Jamaican Jerk Meatballs
These Jamaican Jerk Meatball are a fantastic way to enjoy Caribbean flavors as an appetizer. In this recipe the scratch made meatballs are filled with bell peppers and sweet onion and seasoned with a Jamaican jerk blend sealing the island inspired flavor combination. They’re a taste of simple island inspired goodness when served with a Caribbean sauce for dipping.
Easy Jamaican Jerk Meatballs Recipe
These kickin’ meatballs are guaranteed to get gobbled up every time they’re served be it for holiday celebrations, game day snacking, or any day when tasty appetizers are on the menu, these jerk seasoned meatballs will hit the spot. How to make appetizer size Jamaican Jerk Meatballs:
- Pork – One pound ground pork.
- Beef – One pound ground beef (85/15 preferred).
- Vegetables – Onion, red bell pepper and garlic.
- Olive oil
- Eggs – Two large eggs.
- Mix-ins – Panko breadcrumbs.
- Milk – Whole milk or 2% milk.
- Juice – Pineapple juice and lime juice.
- Herbs – Cilantro.
- Seasonings – Worcestershire sauce, Jamaican Jerk seasoning [i.e.McCormick’s], salt and black pepper, to taste.
- Dipping Sauce – Spicy Caribbean Jerk Marinade & Sauce [i.e. KC Masterpiece]
How to Make the Best Jamaican Jerk Meatballs Recipe
- Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Jamaican Jerk Meatballs: Ground pork, ground beef, diced onion, red bell pepper, cilantro (or parsley), Jamaican jerk seasoning, panko breadcrumbs, large eggs, milk, lime juice, pineapple juice, worcestershire sauce, salt and black pepper.
- Kitchen tools you’ll need: A medium bowl, sharp knife and chopping board, measuring cups and spoons, rimmed baking pans, small skillet, meatball maker or small scoop.
- You could adapt this recipe using ground chicken or ground turkey in place of ground beef.
- The ground pork used in this recipe isn’t breakfast sausage. It’s unseasoned and typically found in the meat section along with the other pork products.
- Jerk seasoning comes in many brands and combinations. In this recipe, I used McCormick’s as it’s readily available in most grocery stores on the spice aisle. It’s fine to use your favorite however you may need to adapt the amount of sodium depending on the blend used.
- When dicing the onion and bell pepper think finely diced. Big chunks won’t work here and could make the meatballs fall apart.
- You could add diced scotch bonnet peppers or habanero peppers to these meatballs for added heat. When doing so, saute along with the onion and red bell pepper. Add the amount that suits your taste.
- An optional serving idea for these tasty meatballs is, to stuff sweet Hawaiian slider rolls with these jerk meatballs topping each with grilled pineapple and a sprig of cilantro.
- Meatballs tend to always be a crowd pleaser and often disappear rather quickly when entertaining.
- The dipping sauce I serve along with these meatballs is a prepared sauce that can be found in the marinade section of most local grocery stores. This one was made by KC Masterpiece. That said, there are many island inspired sauces that you can use it’s fine to go with your favorite.
- You could also serve these meatballs with barbecue sauce.
- If you prefer to make your own sauce and simmer these meatballs in a slow cooker, I included a delicious homemade sauce in the recipe notes, too.
- Store Jamaican Jerk Meatballs chilled in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a preheated 350°F oven on a sheet pan or in an air fryer.
More Easy Meatball Recipes to Make
- Swedish Meatballs smothered with a creamy sauce are a vintage favorite.
- Fire up the crockpot and make these Slow Cooker Party Meatballs for your next homemade soiree.
- Spaghetti and Meatballs is a bowl filled with comfort.
- These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs feature all of the flavors we love in wings.
- Mouthwatering Teriyaki Meatballs are a party staple.
- Make your own meatballs for this Meatball Pizza.
- Italian Meatball Kabobs from Homemade Hooplah.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Jamaican Jerk Meatballs
Servings: 45 meatballs
Calories: 66kcal
Ingredients
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 1/2 medium red bell pepper finely diced
- olive oil
- 3 medium garlic cloves minced
- 1 lb ground fresh pork
- 1 lb ground beef [85/15]
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tsp Jamaican Jerk seasoning [i.e.McCormick’s]
- 1 tsp salt
- black pepper to taste
- 1 cup Spicy Caribbean Jerk Marinade & Sauce [i.e. KC Masterpiece]
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium skillet saute the diced onion and red pepper in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat just until translucent. Add minced garlic and continue to saute for 1-2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the sauteed vegetables, ground pork, ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten eggs, milk, pineapple juice, cilantro, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, jerk seasoning, salt and black pepper. Using your hands mix until combined.
