Tender spicy jerk chicken cups (Printable Version)

Spicy jerk-seasoned chicken in crisp lettuce cups with mango salsa and coconut crema for a fresh bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Jerk Chicken

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 2 tablespoons jerk seasoning
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Mango Salsa

06 - 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
07 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
08 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
09 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - Juice of 1 lime
12 - Pinch of salt

→ Coconut Crema

13 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt
14 - 2 tablespoons coconut milk
15 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
16 - 1/2 teaspoon honey, optional
17 - Pinch of salt

→ To Serve

18 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine hearts
19 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
20 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine chicken thighs, jerk seasoning, olive oil, lime juice, and salt. Toss thoroughly to coat all pieces evenly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature.
02 - While chicken marinates, combine diced mango, red onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a separate bowl. Mix gently and set aside.
03 - In another bowl, whisk together yogurt, coconut milk, lime juice, honey if using, and salt until smooth and well combined. Refrigerate until assembly.
04 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook, stirring frequently, for 6 to 8 minutes until fully cooked through and lightly charred. Remove from heat.
05 - Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Spoon jerk chicken into each leaf, top with mango salsa, and drizzle with coconut crema. Garnish with extra cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 45 minutes, which means weeknight dinners don't have to be boring.
  • The layers of heat, sweetness, and creaminess create this moment where each bite surprises you.
  • You can set everything out and let people build their own, turning dinner into something interactive and fun.
02 -
  • If your chicken is thick, cut it into smaller pieces so it cooks evenly and gets those slightly charred edges that make it taste incredible.
  • Don't skip the marinating step—15 minutes sounds short, but it's the difference between seasoned chicken and chicken that actually tastes like jerk.
03 -
  • Pat your chicken dry before marinating it so the seasoning actually adheres instead of sliding off into a puddle.
  • Keep your lettuce cups in the fridge until the last minute—cold, crisp lettuce against warm jerk chicken creates a contrast that's genuinely craveable.
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