These Sweet and Tangy Asian Meatballs are full of all things delicious. With onion, ginger, green onions, soy sauce, Gochujang, and more. This Asian meatball recipe is so tender and jam-packed with flavor and so easy to make!
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We’re all about meatballs... And this week it’s getting even sweeter around here with our Sweet and Tangy Asian Meatballs! What can I say? Sweetness is my weakness.
So if you’re looking for an easy and delicious and easy weeknight dinner, these Asian Meatballs are just for you.
You may not know this but I LOVE me some meatballs. They are literally one of my favorite things to cook AND devour!
Because of that, I'm always creating new recipes and trying to find new ways to enjoy these hearty balls of goodness.
Our Favorite Meatball Recipes
There's my... Buffalo Chicken Meatballs that are hearty and delicious with a blue cheese sauce for dipping.
Then there's my Italian Parmigiana Meatballs smothered in mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, coated in marinara sauce, and tucked into fluffy club rolls AKA pillows from heaven.
And of course, my French Onion Meatballs... tender, juicy, low-carb, gluten-free, homemade chicken meatballs simmered in a French Onion sauce, topped off with a combination of Havarti and Gruyère cheese.
And we can't forget the most popular meatball recipe on the blog... Healthy Meal Prep Baked Turkey Meatballs! They’re loaded with lean protein and lots of delicious flavors! This recipe makes 45 meatballs and they freeze perfectly – a fabulous recipe to help you meal prep for the week!
So this week we’re bringing the sweet heat with these Sweet & Tangy Asian Meatballs. There’s so much to love about these balls of goodness.
They are jam-packed with flavor and so easy to make.
Let me highlight some of the drool-worthy ingredients in this Asian meatball masterpiece recipe.
Asian Meatball Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Minced garlic
- Grated yellow onion
- Grated fresh ginger
- Chopped green onions
- Tamari Sauce which is gluten-free or soy sauce if you'd prefer
- Gochujang (a sweet and slightly spicy Korean chili sauce)
- Plus, eggs, salt, pepper, and almond meal – my substitute for breadcrumbs cause I’m all about more protein sans the gluten.
How to Make Asian Meatballs
Add the ground beef, ground pork, almond meal or breadcrumbs, minced garlic, grated yellow onion, grated fresh ginger, chopped green onions, Tamari Sauce or soy sauce, Gochujang - Korean chili sauce, eggs, salt, and pepper, and to a large mixing bowl.
Next, form the meatballs.
You can spritz cooking spray cooking or on your hands or dip them in water throughout the meatball-forming process to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands. I use an 11/2-inch scoop for mine.
When formed, place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 18-20 minutes.
How to make Sweet and Tangy Asian Sauce
So now you can make your sauce... in a small saucepan over medium heat, stir in hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, Gochujang sauce/paste, soy sauce, garlic powder, ginger powder, and bring to a simmer.
Let the sauce cook for 1-2 minutes and set aside until meatballs are ready. Then place meatballs in a large bowl and gently fold in ¾ of the sauce.
What to Serve with Asian Meatballs
Serve these meatballs with cooked jasmine rice or Asian noodles. If using Asian noodles gently fold in ¼ of the sauce mixture to the noodles. And for the rice, drizzle on the sauce before serving.
If you're looking to add more veggies and fewer carbs to your diet, try zucchini noodles. They are a healthy and satisfying option. Gently fold in ¼ of the sauce mixture to the zoodles.
And if you're looking for a delicious veggies side dish to pair with this meatball recipe this Asian Cucumber Salad is super easy to make, tastes amazing, and is gluten-free.
Garnish this yumminess with pea shoots, scallions, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Here’s a little drill I like to do now and then... think about your favorite Asian restaurant, then think about your favorite dish and how happy you are eating it, now picture yourself in the comfort of your own home with your family having that same experience - but better because you paid a fraction of the cost and you know all the ingredients that went into the dish, AND, it's good-for-you!
Well, that is as long as you don’t eat all 34 meatballs in one setting! (Proceed with caution my friends ‘cause they’re slightly addicting.)
These Sweet and tangy Asian Meatballs are a slam dunk in the recipe department! I know what you’re thinking…what would you do without me? Good news - you’ll never have to find out!
Eat up, my friend!
Looking for more Amazing Meatball Recipes?
