Homemade Dry Rub Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

Make your own Jamaican Jerk Seasoning at home to spice up meats, vegetables, and so much more. This jerk seasoning blend is loaded to the max with big, bold spices that you likely already have in your cupboard. Signature jerk flavor has a perfect balance of sweetness, heat, warmth, herbs, and savoriness. It’s such a unique spice blend that adds the nicest razzle dazzle to dishes and various uses!

Jerk flavor and anything laced with jerk spice is one of my absolute favorites. Listen, these jerk meatballs, my slow cooker jerk tacos, and my creamy rasta pasta are my go-tos! With my deep, deep love for it, I knew I had to share the homemade jerk spice rub that I keep locked and loaded in my pantry.

I use it just as much as I use salt and pepper in the kitchen, and if you enjoy jerk-inspired flavor, I just know you’ll enjoy this one, too! 💛

Homemade Jerk Seasoning 🇯🇲

Now look, store-bought spices are perfectly fine, no issues with ’em. However, there is nothing that beats developing your own spices and spice rubs. You don’t have to worry about any weird stuff going in them, no preservatives, etc. With a handful of various spices, you can make your own dry rub Jamaican Jerk Seasoning at home, y’all.

Add serious flavor and depth to your poultry, beef, pork, vegetables, and everything else you want to lend some zesty island flair to! Signature jerk flavor hails from Jamaica; the flavor is incredibly well-rounded as it’s sweet, spicy, savory, and earthy. Jerk flavor can be made in a paste-like consistency and also in dry rub form…like this jerk seasoning recipe!

→ Love making your own seasonings? Be sure to check out my scratch-made Creole Cajun Seasoning, ooooeeee it’s hella bomb! 🤌🏾

Ingredients Needed For This Homemade Jerk Seasoning Recipe:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

• Kosher salt: When it comes to seasoning, the foundation is always salt. I use (and recommend) kosher salt as I do in nearly every single recipe that lives on the site. Kosher salt, unlike regular table salt, is a coarse-grained salt that adheres very well to food and has a clean taste because iodine is not present.
• Smoked brown sugar: I love this brown sugar! It’s simply brown sugar that has been smoked, so it has a deep, intense smoky flavor that’s super pronounced in flavor. To impart that same smoky vibe of authentic jerk flavor, this is clutch. I use this one; however, regular packed brown sugar works as well.
• Allspice & cinnamon: Ground allspice aka pimento berries, + ground cinnamon add plenty of warmth and depth.
• Black pepper: Black peppercorn, when freshly ground, has a rich, pungent peppery flavor as opposed to pre-ground black pepper.
• Dried chopped onion: For big onion-y flavor, yum.
• Dried thyme: The addition of herbs adds a lovely herbaceous punch and freshness to round out the other spices. Caribbean cuisine and thyme go together like pb&j 🤞🏾.
• Garlic powder: Adds some garlicky flavor that’s not as strong as fresh garlic.
• Ground mustard: Love the slightly acidic pungency it brings.
• Ground coriander: Mmm, coriander is another Caribbean staple.
• Red pepper flakes & Cayenne pepper: These two bring the heat in this Jamaican Jerk Seasoning.

How To Make Your Homemade Jerk Seasoning:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

→ It’s ridiculously easy, here’s how:

1. In a mason jar or small bowl, combine all of the listed ingredients. Mix the spices until well combined. Then store the seasoning in a jar or container with an airtight lid and keep it in the pantry or right alongside where you store all of your other dried spices/seasonings. BOOM 🫡.

How To Use Jerk Seasoning:

This dry rub jerk seasoning is a rich, flavorful blend that can be used in various ways…I mean, the sky is the limit here, friends. It’s super well-rounded in flavor and has a lot of spice contrast that complements many foods. Here are my top recommendations:

• Proteins: Season your poultry, steak, fish/shellfish, pork, tofu, tempeh, beans, etc.
• Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, corn, potatoes/sweet potatoes, and all other vegetables that you want to add a little zest to when roasting. I’m a big fan of seasoning veggies and air frying them with this jerk seasoning!
• Caribbean-forward eats: And no surprise that this seasoning is perfectly made for recipes like my Jerk Chicken Thighs, Jerk Pasta, and more.

Storing Your Homemade Spice Blend:

Keep your fresh, homemade Jerk Seasoning in mason jars, deli containers, or those nifty little glass spice jars in the pantry- any vessel that can be fitted with an airtight lid for freshness.

This Homemade Jerk Seasoning is one of my pantry staples, peeps. When I tell you I put this sh*t on everything, I tell no lies, ha! Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More delicious recipes:

• Steak au Poivre
• Creamy Shrimp & Grits
• Miso Mushroom Pasta
• Cajun Lobster Seafood Boil
• Baked Ground Beef Tacos
• Gumbo Greens

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Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: The Mindful Hapa