Description
Deliciously sweet and savory Baked Honey Garlic Meatballs made with ground beef or turkey, coated in a sticky honey garlic sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or main course, these meatballs are easy to prepare and bake, making them an ideal party dish or weeknight dinner served with rice, noodles, or steamed vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup grated onion
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- â…“ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, grated onion, milk, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Shape Meatballs: Scoop about 1½ tablespoons of the mixture and roll it into meatballs. Place the formed meatballs evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs for 15–18 minutes until they are browned and cooked through. Check that the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) for safety.
- Prepare Honey Garlic Sauce: While the meatballs bake, heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and vinegar, then bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Thicken Sauce: Stir in the cornstarch-water mixture and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Coat Meatballs: Once baked, toss the meatballs in the honey garlic sauce until each meatball is fully coated and flavorful.
- Serve: Serve the sauced meatballs warm alongside rice, noodles, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Notes
- These meatballs freeze well and can be reheated with sauce when needed for a convenient meal.
- For a spicy variation, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the honey garlic sauce while simmering.
- Use ground turkey for a leaner option or ground beef for richer flavor.
- Ensure not to overmix the meatball mixture to keep the texture tender.
