Simple Sweet and Spicy Caribbean-style Brown Chicken Stew 🏝️

Simple Caribbean brown chicken stew is an aromatic dish made with chicken cooked in a sweet and spicy dark sauce, infused with spices.

Recipe Intro

Caribbean brown chicken stew is a flavorful dish with many regional variations across the Caribbean islands.
Traditionally spicy, the heat can be adjusted using a milder chilli to suit different preferences.
Inspired by the Jamaican style, this recipe is simplified for quick and easy preparation, ideal for busy days, while retaining its original taste.
I prepared with boneless chicken fillets cut into smaller pieces for faster cooking, without compromising the rich, aromatic flavours of the dish.

Simple Caribbean Brown Chicken Ingredients

Marinade

• chicken – You can use thigh fillets for a richer flavour, as dark meat tends to be more savoury and juicy. Alternatively, a mix of breast and dark meat can be used if you prefer a lighter option.
• onions – use standard yellow onions
• chilli pepper – Use scotch bonnet peppers for an authentic spicy kick, but be cautious as they are very hot and may not be suitable for everyone. If you prefer less heat, you can substitute them with plain chilli.
• garlic – Use fresh garlic for the marinade, as it brings a much stronger and more aromatic flavour.
• ginger – Use freshly grated ginger
• lime – fresh juice only
• spring onion
• paprika – Buy sweet paprika for a mild, smoky flavour that adds depth to the marinade without overwhelming the dish.
• salt, pepper

Sauce

• sugar – Use brown sugar or muscovado sugar for the marinade, as they add a rich, molasses-like sweetness that enhances the dish.
• oil – use sunflower or canola oil
• tomatoes – Use fresh tomatoes instead of canned
• soy sauce – dark one, for colour and flavour
• ketchup – use plain or spicy
• thyme – fresh
• coriander leaves (cilantro) – fresh or dry, you can also add parsley
• pimento – if you can find it, buy Allspice berries, they give an authentic, warm, and aromatic flavour essential in Caribbean brown chicken stew.

While this is a simple Caribbean-style chicken stew, you can make it heartier by adding carrots, potatoes, or other vegetables to create a more substantial meal.

🌶️🌍 Explore these international recipes for bold and spicy flavours:

Spicy Tex-Mex baked beans
Japanese Firecracker – spicy rice with salmon
Goan Curry – spicy chicken and potato stew

How to make Simple Brown Chicken Stew

The sauce

• Use a wide, deep pan and add oil and sugar. Cook over low heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until the sugar caramelises and darkens. Be careful not to burn it. Once the sugar has caramelised, have the chicken pieces ready to add.
• Add the marinated chicken pieces, shaking off any excess marinade (but reserve it for later). Cook the chicken on high heat for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

⚠️ Note: Do not overcrowd the pan with chicken pieces. Adding too many will release extra liquid, which prevents the chicken from searing and causes it to stew instead of getting that golden-brown crust. Once cooked, set the chicken aside on a plate.

• Add the reserved marinade to the pan and fry for 2 minutes. Then, add chopped tomatoes and 300ml of water, stirring well with a wooden spoon to lift the caramelised bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. These crispy, flavour-packed bits are crucial for the sauce, and adding water helps release them, creating a rich, dark sauce full of depth and flavour for your stew.
• Return the seared, marinated chicken pieces to the pan, then add the soy sauce, ketchup, thyme, coriander, and pimento berries. Stir everything together to combine the flavours.

How to make Jamaican-style Rice

• Wash the rice thoroughly and cook it in water and coconut milk.
• Add finely chopped spring onions, one whole scotch bonnet pepper (left whole to infuse flavour without adding heat), thyme, and crushed garlic.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• In the last 10 minutes of cooking, stir in canned red kidney beans (drained). Once cooked, drain any excess liquid and serve.

Serving Caribbean Brown Chicken Stew

Serve Caribbean brown chicken stew with rice and beans to soak up the aromatic and spicy gravy. It also goes well with fried plantains, roti, or dumplings. A side of coleslaw or a simple green salad works well too.

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