Name: Jerk-Spiced Chicken with Charred Pineapple Salsa
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons canola or grapeseed oil, divided; 3 slices fresh pineapple (½ inch thick); 1 pound chicken cutlets; 1.5 teaspoons jerk seasoning blend (see Tip); 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro; 2 tablespoons finely diced red onion; 1 teaspoon finely diced jalapeño pepper, seeded if desired; 1 teaspoon grated lime zest; 1 tablespoon lime juice; .125 teaspoon salt

Jerk-Spiced Chicken with Charred Pineapple Salsa

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Jamaican jerk chicken is traditionally marinated at least overnight and then grilled low and slow for fall-apart tenderness. Here, we coat chicken in store-bought seasoning but cook it in a pan for a faster version. Searing pineapple caramelizes its natural sugars and releases some of its juices—making for a more flavorful salsa that plays beautifully with the seasoning on the chicken.

Carolyn Malcoun

Published on December 16, 2020

Jerk-Spiced Chicken with Charred Pineapple Salsa — Photo: Jacob Fox

Active Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

20 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Profile:

Dairy-Free Egg Free Gluten-Free Low Carbohydrate Low-Calorie Nut-Free Soy-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

2 tablespoons canola or grapeseed oil, divided
3 slices fresh pineapple (½ inch thick)
1 pound chicken cutlets
1 ½ teaspoons jerk seasoning blend (see Tip)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
1 teaspoon finely diced jalapeño pepper, seeded if desired
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1 tablespoon lime juice
⅛ teaspoon salt

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add pineapple and cook, flipping once, until charred on both sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a clean cutting board.
Sprinkle chicken with jerk seasoning. Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan. Add the chicken and cook, flipping once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 165°F, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to the cutting board to rest.
Coarsely chop the pineapple. Combine with cilantro, onion, jalapeño, lime zest, lime juice and salt in a small bowl. Serve the chicken with the salsa.

Tips

Tip: Jamaican jerk seasoning, a mix of allspice and chile pepper—usually with other spices, such as cinnamon, onion powder and garlic powder—pairs nicely with the tropical salsa here. If your jerk seasoning doesn't have salt, sprinkle the chicken with a pinch of salt in Step 2.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

217	Calories
9g	Fat
9g	Carbs
26g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 3 oz. chicken & ¼ cup salsa
Calories 217
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 9g	3%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 26g	52%
Total Fat 9g	12%
Saturated Fat 1g	5%
Cholesterol 65mg	22%
Sodium 254mg	11%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.