These sweet and spicy Teriyaki Meatballs can be served as an appetizer or, over rice as an entree. Either way, it's a winning choice that the family is certain to ask for time and time again.
Teriyaki Meatballs Recipe
I love making these double duty kind of recipes. By that I mean, dishes that can be served in different ways depending on the occasion. You'll note in this particular recipe, the focus is the delicious meatball. When making Asian inspired meatballs, I often use Chinese 5 Spice to season them. While it's in inexpensive ingredient, I recognize it's not a spice blend most people typically have on hand. So, I broke it down in the spice ingredients for the same result. It gives a more rounded flavor to the meatballs adding that Asian flair we're going for with this recipe.
Teriyaki Meatball Making Tips
- You can make the meatball mixture in advance, place into an airtight container and chill overnight to expedite preparation.
- Likewise, you can go ahead and form the meatballs, bake, then cool and freeze. Once frozen, place into a plastic storage bag and keep for up to 2 months.
- You can use ground turkey or chicken in place of the ground beef in the same amount, if preferred.
- The Lawry's teriyaki marinade I use for the sauce in this recipe, is available on the condiment aisle of most grocery stores. It's thicker than typical teriyaki sauce which lends the best texture to the meatball sauce. K.C. Masterpiece also has a tasty honey teriyaki marinade as well as other brands found on the Asian foods aisle. Use your favorite brand.
- If you'd like to thicken the sauce further, you can using a cornstarch slurry. To make the slurry, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in just enough cold water to dissolve, then stir into the sauce. Repeat until desired thickness is achieved.
Other Meatball Recipes to Try
Meatballs are consummate party food. They're incredibly versatile, and can become a pleasing addition to pasta and rice dishes. Some other recipes you may like to try:
- Jamaican Jerk Meatballs
- Spanish Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Party Meatballs
- Italian Meatballs from Recipe Tin Eats
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Teriyaki Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 lb ground bulk pork sausage
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- ¼ cup buttermilk or milk
- ¼ cup teriyaki or soy sauce
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 4-6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed
- ¼ teaspoon ground clove or allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Sauce:
- 1 12.5 oz bottle sweet Thai chili sauce
- 1 11 oz bottle teriyaki marinade (i.e. Lawry's or similar)
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- toasted sesame seeds and chopped chives for garnishing optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a broiler pan or a large baking pan fitted with a rack with cooking spray. Set aside.
- To a medium size mixing bowl add ground beef and pork, panko, green onions, milk, teriyaki sauce, cilantro, lime juice, eggs, garlic, salt, pepper, ginger, red pepper flakes, clove and cinnamon.Using your hands, mix everything together thoroughly.
- Form into bite sized 1 inch meatballs and place onto the rack. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until no pink remains.
- Meanwhile, make sauce. In a medium saucepan, simmer together Thai chili sauce, teriyaki marinade and brown sugar until slightly thickened and reduced. Keep warm.
- Add meatballs to sauce, gently stir to coat. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chives, if desired.
- Serve immediately with picks as an appetizer or over rice drizzled with sauce, as an entree.
Notes
- At the end of conventional or slow cooking, you can thicken the sauce further using a cornstarch slurry. To make, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in just enough cold water to dissolve. Stir into the sauce, repeating until the desired thickness is achieved.
- The Lawry's teriyaki marinade I use for the sauce in this recipe is available on the condiment aisle of most grocery stores. It's thicker than typical teriyaki sauce which lends the best texture to the meatball sauce. K.C. Masterpiece also has a tasty honey teriyaki marinade as well as other brands found on the Asian foods aisle. Use your favorite brand.
- If using 1 ½ teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice, omit ginger, clove and cinnamon. Reduce red pepper flakes and fennel seed to ½ teaspoon each, or to taste.
Pat Vaughn
I have the Chinese 5 Spice blend in my pantry. How would I season these using it.
Melissa
Follow this recipe for Asian meatballs using Chinese 5 Spice. (You may omit citrus, if preferred)
Susan
Melissa,
This looks so delicious! I love how you include tips with specific product brands and detailed instructions for your recipes. Your photographs are always so beautiful too! Very helpful! I always look forward to receiving your recipes in my inbox. Happy New Year!
Melissa
Hi Susan, thanks so much, I'm delighted you find it helpful. After all, that's my goal. Wishing you and yours the very best in 2021!
Terry Pesca
Melissa
love your e=mails the recipes are great!
Melissa
Thank you!