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CookjngMama - BBQ Jerk meatballs
Kendyll Niquole

BBQ Jerk Turkey Meatballs

Juicy BBQ jerk meatballs made with seasoned ground meat and finely chopped vegetables, simmered in a sweet and spicy honey BBQ jerk sauce until glossy and flavorful. Perfect as an appetizer or served over rice with marinated cucumbers for a bold, satisfying meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Video

Ingredients
  

Turkey Meatballs
  • 2 lb ground turkey I used ground turkey, but you are more than welcome to substitute this for ground beef or pork.
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 small yellow onion
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/2 bell pepper
  • 2 carrots
  • 9 garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp tbps ginger paste
  • 1/2 tbsp jerk seasoning I used Lawry's Jerk Seasoning
  • 1 1/2 tsp all purpose seasoning
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
BBQ Jerk Sauce
  • 1 cup bbq sauce
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup jerk seasoning I prefer Walkers wood Hot Jerk Seasoning
  • 2 tbsp salted butter
  • 2 tbsp orange juice I used the juice of an orange.
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce

Method
 

Prep the veggies
  1. Finely dice or pulse in a food processor: onion, bell pepper, carrots, and garlic. You want them very small so the meatballs stay juicy, not chunky.
Mix the meatballs
  1. In a large bowl add:
    Ground meat, veggies, ginger paste, jerk seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, oregano, black pepper, egg, and bread crumbs.
    Mix just until combined—don’t overwork it or they’ll be dense.
Shape
  1. Roll into evenly sized meatballs (about 1½–2 inches). Set aside.
Cook the meatballs
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a little oil.
    Sear meatballs in batches, turning to brown all sides. Cook until fully done and set aside.
    (You can also bake at 400°F for ~20–25 min, flipping halfway.)
Make the BBQ jerk sauce
  1. In the same pan, melt butter over medium-low heat.
    Add BBQ sauce, honey, jerk seasoning, orange juice, and soy sauce.
    Stir and simmer 5–7 minutes until thick and glossy.
Sauce it up
  1. Add meatballs back into the sauce. Toss to coat.
    Simmer 5–10 minutes so the flavors soak in.
Finish & serve
  1. Taste and adjust (more honey for sweet, more jerk for heat).
    Serve over rice, in sliders, or straight out the pan if we’re being honest :)