Air Fryer Jamaican Style Curry Chicken

Name: Air Fryer Jamaican Style Curry Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts; 2 tablespoons Jamaican curry powder; 2 teaspoons paprika; 1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 yellow onion (diced); 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tablespoon olive oil

This Air Fryer Curry Chicken recipe is a modern twist on the traditional Jamaican dish. It is flavorful, hearty and ready in 30 minutes!

Jump to Recipe

Plates of curry chicken with rice and zucchini.

Save this Recipe!

Get the recipe link sent to your inbox so you can come back to it later!

This post was originally published in 2021 and it was updated in January 2024 with new pictures and information. The recipe is still the same.

This mild Jamaican curry chicken recipe is made by combining Jamaican curry powder, adobo seasoning and a meld of other spices to create a unique blend of spices and a delicious marinade. This is the perfect weeknight meal the entire family will love. For the perfect meal pair it with classic Instant Pot rice and peas and a feta and zucchini salad or your favorite veggies.

What is curry?

I LOVE curry in all forms: tikka masala, Thai curry, peanut curry, all of it. However, "curry" is a very general term that can be used to describe many different dishes from various countries and cultures.

Curry originated in India and made its way across the world from there, resulting in different versions of the dish. Regardless of the dish, curry is typically a combination of meat and vegetables in a gravy-like sauce.

Curry powder is a mixture of spices that typically takes on a yellow hue due to the main ingredient, turmeric. You can read all about curry powder on The Spruce Eats.

The difference between Indian curry powder and Jamaican curry powder is the combination of spices and the spice level. Indian curry powders have more chile powder in them. While you can substitute Indian spices, the flavor will be a bit different.

If you prefer Thai curry, you should try my Thai Green Curry Meatball Soup and Coconut Curry Chicken Thighs.

Jamaican Curry Chicken

Traditional Jamaican curry chicken is cooked slowly over low heat to allow the bold spices and flavors to develop and meld together. It's said to have been brought to Jamaica by workers from East India in the 17th or 18th century. In this recipe, I use those same flavors to marinate the chicken but cook it quickly in the air fryer for a more modern take on the dish.

🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe

Air fryer recipe. Air frying your chicken allows the chicken to become crispy while remaining juicy inside!
Meal prep recipe. These Jamaican curry chicken thighs are perfect to meal prep for your week.

🥘Ingredients

Chicken. I prefer to use boneless skinless chicken thighs as it's the best cut of chicken to provide the most flavor but chicken breasts are also delicious in this recipe.
Curry powder. I use this curry powder from Blue Mountain that you can get off Amazon, at Walmart and also possibly at your local Costco. You can also make your own, Recipes from a Pantry has a great homemade curry recipe.
Adobo seasoning. This can usually be found at any traditional grocery store. Brands to look for: Goya and Badia

📖Substitutions & Variations

Add more heat. To add a higher heat to your curry you can add scotch bonnet peppers which are commonly found in Jamaican chicken recipes. Otherwise, chile powder and cayenne pepper work great to intensify the heat. If you are a fan of spice and heat, try harissa chicken next.
Indian spices. You can use Indian curry powder as a substitute but know it will be heavier on the chile powder.

🔪Instructions

Step 1: Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes in the spices, diced yellow onion, garlic and olive oil in a large bowl. Next, stir or massage the mixture until all sides of the chicken are coated in the spices.

Step 2: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F. I find this temperature works best for chicken. Then once preheated, add the chicken to the basket or tray and cook for 25-30 minutes. Chicken should be at least 165 degrees F internally.

💭Recipe FAQs

How long should you cook chicken in an air fryer?

Chicken should be cooked until it reaches 165 degrees F to be safe to eat. The cooking time will vary depending on the cut (breast, thigh, wing, etc.) and your air fryer model.

This curry chicken takes just 25 minutes to cook.

Does chicken need to be flipped in the air fryer?

Ideally yes. Larger cuts of meat should be flipped halfway through the cooking process to ensure an even cook.

Is curry chicken spicy?

You can easily adjust the amount of cayenne pepper in this recipe to reduce or increase the spiciness.

A plate of sliced curry chicken with rice and zucchini and utensils.

👩🏻‍🍳Chef Tips

Marinate the chicken. It's best to marinade the chicken for at least 30 minutes before cooking, if not overnight.
For best results, place chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure an even cook.
Cook the chicken to no more than 170 degrees F. Any longer and the chicken can begin to dry out. Use a meat thermometer by sticking it into the thickest part of the chicken to check the temperature.
Cooking time may vary depending on air fryer models. Be sure to check the temperature of the chicken after 20 minutes.

🥗Serving

This chicken pairs great with Jasmine rice or coconut rice and roasted or sautéed veggies such as broccoli or zucchini. You can also serve the chicken in naan bread or roti as a sandwich. To make it a full Jamaican meal, serve Instant Pot Jamaican Rice and Peas and Jamaican punch alongside the chicken.

🥣Storage & Reheating

Cooked chicken, when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, should be consumed within 3-4 days.

Reheat in the air fryer for 15 minutes to allow the chicken to come to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and to maintain the crispy texture. Reheating in the microwave may lead to soggy chicken.