When I'm craving big flavor without a lot of effort, this Jamaican-style curry chicken is the move. The chicken marinates in a mildly spicy blend of Jamaican curry powder, adobo, and aromatics, then cooks up juicy in the air fryer in about 30 minutes. It's an easy, family-friendly dinner with bold flavor and almost no cleanup.
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.
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I LOVE curry in all forms: tikka masala, Thai curry, peanut curry, all of it. Jamaican curry powder has its own warm, earthy flavor that's milder than many Indian blends, so the dish stays approachable for everyone at the table. 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 slow-cooked so the spices can really develop, but this version hits those same warm flavors in a fraction of the time. I adapted my mother-in-law's recipe for the air fryer, and it still comes out tender, juicy, and full of that classic Jamaican curry warmth, just much faster and easier for weeknights.
Key Ingredients
- Curry powder. I use this curry powder from Blue Mountain that you can get on Amazon, 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 more of a kick to your curry, you can add scotch bonnet peppers, which are commonly found in Jamaican recipes. Otherwise, chili powder and cayenne pepper work great. 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 chili 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.
Step 2: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F. I find this temperature works best for chicken. Add the chicken to the basket or tray and cook for 25-30 minutes.
Sarah's Top Tips
- It's best to marinade the chicken for at least 30 minutes before cooking, if not overnight for maximum flavor.
- Cook the chicken to no more than 170 degrees F. Any longer and the chicken can begin to dry out.
- Cooking time may vary depending on air fryer models. Be sure to check the temperature after 20 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Jamaican curry chicken pairs great with Jasmine 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 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 maintain the crispy texture. Reheating in the microwave may lead to soggy chicken.
For another easy air fryer dinner, check out my crispy air fryer chicken thighs with dry rub.
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below-I'd love to hear how it turned out! THANK YOU!
Air Fryer Jamaican Style Curry Chicken
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See the full post for extra tips and photos
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 tablespoons Jamaican curry powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Add the chicken to a large bowl with all of the spices. Add diced yellow onion, minced garlic cloves and olive oil to the bowl.1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, 2 tablespoons Jamaican curry powder, 2 teaspoons paprika, ½-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 yellow onion, 3 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Mix everything together with a spoon or massage with your hands until all sides of the chicken are coated. Cover the bowl and marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but ideally for a few hours.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Once preheated, spray the basket or tray with cooking spray, add the chicken and cook for 15 minutes.
- Flip the chicken and cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the chicken has reached 165 degrees F internally.
- Serve and enjoy!
Sarah's 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.
- 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.
Nancy Holt says
Made this again tonight! So good!
Finally bought the Jamaican curry, wow, nice and spicy
Big hit at dinner
Served with cauliflower rice and roasted broccoli
Susan says
WOW!! This is the PERFECT spicy Jamaican curried thighs! I only marinated mine for 4 hours and the flavours had penetrated each piece! I had bone in and skin on thighs so I cooked them on 380 for 12 mins per side. Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
Sarah Holt says
Hi Susan, I have to try it with bone-in chicken next time! So happy you enjoyed the recipe🙂
Jonathan Leibowitz says
Thank you so much for this recipe. Finally, I found a curry chicken air-fryer recipe. It reminds me of my vacation to Jamaica with my husband. Normally, I’m horrible in the kitchen, which is why I love your air fryer recipe. With all the steps listed, it’s easy and simple to prepare this meal. I even made a dipping sauce and coconut rice to go along with it. I high recommend this recipe to anyone out there. One small recommendation, I cut the amount of cayenne pepper in half and it was still a little spicy for me.
Sarah Holt says
Thanks for the kind words, Jonathan! I'm so happy you both enjoyed it 🙂
Megan says
Tried this recipe for dinner and it was a success! So easy to make and delicious. The chicken pairs well with rice. Thank you for sharing this 🙂
Sarah Holt says
So glad you liked it Megan! One of my favs