Skip to Content

Brown Stew Chicken

Sharing is caring!

This Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken is full of Caribbean flavor and a perfect main dish for any day of the week. It’s the perfect stewed chicken dish when you want to have a taste of the islands.

brown stew chicken in pot with blue towel behind it

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

We had brown stewed chicken quite often growing up and it quickly became one of my favorite stew recipes. It was on a weekly rotation in our house and we would have it more often than we had these amazing oxtails

Brown stew chicken takes a little more time than most traditional stew recipes you will find. The meat is washed and then marinated in “seasoning” which includes chopped aromatics and a few dry seasonings. The meat is then lightly browned on the stovetop or in the oven, and then stewed for about 30-40 minutes until the meat is fall off the bone tender. 

I’ve ventured from my parent’s recipe by using boneless and skinless chicken, mainly because I’m not a fan of chicken skin in stew. You could use chicken with skin and bone on it, just expect to cook it longer. 

How to Make Brown Stew Chicken

First, rinse your chicken with some vinegar and water. I’m sure some will wonder why. This is just a rule from my mom and almost anyone from the Caribbean. So I do it. No questions asked. 

Place your chicken pieces in a bowl along with the brown sugar, browning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, dried thyme, black pepper, allspice, garlic cloves, ginger, onions, and peppers. That’s a lot, but oh so necessary if you want those deep flavors. Mix ingredients, making sure the chicken is fully covered. Cover and place in the fridge and allow the meat to marinate for at least 1 hour. If you can, allow it to marinate overnight. 

raw chicken with peppers, onions, and other seasonings in glass bowl

When ready to cook, remove the onions, peppers, garlic, and ginger from the chicken and place in a separate bowl.

two glass bowls, one with peppers and onions and the other with raw chicken

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add oil, and then add chicken pieces and brown on each side, for about 2 minutes. 

chicken being browned in pan

Remove chicken and add reserved seasonings to the pot and sauté until softened, for about 5 minutes.

peppers and onions being browned in pan

Add chicken back to skillet along with chicken broth, water, and ketchup. Bring mixture to a simmer and cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove cover and simmer for an additional 10 minutes, to reduce the gravy.

chicken pieces cooking in pot

Serve and enjoy. 

Recipes to serve with:

Other Jamaican Recipes to Try:

or have a look at all my Caribbean inspired recipes.

Watch this video tutorial and see how I make this brown stew chicken from start to finish.

brown stew chicken in pan
Print Pin Save
4.87 from 206 votes

Brown Stew Chicken

This Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken is full of Caribbean flavor and a perfect main dish for any day of the week. It’s the perfect stewed chicken dish when you want to have a taste of the islands.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Caribbean
Keyword brown stew chicken, jamaican brown stew chicken
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 6 people
Calories 626kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons browning
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 3 spring onions chopped
  • ½ green pepper chopped
  • ½ red pepper chopped
  • 1 scotch bonnet seeds removed and chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 inch ginger chopped
  • ¼ cup oil
  • 2 Tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup water

Instructions

  • Add chicken, brown sugar, browning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, dried thyme, black pepper, allspice, onions, green pepper, red pepper, scotch bonnet, garlic cloves, and ginger to a bowl and mix, rubbing seasoning into the chicken. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • Remove peppers, onions, garlic, ginger and thyme from chicken and set aside. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat and add chicken, brown for about 1-2 minutes per side. Remove chicken and add reserved onions and peppers to the skillet and sauté until softened, for about 5 minutes. Add chicken back to skillet along with chicken broth, water, and ketchup.
  • Bring mixture to a simmer and cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove cover and simmer for an additional 10 minutes, to reduce the gravy. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

  • Brown stew chicken is traditionally cooked with a whole chicken that has been chopped into smaller pieces. Feel free to skip this by using chicken thighs or legs.
  • With any stew, dark meat works best as chicken breast can overcook and dry out. Dark meat also has more flavor. I generally opt for chicken thighs, chicken legs, and chicken wings when it comes to this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 626kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 222mg | Sodium: 1154mg | Potassium: 633mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 818IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg
My Southern Air Fryer ECookbookFind all my Top Southern Air Fryer recipes in one place! My Southern Air Fryer ECookbook!
Subscribe to my YouTubeSubscribe to my YouTube Channel for full length recipe videos. Click the bell icon to be notified when I upload a new video.
Tried this recipe? Share on InstagramMention @Myforkinglife or tag #myforkinglife!
Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

Sharing is caring!

Recipe Rating




Addie

Tuesday 28th of March 2023

Hi, Tanya - I'm wondering if I can use Walkerwoods Jerk Seasoning instead of all those separate spices, etc.? Making this tonight and looking forward to it - making your Jamaican cabbage as well. 😋

Addie

Wednesday 29th of March 2023

@Tanya, as it turns out I didn't use the Walkerswood, I made it using your recipe. I cut it in half for the two of us and used half a habanero pepper since I couldn't find scotch bonnet. Whew! It was close to the heat tolerance level for both of us but it was delicious and. I'll make it again for sure. We really loved the steamed cabbage, too!

As for the Walkerswood, I know the recipe you mean and I'll also be making the jerk chicken soup sometime soon. 😊

Tanya

Tuesday 28th of March 2023

Hi Addie, I wouldn't use jerk seasoning for this dish. Jerk has a different flavor profile than brown stew. I hope you enjoy the recipe. I do have a jerk chicken recipe that uses Walkerswood. I love that stuff.

MickyE

Tuesday 21st of March 2023

I commented in how easy it was to come together, now I can comment on how delicious it is. Will definitely be making this again. It even looks delicious 😋

Tanya

Thursday 23rd of March 2023

Thanks so much MickyE! So glad you liked the recipe :)

Jenna

Sunday 12th of March 2023

We have this simmering on the stove for Sunday dinner and it smells incredible! Hoping the grocery has bammy in stock to serve on the side.

Tanya

Sunday 12th of March 2023

Thank you Jenna! Bammy on the side sounds like the perfect meal, along with some cabbage.

Jennifer C.

Saturday 11th of March 2023

This recipe was absolutely divine!! It came together very quickly and the flavors were impeccable. My Guyanese husband who is particular about Caribbean food gave this Brown Stew Chicken two thumbs up!

Tanya

Sunday 12th of March 2023

Thank you Jennifer C. So happy you and your husband enjoyed the recipe :)

Mica Jackson

Saturday 25th of February 2023

Made this tonight for me and partner. His words “we never need to order a takeaway again” Thank you 🙏

Tanya

Tuesday 28th of February 2023

Thank you Mica! So happy you both liked the recipe :)