Jerk Chicken Meatballs in Coconut Sauce
Tender chicken meatballs seasoned with jerk marinade, simmered in a creamy coconut and lime sauce and served with rice.
Made with Jerk marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.92 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the chicken mince, 60 ml of your ready made jerk marinade (see the base recipe), the breadcrumbs and egg in a bowl. Roll into 20 small meatballs and chill for 15 minutes.
15 min - 2
Heat the oil in a wide, deep pan over a medium heat. Brown the meatballs in two batches for 5 minutes each, turning, until golden all over.
10 min - 3
Stir the remaining 40 ml of jerk marinade into the pan and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the coconut milk and bring to a gentle simmer.
- 4
Cover and cook for 15 minutes, turning the meatballs once, until cooked through with no pink inside and the sauce has thickened.
15 min - 5
Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the packet instructions.
- 6
Stir the lime juice into the sauce, season, and serve over the rice with the coriander.
Tips
- Wet your hands before rolling, so the mince does not stick to them and the meatballs are smooth.
- Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer. A hard boil can split the coconut milk and toughen the meatballs.
- Check the thickest meatball is piping hot and cut one open to be sure it has no pink.
Storing and freezing
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days, cooled within 2 hours. Freeze the meatballs in the sauce for up to 2 months and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Cool rice quickly and reheat it only once.
Questions
Can I use turkey mince?
Yes. Turkey mince is leaner so add an extra tablespoon of oil to the mix. Cook for the same time and check the meatballs have no pink inside.
Can I make them egg free?
Yes. Leave out the egg and add 2 tablespoons of coconut milk to the mix instead. The meatballs will be a little more delicate, so handle them gently.
How do I make it less spicy?
Use 60 ml of jerk marinade in total, and add a spoonful of sugar or mango chutney to the sauce. Serve with a cooling cucumber salad.
More made with jerk marinade
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.