Five Spice Pork Meatballs with Rice and Kimchi Mayo
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If you want bold, delicious flavor without spending much time cooking, I have a recipe for you. I make these five-spice pork meatballs on busy weeknights—or when I just want flavor that packs a punch! I’ll share my best tips to make sure they’re tender inside with a delicate, golden crust.
This is one of those recipes you’ll want to keep up your sleeve – and for good reason. First off, it’s so easy. It’s what I make when I don’t have time to think about dinner, let alone cook it. Second, it delivers big, bold flavor that totally satisfies. They’re versatile: you can serve them up in many different meals. Plus, as a bonus, it’s totally kid-approved. Because meatballs are fun – whether you’re feeding little ones, or just big kids at heart!
This dish is so easy yet flavorful thanks to Chinese 5-spice. Easily bought from the spice section of the supermarket, it’s perfectly balanced and tasty, so it does all the heavy lifting for you when it comes to flavor. It’s warm, aromatic, and melds into the pork so deliciously!
Key ingredients
Filled with kitchen staples, it’s likely you can grab some pork mince on your way home then whip these up for dinner! Here are some notes on key ingredients:
- Chinese 5 spice: Guess how many spices are used in this blend? Okay, we all know its five, but what are they? Star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel seeds. You’ll find this in the spice section of most supermarkets.
- Ground pork: Naturally juicy and full of flavor, pork is ideal for these meatballs! However, I’ve also made it with ground beef and it’s also a winner.
Fun fact ⇢ The name ‘Chinese 5 spice’ doesn’t refer to the amount of spices blended in. Some mixes even have a variation on the spices! It actually refers to the five flavors: sweet, pungent, sour, salty, and bitter.
How to store, freeze, and reheat
Store: Wait for them to cool to room temperature, then transfer them to a covered container. You can keep them in the fridge for up to four days.
Freeze: These freeze really well! Simply freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-proof bag or a sealed container and freeze for about 3 months. Thaw them out by popping them in the refrigerator a day before you intend to reheat them.
Reheat: Simply pop them back in the oven until warmed through.
Five Spice Pork Meatballs with Rice and Kimchi Mayo
Ingredients
The Meatballs
- 1 ½ lb ground pork
- ½ cup fine breadcrumbs
- ½ cup finely minced cilantro
- 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons five spice
- 2 green onions (finely minced)
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 large egg
For serving
- Steamed or sauteed broccoli
- White rice
- Kimchi mayo
- Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Place one oven rack 4 inches from the heat source and one in the top third of your oven. Then, preheat your oven to broil. In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients.1 ½ lb ground pork, ½ cup fine breadcrumbs, ½ cup finely minced cilantro, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger, 2 teaspoons five spice, 2 green onions, 2 cloves garlic, 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- Roll into golf ball-sized balls and place them on a baking sheet. See notes.
- Broil the meatballs for 8-10 minutes, until the tops have turned beautifully dark brown.
- Move the baking sheet to the lower oven rack and lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue to bake the meatballs for another 10-12 minutes, until they are fully cooked.
- Serve the meatballs over rice with broccoli on the side, a little kimchi mayo, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.Steamed or sauteed broccoli, White rice, Kimchi mayo, Toasted sesame seeds
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
Very very good. The only change I did was use your fabulous firecracker sauce instead of kimchi. My husband ate 2 servings. Would you give us some examples of what else we can use 5 spice?
I’m so glad you both loved it—and I love the idea of swapping in the firecracker sauce, that sounds delicious! Five spice is super versatile: it’s amazing rubbed on chicken, stirred into stir-fries, added to marinades, or even sprinkled into roasted veggies or soups for a warm, cozy flavor.
So delicious! Worth hunting for five spice powder!
I’m so happy you thought so! 🎉 Totally agree—five spice is such a game-changer and once you have it in your pantry, you’ll find yourself using it all the time.