This Jerk Chicken Soup is a delicious spin on traditional chicken soup. Made with an authentic jerk seasoning, sweet potato, beans, and corn. Have a taste of the Caribbean with this amazing and flavorful soup.
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Jerk chicken soup? That’s usually the question I get when I talk about this recipe. Yes, it’s a little different but it’s oh so tasty.
I love using Walkerswood Jerk Seasoning when it comes to my jerk recipes. I use it in my Air Fried Jamaican Jerk Pork and I even make bbq sauce with it.
I first learned about Jerk Chicken Soup from my cousin in Jamaica who owned a restuarant on the island. According to him, jerk chicken soup was one of the most popular items on the menu. I’ve had Jamaican pumpkin soup and fish soup, but this was the first I even heard of a jerk chicken soup.
I recreated the dish at home in my Instant Pot because it is my go to vessel for creating soups. I choose to sear my chicken pieces first to give the soup more flavor. Since the Instant Pot has a pretty reliable sear option, it works great for this recipe.
How to Make Jerk Chicken Soup?
First, you’ll want to rub your chicken thighs with the jerk seasoning and sear it in the Instant Pot. This gives the soup so much flavor. The bottom of your pot will get dark but that’s ok.
Make sure you do not overcrowd your pot when searing or your chicken won’t brown properly. I cook in batches and I usually place 2-3 pieces at a time. I then set it aside.
Next, you will deglaze your Instant Pot with a little chicken broth. This is an important step whenever you use the sauté feature on your Instant Pot. Prior to pressure cooking, all brown bits should be removed from the bottom of the instant Pot. Use a wooden spoon to delgaze properly.
Once you’ve deglazed, you will add your onions, garlic, and green pepper and cook until the onions soften. Then you’ll add the remainder of the ingredients, including the browned chicken, and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Once the pressure cooking cycle is complete, I allow it to natural release for 10 minutes, then I release any remaining pressure.
Once I open the lid, I give my soup a nice stir to break up the chicken thighs. I then add some coconut milk to lighten it up and calm down the spice. I then add salt and pepper to the pot.
How Long to Cook Soup in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker?
It truly depends on the recipe on how long you will cook your soup. I’ve cooked soups for as little as 10 minutes and some as long as 30. I like to cook this soup at 15 to ensure that my flavors develop and that my thighs cook to the point that they shred once my soup is done.
Can you sub ingredients in the Soup?
You sure can. I’ve used celery in this recipe, black beans, and carrots before. The possibilities are endless. You could use your very own jerk seasoning but I highly recommend Walkerswood Jerk Seasoning if you want a real authentic jerk flavor.
Hope you enjoy this Jerk Chicken Soup recipe as much as we do 🙂
Looking for more Soup Recipes? Try these out:
- Mannish Water (Goat Soup)
- Easy Seafood Chowder
- Pressure cooker Lentil Soup (Carrabba’s Copycat)
- Hearty Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
Looking for more Caribbean recipes? Try these out:
- Instant Pot Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge
- Jamaican Rum Punch
- Air Fryer Jamaican Jerk Pork
- Jamaican Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Jamaican Callaloo and Saltfish
- Jamaican Rice and Peas (Instant Pot)
- Jamaican Oxtails Recipe (Instant Pot)
Pin Jerk Chicken Soup for Later
Jerk Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ¼ cup jerk seasoning
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 green scallions chopped
- 1 medium sweet potato chopped
- ½ green pepper chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 14.5 oz can red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1 14.5 oz can whole kernel corn drained
- 4 cups chicken broth separated
- ½ cup coconut milk
- cilantro garnish
Instructions
- Wash and pat chicken thighs dry. Pour jerk seasoning over the the chicken and combine, making sure that all the chicken thighs are covered with the seasoning.
- Set Instant Pot to sauté, select more so that the sauté setting will be on high heat.
- Once Instant Pot says hot, add vegetable oil. Place 2-3 pieces of chicken in the Instant Pot. Cook each side until browned (about 2 minutes per side). Cook in batches until all chicken thigh pieces have been browned. Set to the side.
