Asian Meatballs
Saucy Asian meatballs are made from scratch and covered in a rich, sweet and spicy sauce. This easy recipe makes for a delicious dinner and a great party appetizer!
Asian Meatballs Recipe
I love a good meatball recipe! Whether it's traditional Italian meatballs or something like my tasty baked turkey meatballs, they're such a versatile method of making tasty dinners.
This recipe for saucy Asian meatballs has quickly become a dinner favorite around our house. They are super easy to make and have a wonderfully yummy flavor!
The sticky sauce that coats each of the flavorful meatballs takes the dish above and beyond. It has just the right amount of, while not being overpoweringly spicy. And the sweetness of the honey is just perfect.
Whether you need a tasty weeknight dinner that'll shake things up from the same old same old, or you want a good appetizer, this meatball recipe is worth checking out! All of the bold flavors make it a good reason to give it a shot.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
If ever I'm craving take-out, I turn to recipes like these meatballs or a tasty stir fry. It always hits the spot because it's so delicious! I also love this dish because:
- I can make the whole thing in about a half hour! It doesn't take too long to mix together the ingredients, shape the meatballs, cook them and then coat them in sauce.
- This is a wonderful meal prep recipe. Meatballs store and reheat wonderfully, and the sauce does too. Prep them ahead of time to eat at a later date.
- You can cook the meatballs with multiple different cooking methods. Just choose what's easiest for you!
Ingredients
To make this delicious recipe, you'll need quite a few ingredients. Here's a list of everything you should have on hand to make Asian meatballs:
Meatballs Ingredients
- ground beef
- egg
- almond flour
- pepper
- salt
- ginger
- garlic powder
- onion powder
Sauce Ingredients
- sesame oil
- minced garlic
- minced ginger
- coconut aminos
- rice vinegar
- sriracha
- honey
- pinch salt and pepper
Substitutions and Variations
While this recipe calls for ground beef, you can use ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer.
If you do not have coconut aminos, then you can use low sodium soy sauce in it place.
Minced ginger gives a really bold flavor to this sauce, but you can swap it out for ground ginger if that is all that you have.
Almond flour makes this recipe gluten free, but you can use all purpose flour if you prefer. Coconut flour or a gluten-free 1:1 flour substitute, such as King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour, would work too.
How to Make Asian Meatballs
This main course will be the clear winner at dinner time! Follow these simple instructions and choose whichever cooking method is best for you:
Stovetop Method
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, almond flour, pepper, salt, ginger, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix the ingredient together with your hands or a spoon until evenly incorporated.
- Shape the meatball mixture into evenly sized balls that are about 1 inch in diameter.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat, then add meatballs and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through. The internal temperature should be 165°F or 75°C.
- Once cooked, remove from heat. And begin to make the sauce.
Oven Baked Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, almond flour, pepper, salt, ginger, garlic powder and onion powder. Then mix with your hands or a spoon until evenly incorporated.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs that are about 1 inch in diameter and then place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- While the meatballs bake, prepare the sauce!
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes. If your air fryer does not have a preheat button, just turn it on for a few minutes while preparing the meatballs.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, almond flour, pepper, salt, ginger, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix the ingredients together with your hands or a spoon until well combined.
- Scoop out the mixture and form into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.
- Place them into the preheated air fryer basket, being careful not to overload the basket. Leave space between each one.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
How to Make Asian Meatball Sauce
Place all of the sauce ingredients into a small bowl and then whisk together until combined. You can also place the ingredients into a glass jar and shake until mixed.
Once complete, pour over fully cooked meatballs that are still warm. You may be able to bake the meatballs with the sauce too! I haven't tried it, but feel free to give it a shot.
How to Store Asian Meatballs
Allow the meatballs to fully cool and then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze your leftovers! Just place them onto a baking sheet until frozen. Then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
For best results, reheat leftovers on the stove top or in the oven until they reach a safe internal temperature.
What to Serve with Asian Meatballs
You can serve these meatballs with bold Asian flavors with simple sides like jasmine rice or brown rice. Or, cook some rice or noodles with quick stir fry sauce and serve the meatballs over that.
They'd also pair well with parmesan risotto or veggies like garlic green beans or steamed broccoli. A quick chopped Asian salad would be tasty too.
Tips for Success
Follow these basic tips to make your Asian meatballs turn out perfect every time:
- Be careful not to over mix the meat mixture. If you over-mix, then you might end up with meatballs that have tough texture and lack moisture.
- For best results, use lean ground beef. Otherwise, your meatballs could end up pretty greasy and not cook very evenly.
- To save on time, make the sauce while the meatballs cook. Then once the meatballs are ready to go, you can drizzle on the sauce and serve immediately!
FAQ
Yes, you can prepare the meat mixture and shape the meatballs ahead of time and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You can also freeze the uncooked meatballs for up to 3 months!
If you end up with meatballs that have a rubbery and tough, you likely over mixed them and/or overcooked them. Once the meatball ingredients are combined, then it's good to go and you can form the meatballs! When forming the meatballs, don't pack them too tightly.
More Ground Beef Recipes
Did you make this recipe?
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Asian Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup almond flour
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Asian Meatball Sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger or ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅓ cup coconut aminos
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoons sriracha
- 1 teaspoon honey
- pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
Stovetop Method
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, almond flour, pepper, salt, ginger, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix the ingredient together with your hands or a spoon until evenly incorporated.
- Shape the meatball mixture into evenly sized balls that are about 1 inch in diameter.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat, then add meatballs and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through. The internal temperature should be 165°F or 75°C.
- Once cooked, remove from heat. And begin to make the sauce.
Oven Baked Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, almond flour, pepper, salt, ginger, garlic powder and onion powder. Then mix with your hands or a spoon until evenly incorporated.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs that are about 1 inch in diameter and then place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- While the meatballs bake, prepare the sauce!
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes. If your air fryer does not have a preheat button, just turn it on for a few minutes while preparing the meatballs.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, almond flour, pepper, salt, ginger, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix the ingredients together with your hands or a spoon until well combined.
- Scoop out the mixture and form into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.
- Place them into the preheated air fryer basket, being careful not to overload the basket. Leave space between each one.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
Asian Meatball Sauce
- Place all of the sauce ingredients into a small bowl and then whisk together until combined. You can also place the ingredients into a glass jar and shake until mixed.
- Once complete, pour over fully cooked meatballs that are still warm. You may be able to bake the meatballs with the sauce too! I haven't tried it, but feel free to give it a shot.
