Authentic Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken Recipe – Tender, Flavorful & Easy

JERK TAVERNSeptember 23, 2021

There’s nothing quite like a hearty plate of Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken. This beloved dish is rich, savory, and full of Caribbean flavor—from the bold spices to the deeply caramelized browning sauce. In Jamaica, brown stew chicken is a Sunday dinner staple. Often served with rice and peas, fried plantains, or steamed cabbage. The chicken is seasoned to the bone, then simmered low and slow until tender in a thick, flavorful gravy. Whether you grew up eating this or it’s your first time trying it. This recipe will guide you step-by-step to recreate that authentic island taste right in your own kitchen.

What Is Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken?

Jamaican brown stew chicken is a traditional island dish that brings bold Caribbean flavors to your dinner table. It’s made with well-seasoned chicken, browned to perfection, and simmered in a thick, savory sauce with vegetables and herbs. This dish is a staple in Jamaican households, especially on Sundays. It’s often served with rice and peas, fried plantains, or steamed cabbage for a comforting, full meal.

What Does Brown Stew Chicken Taste Like?

Brown stew chicken is rich, slightly sweet, a little spicy, and bursting with deep, developed flavor. The browning gives the dish its signature color and adds a slightly caramelized taste. While herbs and scotch bonnet pepper bring the heat and aroma. The chicken is tender, juicy, and literally falls off the bone.

Ingredients for Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

• Chicken- Gives flavor and moisture. Bone-in chicken holds up better to stewing and adds depth to the gravy.
• Jerk seasoning– Gives a Jamaican kick with sweet heat, pimento, and herbs.
• Adobo/All-Purpose Seasoning – For a well-rounded savory flavor.
• Black Pepper – Adds subtle heat and sharpness.
• Paprika – For color and mild smokiness.
• Complete Seasoning – Extra layers of herbs and spices for complexity.
• Green seasoning– A fresh blend of herbs and aromatics that infuses the meat with island flavor.
• Browning Sauce – Adds that rich, dark color and a smoky, slightly sweet flavor. This is a key element of the stew.
• Mushroom Soy Sauce– Adds a umami flavor.
• Sweet Pepper – Bring sweetness and balance to the spice and savory notes.
• Pimento seeds & Thyme– Authentic Jamaican herbs and spices that give the dish its signature island taste.
• Raw onions, Raw Garlic & Scallions– Essential aromatics for depth of flavor. These create the flavor base for the stew.
• Scotch bonnet pepper– For that spicy, fruity Jamaican heat. Use a whole pepper or slice it depending on your spice tolerance.
• Raw Ginger-Adds warmth and brightness, 
• Ketchup– Adds sweetness and tang that balances the flavors. Yes, Jamaicans put ketchup in brown stew!
• Sweet Baby Ray’s sweet and spicy sauce or honey BBQ– Takes the dish to the next level.

How to Make Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

• Wash the chicken in a vinegar, water, and lime combination to take away the rawness and slime on the chicken.
• Time to season your chicken with your dry seasonings. Rub it up and let it marinate overnight.
• Add your oil to a pot and let it get hot. To this pot add your freshly crushed garlic, thyme, and pimento to the oil. 
• Add your chicken and brown for 3-4 minutes on both sides. Do this to all the pieces of chicken. Place the brown pieces on a napkin to soak off excess oil.
• After frying all the chicken throw away the remaining oil and add the chicken back to the empty pot. Add water to the rest of the juices left from the bowl that the chicken was seasoned in.
• It is now time to add the water from the bowl to the chicken make sure the water covers the chicken. Add your ketchup, BBQ sauce, thyme, onions, scotch bonnet pepper, ginger and sweet pepper.
• Season the pot again with black pepper, complete seasoning, salt to taste, and adobo.
• Give that a mix and let it boil for 15 minutes. After fifteen minutes, it is now time to add your carrot and or potatoes if you choose to add them in.
• Boil your carrots and potatoes until soft and then you are ready to serve.

What to Serve with Brown Stew Chicken

• Jamaican Rice and Peas
• Fried Ripe Plantains
• Boiled Food (yam, dumpling, green banana)
• Steamed Cabbage or Callaloo
• White Rice

➡️ Want more dinner ideas? Check out our Jamaican Sunday Dinner Roundup.

Tips for the Best Brown Stew Chicken

• Marinate overnight – the longer, the better.
• Don’t skip browning – it gives the stew its signature color and flavor.
• Add potatoes for extra body (optional).
• If you like it spicy, slice the scotch bonnet and stir in.
• Thicken your gravy by letting it simmer uncovered near the end.

Storage & Reheating

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
• Reheat: Warm on the stove with a splash of water or in the microwave until heated through.

📌 Save This Recipe on Pinterest

Love this recipe? Tap the Pin below to save it to your Jamaican Recipes board!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I marinate brown stew chicken?

For the most authentic flavor, marinate your brown stew chicken for at least 2 hours, but overnight is best. This gives the seasonings—especially the fresh herbs, garlic, and browning sauce. Enough time to deeply penetrate the meat, resulting in bold, rich flavor in every bite.

What’s the difference between brown stew and curry chicken?

Brown stew uses browning sauce, ketchup, and tomato to create a savory brown gravy. Curry chicken is made with Jamaican curry powder and has a yellow color and earthy flavor.

Is Jamaican brown stew chicken spicy?

It can be! Scotch bonnet peppers bring the heat. Leave it whole for mild spice or slice it for a hotter stew.

Can I make this with boneless chicken?

Yes, but bone-in gives the most flavor. If you use boneless, reduce the cooking time slightly.

How do you get the bitter taste out of brown stew chicken?

If you find that your brown stew chicken has a bitter taste, this is mean than likely that you’ve added too much browning sauce. Fix this by simply adding ketchup, brown sugar, and sometimes BBQ sauce.

Where did brown stew chicken originate?

Brown Stew Chicken was originated in the Caribbean Islands.

It adds color and a slightly sweet, smoky depth. You can make your own or use store-bought Grace Browning.

Can I cook this in the oven?

Yes! After browning the chicken, you can finish cooking it in the oven at 350°F for 45–60 mins.

Can I make it in the Instant Pot or slow cooker?

Yes!

• Instant Pot: Sear the chicken using the “Sauté” function. Then cook on High Pressure for 15–20 minutes with a natural release.
• Slow Cooker: After browning the chicken, transfer to the slow cooker and cook on Low for 6–7 hours or High for 3–4 hours until the chicken is tender and the gravy has thickened.

What do I do if my stew tastes bitter?

If your brown stew chicken tastes bitter, it’s likely from burnt browning sauce or over-seared ingredients.
To fix it:

• Add a pinch of brown sugar or a splash of coconut milk to balance the flavor.
• A few slices of carrot or bell pepper can also help mellow out the bitterness.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out in of them all.” Psalms‬ ‭34:19‬

Wisdom

As believers following Christ be prepared to go through persecution, trials, and tribulations. All these attacks can come from all areas of our lives. From family, friends, work, just all walks of life. But we know that walking with Christ is not an easy road. The journey to salvation is probably the hardest thing we will have to do in our lives.

Though we know that we will go through afflictions, it doesn’t mean that when it comes it’s easy. But we are thankful to know that we have a God who always helps us to find a way out, as long as we put our faith and trust in him. Because our God will not give us more than we can bear. In the nick of time, he will see us through. He is a waymaker, a miracle worker, and most times; it’s a learning experience where we know after it all we will come out stronger, with more patience and faith in Christ. Never will the righteous be forsaken.

“Jerk Tavern is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

---

---

---