- Creamy Parmesan Mushroom Turkey Meatballs
- Spinach Feta Chicken Meatballs
- Salisbury Steak Meatballs
- Vegetarian Meatballs with Tahini Sauce
- Moroccan Lentils with Turkey Meatballs
- Lamb Meatballs with Fava and Tzatziki
Sweet And Tangy Asian Meatballs
These Sweet And Tangy Asian Meatballs are full of all things delicious. With onion, ginger, green onions, soy sauce, Gochujang, and more. They're jam-packed with flavor and so easy to make!
Ingredients
For The Meatballs:
- ½ cup almond meal, (or breadcrumbs)
- 16 ounces ground beef, 85 percent lean
- 16 ounces of ground pork
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ small yellow onion, grated
- 3 green onions finely chopped, (whites + greens)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, peeled and grated
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons Gochujang Korean chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce, (or reduced-sodium/gluten-free Tamari)
- 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper
For The Sauce:
- ⅔ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Gochujang Korean chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce, (or reduced-sodium/gluten-free Tamari)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ginger powder
- Serve over fine Udon noodles (Asian pasta) or jasmine rice
For The Garnish:
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Scallions chopped on the diagonal
- Pea shoots
- Chopped peanuts
- Lime wedges
Instructions
For The Meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Gently mix together almond meal (or bread crumbs), meat, garlic, yellow onion, green onions, ginger root, eggs, Gochujang, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Spray hands with cooking spray to make handling the meatballs easier. Use a 1 ½ inch scoop to ensure each meatball is the same size, and roll them by hand to give them a nice round shape before placing them evenly on the cookie sheet (this recipe should produce 34 meatballs).
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.
- While meatballs are baking steam the rice/cook the Asian noodles and set aside. If using Asian noodles gently fold in ¼ of the sauce mixture.
- Once cooked, place meatballs in a large bowl and gently fold in ¾ of the sauce.
For The Sauce:
- While meatballs are baking, in a small saucepot over medium heat, stir in hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, Gochujang sauce, soy sauce, garlic powder, ginger powder, and bring to a simmer.
- Let cook for 1-2 minutes and set aside until meatballs are ready.
To Serve:
- Place the sauce-coated Udon Noodles onto plates, top with sauce-coated meatballs.
- Garnish with pea shoots, scallions, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
2 meatballs w/noodlesAmount Per Serving Calories 492Total Fat 24gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 127mgSodium 1446mgCarbohydrates 34gFiber 4gSugar 12gProtein 35g
This nutrition card uses an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. This estimate is not a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice!
Quinton
Hey there, I love Gochujang and found your meatball recipe. Can’t wait to try it! I don’t typically buy a premade sauce (gochujang paste is in my fridge). Do you have a brand of sauce that you can recommend?
holly
Hi Quinton! I don't buy premade sauce either. The Gochujang that I use in this recipe to make the sauce is Chung Jung One brand - Gochujang Korean Chili Sauce. I'm excited to hear how these turned out.
Diane
Hi, I don’t have the gochujang - what can I use as a substitute? Thanks.
holly
Hi Diane, you can use Siracha or a little hot sauce mixed with honey or pure maple syrup.
Sara
Could you substitute and try ground turkey?
holly
Hi Sara, yes - absolutely! I love swapping out ground turkey and chicken for pork and beef. Enjoy!
christine
how did I miss meat balls? Love them and all there sauces yum
holly
Thank you Christine! Did you see there's also Italian, lamb, vegetarian (inspired by Sammy T's Camper Special), and Buffalo Chicken too!???
David Summerbell
Wow! These asian meatballs look absolutely delicious and I love how your pictures really bring this dish to life. Will try this on the weekend. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe 🙂
holly
Hi David, Thanks for your kind words - I appreciate it! They are pretty tasty and I love how quickly these meatballs come together. Plus, baking them really helps cut down on the cleanup. Enjoy!
karrie@tasty ever after
You are seriously turning into the meatball princess or something! Hahaha! I could see a meatball e-book of yours coming out soon too. I love that you used Gochujang in it also. Making these this week fo' sho! 🙂
holly
What can I say, Karrie? I'm on a roll. Hehehe? But for real - I take March Meatball Madness very seriously!! An e-book sounds perfect - great idea!!? Thanks my friend!
Ashlyn // Dollop Of Yum
I love the idea of asian style meatballs! This recipe looks absolutely delicious!
holly
Thank you Ashlyn! This recipe is a keeper! The fresh grated ginger and Gochujang really took them to a whole 'nother level.