Home Chicken Appetizers Asian Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Becky Hardin
4.61 from 219 votes
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Here’s a great recipe that doubles up as a delicious appetizer or an easy weeknight meal. Asian Chicken Meatballs are baked in the oven and covered in a sticky ginger, honey, and sesame glaze. On the table in 30 minutes and oh so yummy!
What’s in this Asian Chicken Meatballs Recipe?
It’s never a bad time for meatballs, especially ones that are bursting full of flavor! These Asian-inspired chicken meatballs come together so quickly and easily. Perfect to serve as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or with rice and veggies for a well balanced meal.
- Ground Chicken: Forms the base of our meatballs.
- Breadcrumbs: Absorb the juices from the chicken as it cooks, ensuring moist meatballs.
- Green Onions: Add a pop of color and freshness.
- Garlic + Ginger: Add an earthy, zesty flavor. I highly recommend using fresh over powdered.
- Egg: Helps bind the meatballs together.
- Sesame Oil: Adds moisture and a little bit of extra fat to the meatballs and adds a rich nutty flavor to the sauce.
- Soy Sauce: Adds a salty, umami element to the meatballs and the sauce.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the natural flavor of the chicken.
- Rice Vinegar: Adds acidity and brightness to the sauce.
- Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness to the sauce.
- Cornstarch: Combines with water to create a slurry that thickens the sauce.
Pro Tip: To mix the meatballs the most evenly, use your hands and really get in there!
Variations on Ginger Chicken Meatballs
There are lots of ways you can change up this meatball recipe. To make them spicier, try adding some sriracha, crushed red pepper flakes, or gochujang to the sauce.
Swap the honey for brown sugar and the rice vinegar for mirin to make a teriyaki variation.
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Can you make these meatballs gluten-free?
Yes! Simply swap out the breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs, and swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
How do you know when the meatballs are cooked?
The meatballs are done when the outside of them is slightly browned and they are cooked through, it should take between 15 and 20 minutes. You can break one apart to check that they are cooked through. If you have an instant-read thermometer it should register at 165ºF.
Can you make these ahead of time?
You can roll the meatballs and before you bake them you can keep them in the fridge, covered for 2 to 3 days. You can also bake the meatballs ahead of time and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm them through in the oven before adding the sauce and serving.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover Asian chicken meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a saucepan set over medium-low heat until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze chicken meatballs in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These meatballs are great served over white rice with a side of steamed broccoli (pictured) or green beans. They’re also delish with fried rice or lo mein!
4.61 from 219 votes
Asian Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Asian chicken meatballs are baked in the oven and covered in a sticky ginger, honey, and sesame glaze. They'll be on the table in 30 minutes!
Prep: 15 minutes minutes
Cook: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
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Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 4 green onions finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
For the Glaze:
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 clove garlic grated or minced
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch + 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Thoroughly combine all the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl.
1 pound ground chicken, ½ cup breadcrumbs, 4 green onions, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger, 1 large egg, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Form the mixture into 24-30 meatballs and arrange on a large baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are slightly browned on the outside and cooked through (165°F internally).
While the meatballs are baking, whisk together the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan.
⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 clove garlic, ¼ cup honey, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking until the sauce begins to thicken. Reduce heat to low and continue to whisk occasionally until the meatballs are ready.
Pour the glaze over the meatballs on the baking sheet and toss to coat.
Serve meatballs as an appetizer or with rice and a vegetable.
Notes
- Ensure that the ingredients for the meatballs are really well combined. I prefer to mix everything with my hands to ensure everything is mixed thoroughly.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment so that the don’t stick. It also makes clean up a breeze.
- Roll the balls into even shapes and sizes so that they cook evenly. You can use a small cookie scoop to get uniformed sizes.
- If you prefer, you can also cook the meatballs in a skillet on the stovetop. Add a little oil to a medium hot pan and cook for around 12 minutes while turning occasionally.
Storage:Store Asian chicken meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts
Asian Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Amount Per Serving (6 meatballs)
Calories 349Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 144mg48%
Sodium 1349mg59%
Potassium 756mg22%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 19g21%
Protein 26g52%
Vitamin A 118IU2%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 55mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Author: Becky Hardin
Course:Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine:asian
Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at@easychickenrecipesfor a chance to be featured.
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Meet Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin founded Easy Chicken Recipes in 2018. She has been creating trusted, easy, and delicious recipes on the web since 2012. Becky is known for simple dinner ideas, delicious crockpot recipes, creative chicken meals, and so much more. We have built a team of recipe developers, testers, and writers that love to create trust chicken recipes for every family.
Reader Interactions
Leave a Review
KatJ says
Very good recipe, will make again
Thank youReply
Becky Hardin says
So glad you enjoyed it, Kat!
Reply
Karine says
Am I bale to substitute the breadcrumbs with almond meal?
Reply
Becky Hardin says
I’ve not tried this, but it could work!
Reply
Jacqueline Belcher says
Very tasty recipe – you can also cheat by not making the sauce and just buying some sweet chilli sauce or something similar. Although, I have made the sauce too and it is lovely.Reply
Becky Hardin says
Thanks so much for sharing, Jacqueline!
Reply
Adrienne Reid says
I was looking for a chinese chicken ball recipe that did not include deep frying or dipping the chicken in a batter. first I found this recipe and it was very good. Quick to make and tasty. I served it with rice and a salad. Will keep this in my recipe files! Thanks!Reply
Becky Hardin says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Adrienne!
Reply
Jill K says
The meatballs were delicious! We messed up the sauce somehow – it became super thick so quickly – maybe we weren’t whisking it enough to begin with? It was still tasty but hard to spread over the meatballs because it was so thick. What did we do wrong ? Maybe added too much cornstarch or honey?Reply
Becky Hardin says
Hi Jill, once you add the cornstarch slurry, the sauce will begin to thicken up really fast, so be ready to take it off the heat!
Reply
Emily T says
This recipe was delicious!! We must have made our meatballs slightly larger – made about 20 in total. Subbed ground ginger because I didn’t have any minced. I also added a little hoisin sauce and water to the sauce and then used my judgement in adding a cornstarch slurry. My twins helped me form the meatballs (they just turned 3 so they loved helping) and then devoured the dinner! One of my girls ate SIX meatballs!! Very yummy! I very rarely leave reviews on blogs for recipes I find but no wonder this one has so many good reviews, I just had to leave my own!
Reply
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