- Once all chicken pieces are removed, add about ¼ cup chicken broth to the bottom of the Instant Pot. Use a wooden spoon to get up all of the brown bits on the bottom.
- Add yellow onion, green pepper, minced garlic, and green onions. Stir until onions are softened, about 3 minutes. Turn off Instant Pot. Add sweet potato, red kidney beans, corn, and chicken broth. Place browned chicken thighs on top of the soup, ensuring that the chicken thighs are in the liquid. Cover and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once pressure cook cycle is complete, allow soup to natural release for 10 minutes, then release the remaining pressure. Once all pressure is released, open lid and stir, shredding the chicken as you stir. Add coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper and top with cilantro.
Stovetop Instructions
- Wash and pat chicken thighs dry. Pour jerk seasoning over the the chicken and combine, making sure that all the chicken thighs are covered with the seasoning.
- Place a large pot over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil. Brown the chicken thighs in the oil on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- Once all chicken pieces are removed, add about ¼ cup chicken broth to the bottom of the Instant Pot. Use a wooden spoon to get up all of the brown bits on the bottom.
- Add yellow onion, green pepper, minced garlic, and green onions. Stir until onions are softened, about 3 minutes. Add sweet potato, red kidney beans, corn, and chicken broth. Place browned chicken thighs on top of the soup, ensuring that the chicken thighs are in the liquid.
- Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Allow the soup to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once cooked, the chicken shroud shred naturally in the pot while you stir. If it doesn't, remove the cooked chicken thighs from the soup, allow to cool, and shred. Then return to the pot.
- Add coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper and top with cilantro.
Video
Notes
Notes on Jerk Chicken Soup
- This recipe was made in a 6qt Instant Pot Duo.
- Walkerswood Jerk Seasoning comes in mild and hot and spicy. Both work well in this recipe. Use the kind that works best for your taste.
- Always deglaze your Instant Pot with a wooden spoon.
Nutrition
Step by Step Photos of Jerk Chicken Soup
This post was updated on September 6, 2022 with stovetop instructions in the recipe card.
Geraldine
Sunday 21st of July 2024
Hi Tanya. I'm making this soup tomorrow. On the first page you mention allspice which I love. But can't see it in the recipe. Maybe a typo? Anyway love all your recipes. Thank you.
Geraldine
Sunday 21st of July 2024
Many thanks Tanya. All clear now..Geraldine X
Tanya
Sunday 21st of July 2024
Hi Geraldine, Thanks so much! The jerk seasoning has allspice as an ingredient, but I don't add it individually. I highly recommend a wet jerk marinade for this recipe. The Walkerswood brand is my favorite if you want to use store-bought, or you can use my homemade version. Both are delish. Thanks so much. https://www.myforkinglife.com/jerk-marinade/
~Michelle
Tuesday 30th of January 2024
Hands down the best recipe I have recently discovered. Jamaican Jerk Chicken Soup. I made this like twice now and I am addicted. Thank you, Tanya for this great recipe!
Tanya
Tuesday 30th of January 2024
Thanks so much Michelle! So happy you like the recipe.
April
Friday 10th of March 2023
I don’t know how anyone could look at this recipe and have anything negative to say about it. This soup was amazing and the flavors were even better the following day. The recipe definitely made it into my soup rotation.
Tanya
Sunday 12th of March 2023
Thanks so much April! It's truly one of my favorite soup recipes. So happy you enjoyed it as well.
Allen
Monday 6th of March 2023
Don't let the detractors bring you down !!!!
Tanya
Monday 6th of March 2023
Thanks so much Allen!
Yolanda Mohr
Monday 6th of March 2023
I haven’t tried it yet but it makes me so sad people are so quick to throw stones. No one says all recipes are exactly the same. Will be trying this soon. Keep up the good work!
Tanya
Monday 6th of March 2023
Thanks Yolanda!