chicken

This BBQ chicken is sticky, spicy, and fall-off-the-bone tender. Fried first for that golden crunch, then baked in a jerk-spiced BBQ glaze, it’s the kind of meal that makes weeknights feel like a celebration. Get ready for finger-licking goodness, with just the right kick of heat

It’s mid-week already!! I’m a little excited and a little apprehensive. Yay for the weekend being almost here, but how many more weeks do we have before the end of the year? 11 weeks or so? Time is flying.

In the midst of everything though, I think dinner is that time we need to take to sit down to eat something and something good.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crispy, juicy chicken coated in a sticky, flavorful glaze
• Caribbean flair with the combo of BBQ sauce + jerk seasoning
• Perfect for a midweek dinner or Sunday indulgence
• Customizable with your favorite sauces or spice level

How to make sticky jerk bbq chicken

What You’ll Need

• Chicken thighs: Bone-in and skin-on for juicy, flavorful bites that hold up to frying and baking.
• Green seasoning: Our essential Caribbean marinade. You can use store-bought or your own blend.
• Eggs and flour: Classic combo for getting that crispy, golden coating before the bake.
• Spices: Salt, black pepper, and paprika to flavor the dredge.
• BBQ sauce: Go for a thick, sweet style — whatever brand you love.
• Jerk seasoning paste: Brings the heat. Adjust based on your spice tolerance.
• Fresh herbs: I use cilantro to brighten the glaze, but parsley works too.
• Oil for frying: Any neutral, high-heat oil like vegetable or canola.

A Quick Word Before You Jump In…

I won’t lie, this isn’t a “30-minute dinner in one pan” kinda situation. We’re frying the chicken first until it’s golden, then finishing it off in the oven smothered in sauce. But that combo? Game. Changer. Trust me, you’ll be stealing bites mid-bake too. (I may or may not have eaten a whole thigh before the photo shoot.)

I usually use chicken thighs for this, bone-in for best flavor and structure, but drumsticks work great too. You want pieces that can hold up to both frying and baking without drying out.

Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken

Rub chicken thighs with green seasoning and let them marinate for at least 1 hour (overnight is even better).

2. Fry the Chicken

• Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat.
• In a shallow bowl, lightly beat the eggs.
• In another plate, mix together flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.
• Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then dredge in the seasoned flour.
• For extra crunch, repeat the egg + flour step.
• Fry until golden brown and semi-cooked through. Place in a baking dish.

3. Glaze and Bake

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mix BBQ sauce, jerk paste, and chopped cilantro together.
• Spoon or brush the sauce all over the chicken.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Flip or re-baste the chicken, then bake another 10 minutes or until fully cooked.
• Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Tips

• Don’t skip the marinade. Green seasoning brings flavor all the way through.
• Want it extra sticky? Double the glaze and save some for drizzling.
• Not a cilantro fan? Swap it out for parsley or even a sprinkle of chive.
• If you’re short on time, you can bake instead of fry — but the texture won’t be quite the same.

Storage & Reheating

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Warm in the oven at 300°F or microwave with a splash of water to keep it moist.

More jerk recipes

If you love jerk try these:

• Pulled Jerk Chicken Sandwich
• Rasta Pasta
• Jerk Shrimp Tacos

Frequenly Asked Questions

Recipe

Sticky BBQ Jerk Chicken

A simple recipe for a fried, then baked jerk bbq chicken with a sticky glaze that is tender, sweet and a little spicy and perfect for a Sunday dinner

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Caribbean

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

For Frying

• 4 chicken thighs
• 3 tablespoons green seasoning
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Oil for frying

For Baking

• 1 cup BBQ sauce I use Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ
• 1/2 teaspoon jerk seasoning paste
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Method

 

For Frying

1. Season chicken with green seasoning (or however you season your chicken) and set aside for 1 hour
2. Place oil in a deep enough frying pan and heat to med-high heat
3. Lightly beat eggs in a shallow bowl
4. In a large plate add flour, salt, paprika, and black pepper and mix together
5. Remove pieces of chicken from the seasoning and dip each piece into the egg bath, then flour and set aside (If you want a crunchier cover, dip in the egg bath again and flour. If doing this, more eggs may be needed)
6. Fry chicken until golden brown and semi-cooked through, then place in a dish to bake

For Baking

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix BBQ sauce, jerk paste, and chopped cilantro together
3. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Take a spatula or a knife and spread the sauce around the chicken.
5. Return and bake for another 10 minutes or until cooked through
6. Remove from oven and let the chicken sit for 5 minutes

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!