Honey Garlic Meatballs

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Make mealtime special with honey garlic meatballs. An easy recipe bursting with flavor that everyone will enjoy.

How to Make Meatballs

There’s little effort required to make meatballs. Like making a meatloaf, you oftentimes can use the very same recipe for either meatloaf or meatballs. 

Now there’s a small caveat with this recipe. I’m using ground chicken. In order to make this chicken, which tends to be on the dry side, moist and flavorful, I’m adding an equal amount of pork. My usual preference is ground beef/veal/lamb plus ground pork, but for this recipe, I’m using the ground chicken. 

For more meatball ideas I’ve created, click here! I promise deliciousness! 

Homemade Meatballs

Now, I’m big on making meatballs. There are so many reasons that I love them. 

Versatility: You make the meatball the size you prefer. From marble size cocktail meatballs to giant big dinner Fred Flintstone meatballs, the choice is yours. 

Taste: Meatballs get tastier, I think, the day after you’ve made them. That’s because as they sit in the refrigerator in the sauce, those flavors just seem to permeate even more into the meatball.

Freezing: Meatballs freeze beautifully. You can freeze a few for individual servings or a bunch of them for the family. Guaranteed fabuous!

Garlic and Honey Meatballs

What makes honey garlic meatballs especially tasty is the combination of flavors:

• Sweetness of honey: Honey balances the saltiness of soy sauce and the richness of the meat, giving the meatballs a comforting, savory-sweet flavor.
• Garlic: Adds depth and a pungent kick that complements the sweetness.
• Soy sauce: Brings in an umami flavor that elevates the dish with a hint of saltiness.
• Ginger and sesame (optional): If you add ginger, it introduces warmth and a slight spiciness, while sesame seeds or oil add a nutty flavor that rounds out the taste.

Together, these elements create a well-rounded flavor profile that’s savory, sweet, and just a little bit tangy.

Meatball Recipe Honey Garlic

To give your honey garlic meatballs an Asian twist, you can incorporate ingredients commonly found in Asian cuisine. Here’s how to elevate the flavor profile:

1. Ground Meat Options:

• Use ground pork or a mix of ground beef and pork. Pork has a lot of flavor and works well with the sweet-savory combination of honey garlic sauce.

2. Sauce Add-ins:

• Rice vinegar: Add a dash of rice vinegar to your honey garlic sauce to introduce a tangy element that complements the sweetness.
• Sesame oil: A small amount of toasted sesame oil gives your sauce a rich, nutty flavor that enhances the meatballs’ overall taste.
• Chili flakes or Sriracha: If you like a bit of heat, stir in some chili flakes or Sriracha sauce to give the dish a mild spice kick.
• Ginger: Fresh ginger brings a zesty and aromatic element to the sauce, adding depth and a touch of warmth.
• Green onions: Chopped green onions can be mixed into the meatballs or sprinkled on top as a garnish, adding freshness and crunch.

3. Garnishing:

• Sesame seeds: Toasted sesame seeds on top of the meatballs can add crunch and nuttiness.
• Cilantro or Thai basil: Fresh herbs like cilantro or Thai basil can offer a refreshing contrast to the rich honey garlic sauce.

Honey Garlic Meatballs Sauce

The sauce makes these meatballs. And, the great thing is that you can use this sauce with other recipes. 

• Drizzle on grilled thick cut pork chops, chicken, shrimp, fish.
• Use as a burger drizzle sauce. 
• Drizzle warm sauce on roasted veggies. 

Let your imagination soar with this sauce! 

Honey Garlic Glazed Meatballs

Honey garlic meatballs are super simple because they typically require minimal ingredients and prep time. You can make them in one bowl, mix everything together, and form the meatballs. Plus, you can bake or pan-fry them, both of which are easy methods.

The sauce, often made from honey, garlic, soy sauce, and a few other pantry ingredients, is simple to whip up and adds so much flavor with little effort.