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Pulled Jerk Chicken Sandwiches

Chicken Super Bowl Christmas Labor Day March Madness Caribbean Braising Slow Cooking Dinner Party Tailgating Picnic Potluck Healthy Chicken Thighs Dinner Sub / Sandwich Snack Leftovers Make Ahead Easy
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Chicken Super Bowl Christmas Labor Day March Madness Caribbean Braising Slow Cooking Dinner Party Tailgating Picnic Potluck Healthy Chicken Thighs Dinner Sub / Sandwich Snack Leftovers Make Ahead Easy
24 sandwiches (about 8 to 12 servings) Easy
Total: Active:
27 Ratings 

Ingredients (19)

For the rub:

  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

For the chicken:

  • 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the marinade:

  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup dark molasses (not blackstrap)
  • 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 10 peppercorns
  • 5 medium garlic cloves, smashed
  • 3 medium scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups cilantro (about 1 bunch), coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger, sliced into 1/4-inch coins
  • 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, sliced into rounds

To serve:

  • 24 (4-inch) deli French rolls or other crusty bread
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Nutritional Information
  • Calories284
  • Fat14.79g
  • Saturated fat3.77g
  • Trans fat0.08g
  • Carbs21.26g
  • Fiber1.63g
  • Sugar7.45g
  • Protein16.04g
  • Cholesterol74.09mg
  • Sodium404.06mg
  • Nutritional Analysis per serving (24 servings) Powered by

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Pulled Jerk Chicken Sandwiches

Jerk chicken normally gets marinaded forever and a day and then grilled up quickly. Here we throw it in the slow cooker so it marinates while it cooks, killing two culinary birds with one stone. Shred the meat and serve it up on rolls for your next game-day bash or just keep the thighs whole for a winner of a chicken dinner.

What to buy: A traditional jerk recipe would use Scotch bonnet chiles, but they can be really hard to find. The more common habanero pepper is a good substitute.

There are various intensities of molasses available, from light to blackstrap. Dark (sometimes marketed as robust) tastes best in this recipe.

Game plan: You can make the jerk chicken and toast the rolls up to 1 day ahead so all you have to do is warm up and assemble the sandwiches when you’re ready to eat.

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can braise this in the oven. Brown the chicken and place in a Dutch oven with tight-fitting lid. Add the marinade, cover, and braise in a 325°F oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and continue braising until the chicken is very tender, about 45 minutes more.

This recipe was featured as part of our Tailgating Recipes photo gallery. For more game day protein, check out our beer can chicken recipe.

by Ali LaRaia
  • What to buy

    Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker, $39.99 on Amazon

    This top-rated Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker is perfect for the cook with a busy lifestyle and offers customizable cooking times and temperatures.

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Tips for Chicken and Christmas

Tip
How to Store Chicken
Raw or cooked chicken can be stored in a refrigerator for a few days, though it’s important to prevent raw chicken juices from leaking and contaminating other foods. Ensure that chicken remains in its original packaging (which should be vacuum-sealed or tightly-wrapped) until it is ready to be cooked.
Read More
1 of 6
Next: How to Freeze Chicken
Tip
How to Freeze Chicken
While freezing will make your chicken less tender and juicy, it is the perfect way to store the family-sized pack you bought at Costco last weekend. Remove the chicken from its original packaging and rewrap it tightly using aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper. Double wrap if you are planning to store the chicken for more than two months. Ground chicken can last up to three months in the freezer, while chicken pieces can last up to nine.
Read More
2 of 6
Next: How to Thaw Chicken
Tip
How to Thaw Chicken
You should never thaw chicken at room temperature, as it is highly susceptible to bacteria growth. Frozen chicken should either be thawed in the microwave, in the refrigerator, or in cold water (which should be changed every 30 minutes).
Read More
3 of 6
Next: Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?
Tip
Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?
There are several reasons Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 25. The date is nine months after March 25, a day recognized by Christians as Annunciation. It was the day Mary was told she would was having a baby. The nine months that follow are an approximation of Jesus’ birth. Dec. 25 also coincides with pagan Winter Solstice celebrations like Saturnalia' and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti. Since they were historically celebrated around that time of year there was precedent for holiday festivities during this time of year.
Read More
4 of 6
Next: What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?
Tip
What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?
Christmas is a shortened from the words “Christ’s mass.” It’s derived from the Middle English word "Cristemasse" which has Greek, Hebrew and Latin origins. Christmas is an annual holiday that honors the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians around the world and is regarded as an important religious and cultural holiday.
Read More
5 of 6
Next: How Can We Celebrate Christmas?
Tip
How Can We Celebrate Christmas?
Christmas is traditionally celebrated in many ways and celebrations vary across cultures. In the days leading up to Christmas, people usually put up special decorations including colorful lights and evergreen trees. Gifts are often placed under the tree and exchanged on Christmas day among loved ones. Large meals are also typically served as part of the celebration as well.
Read More
6 of 6
Next: How to Store Chicken

Instructions

  1. 1Combine all rub ingredients in a small bowl. Coat the chicken all over with the rub and set aside. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When it just begins to smoke, place half of the chicken in the pan skin side down and fry both sides until well browned, about 10 minutes total (the chicken will not be cooked all the way through). Place in a slow cooker and repeat with the remaining chicken.
  2. 2Place all marinade ingredients in a medium nonreactive bowl and whisk to combine. Pour over the chicken, cover, and cook on low, turning the chicken pieces every few hours, until the meat is falling off the bone, about 5 to 8 hours.
  3. 3When the chicken is ready, remove to a cutting board. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer, pour it back into the slow cooker, and set the cooker to warm.
  4. 4When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it into bite-sized pieces (discarding the skin, fatty pieces, and bones) and place back in the slow cooker with the sauce until ready to serve.
  5. 5Split the deli rolls in half and toast, then place 1/4 cup of the jerk chicken mixture on each sandwich.
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