- Use a meatball maker or small scoop to form into bite sized balls. Place side by side onto the baking sheet at least 1 inch apart.
- Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Increase the temperature to 425°F and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until browned.
- Serve with the spicy Caribbean dipping sauce.
Notes
- You could add diced scotch bonnet peppers or habanero peppers to these meatballs for added heat. When doing so, saute along with the onion and red bell pepper. Add the amount that suits your taste.
- Optional Serving Idea: Spray the inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Cook meatballs per recipe then chill or immediately arrange in slow cooker. In a small mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup Caribbean jerk marinade and sauce, 3/4 cup chili sauce, and one 10-oz jar of pineapple preserves. Mix together and pour over the cooked meatballs in the slow cooker. Simmer on low for 2 hours, then keep warm until serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 102IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg
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Would veal be good? Also, if I wanted to use 2 pounds of meat total, could you simply just double the spices and condiments in the ingredients?
I haven’t tested using only veal, If you try it let us know how it goes. This recipe would easily double, yes.
Made this for my very picky Caribbean husband and he loved it. Did not last long that day and it has become one of my favorites to make for my guest.
That’s wonderful, thank you!
I’m making mine ahead of time for vacation, baking them and then freezing them. Who want to cook on vacation. I’m sure they will reheat just fine in a slow cooker on low
They absolutely will, enjoy!
What kind of chili sauce do you use?
I assume you mean for the slow cooker version? For that, a chili sauce such as Heinz or similar. Asian chili sauce would be a little too spicy for this purpose.
Flavor was great But the meatballs would not form.
How odd. If that happens again, you could chill before forming into meatballs, but this is typically not necessary.
When you list red pepper in your ingredients list do you mean red bell pepper, red chili pepper, or some other kind? I’m making this tomorrow. 😀
Red bell pepper.
Just made these and oh my gosh these are delicious and i only mixed the marinade and chili sauce since there is no pineapple preserves around my town and the sauce was still good. The only change i would make is use more Jamaican Jerk Seasoning and maybe salt. My husband said this would make a really good meatloaf, yum!
These are the best, most flavorful meatballs I’ve ever had! This is now our family go-to meatball recipe for game days. Followed the recipe as written but used a Caribbean Jerk Wing Sauce mixed with a little BBQ for dipping. Even our kids ate these up.
Love your sauce idea, perfect. Thank you!
How do I make the dipping sauce. I’m anxious to make these meatballs but I don’t see a recipe for the dipping sauce
The dipping sauce is a bottled Jerk sauce as mentioned in the narrative.
This recipe sounds really good. I don’t eat beef….could I use ground turkey with the pork or what combination of meat or would just one type of meat work better? Thank you
You can use a combination or one or the other, go with your personal preference.
Does the cilantro go in the mix too, or is it only a topping
Yes, they add flavor to the meatballs. Please feel free to adjust the amount to your taste.
What would you use to substitute pork? Do you think it would be ok all beef?
You can make these all beef if you prefer.
That was the question I had, thanks
This sounds delicious. Do you think this recipe would work as a meatloaf?
Probably, sounds like a great experiment to me, let me know if you try it.
Like your recipes. Do you have any that are
Diabetic friendly. JoAnn
Scroll through my recipe index when you have time here.
Hi! Do you think I could make these a day before I serve them and then warm them through? I thought they would be great for a shower I’m hosting, but won’t have time the day of to make them. Thank you!
Oh yes, no problem at all.
What would be a good pairing for a meal with these meatballs?
Hmm good question…smashed potatoes and a salad, or dirty rice or pasta. There are so many ways you could go when you have a moment browse my side dishes in the recipe index here
Jamaican rice and peas and steamed cabbage
For the pork is it Breakfast sausage ?
I didn’t use breakfast sausage, if you want you could, I suppose. Sausage is seasoned so, it would change the flavor.
You could probably find a recipe for Jerk seasoning online. I’m not certain where you are but McCormick makes a great one. The marinade is available on the aisle with the condiments. K.C. Masterpiece makes a tasty one.
Is there anything that would replace the Jamaican Jerk Seasoning no stores around me carry that? Also what do you mean by the Caribbean jerk marinade and sauce?
Hi Vicky, that should be a good substitute, enjoy. 🙂
If im bunging the sauce in the slow cooker can I just add tnned pineapple as i have been unable to get preserve