Easy Jamaican-Style Shredded Chicken (Stovetop Recipe)

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Jamaican-style shredded chicken cooked with sweet pepper, onion, garlic, and spices in a skillet.
The finished product: perfectly moist and ready to serve with rice or in a wrap

Jamaican-Style Shredded Chicken (Recipe Card)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For simmering the chicken

  • 2 lb. chicken, cut into 4 pieces

  • 2 scallions, chopped

  • 1 small onion, chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 2 sprigs thyme

  • 1 hot pepper

  • ½ tsp salt

  • Water (enough to cover chicken)

For frying the shredded chicken

  • ½ onion, chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 sweet pepper, chopped

  • 1 hot pepper, chopped (optional)

  • ½ tsp Maggi All Purpose seasoning

  • ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning

  • ¼ tsp black pepper

  • 1–2 tbsp ketchup

  • 1 tbsp cooking oil

Instructions

  1. Add chicken to a pot with scallion, onion, garlic, thyme, hot pepper, salt, and enough water to cover the chicken.

  2. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Do not boil hard.

  3. Simmer for about 50 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.

  4. Remove chicken from the pot and allow it to cool slightly.

  5. Shred the chicken using a fork or your fingers.

  6. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat.

  7. Add onion, garlic, sweet pepper, and hot pepper. Sauté for about 2 minutes.

  8. Add the shredded chicken to the pan.

  9. Season with Maggi All Purpose, Old Bay, and black pepper.

  10. Add ketchup and stir well.

  11. Fry the chicken for 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through and slightly browned.

Notes

  • Simmering the chicken slowly keeps the meat soft and easy to shred.

  • The leftover chicken broth can be saved for soup or cooking rice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the secret to moist shredded chicken?
The secret to moist shredded chicken is cooking the chicken slowly at a gentle simmer instead of boiling it hard. Simmering keeps the meat tender and juicy so it shreds easily. Cooking the chicken with seasonings like scallion, thyme, garlic, and hot pepper also adds flavor while it cooks.

What is the most popular chicken dish in Jamaica?
Many people assume jerk chicken is the most popular, but curry chicken is actually cooked more often in Jamaican homes. Jerk chicken is very popular, but it is usually bought from jerk stands rather than prepared at home. Curry chicken is a common everyday meal served with rice and peas or white rice.

What is the most eaten food in Jamaica?
One of the most commonly eaten fast foods in Jamaica is chicken from KFC. Many Jamaicans regularly buy fried chicken meals from KFC, making it one of the most popular quick meals across the island.


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