Honey Garlic Meatballs

Name: Honey Garlic Meatballs Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef; 1 lb lean ground pork; ½ cup rolled oats, breadcrumbs, or almond flour; ¼ cup grated onion; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon grated ginger; 2 large eggs; 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon sea salt; 1 tablespoon butter; 4 cloves garlic (minced); ½ cup honey; 2 tablespoons EACH: soy sauce and apple cider vinegar; 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch (mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water); Green onions and sesame seeds (to serve)

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These honey garlic meatballs are sweet, sticky, and always a hit! Juicy baked meatballs are coated in a homemade honey garlic sauce. They're easy to make, and they're ready in just 30 minutes!

Meatballs are perfect as a party appetizer or casual weeknight dinner. Try our sweet hoisin meatballs, tex-mex meatballs, and buffalo turkey meatballs.

Honey Garlic Meatballs on a plate with rice and snow peas.

You've probably caught on by now, but we have a thing for meatballs. We've made them so many different and delicious ways over the years that we thought we had exhausted all the possible ways to prepare them.

Until we made these Asian-inspired honey garlic meatballs, that is. They're sweet, sticky, incredibly juicy, and an absolute crowd-pleaser.

They're super straightforward to make, too. Simply mix all the meatball ingredients together with your hands and get rolling. While they're baking, prepare the homemade honey garlic sauce. When the meatballs are cooked through, place them in the pan with the sauce to coat them. That's it!

Serve them as an appetizer with tiny forks or toothpicks, or serve them with a side of rice to turn them into a satisfying meal the whole family will enjoy.

a close up of meatballs in a honey garlic sauce in a pan

Honey garlic meatballs ingredients

With basic ingredients, you can make these sticky meatballs at home, too! Here's everything you'll need to make the meatballs:

Ground beef and pork – we like a mix of both beef and pork but you can use one or the other if you prefer. You can also use other ground meat like chicken or turkey, but they're leaner so the meatballs will be less juicy.
Rolled oats, breadcrumbs, or almond flour – either one of these ingredients works well as a binder so use what you have on hand.
Onion – grating the onion ensures it gets well distributed throughout.
Soy sauce – for saltiness and flavor.
Ginger + garlic – fresh grated ginger and garlic add a flavorful kick to these Asian-inspired meatballs.
Eggs – help to keep everything stuck together.
Sea salt – for seasoning.

Here's what you'll need for the homemade honey garlic sauce:

Butter – butter is a key component of a rich-tasting honey garlic sauce. If you use unsalted butter, add ½ teaspoon of salt.
Garlic – a generous amount for lots of the tasty flavor we love!
Honey – honey gives this sauce its signature stickiness. Other sweeteners simply won't do!
Soy sauce – use a gluten-free option if needed.
Apple cider vinegar – balances the sweetness.
Cornstarch – thickens the sauce and helps it to coat the meatballs.

You'll also need green onions and sesame seeds, for serving.

Quick tip

If you're in a hurry, use a bag of store-bought meatballs. While they're never quite as good as homemade, they'll do the trick when you need to save some time!

How to make honey garlic meatballs

This honey garlic meatballs recipe is incredibly delicious and it's quick and easy to make. Here's how we make them in a few simple steps:

Use your hands to mix all the meatball ingredients. You don't want to work the meat any more than necessary so stop mixing them as soon as the ingredients are combined.
Roll the meat into even-sized balls (we like to use a medium-sized cookie scoop to measure) and place them on a prepared baking sheet then pop them into the oven.
While they're baking, it's time to start the sauce. Melt the butter, then add the garlic, followed by the honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar.
Before adding the cornstarch, mix it with a tablespoon of water to dissolve it, then pour it into the hot sauce, and stir until it thickens.
When the meatballs are done, add them to the pan with the sauce and mix to coat. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, and either serve them on their own or over a bed of rice. Yum!

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

Tips for making the best honey garlic meatballs

Use a cookie scoop to make them evenly sized.
To serve them as an appetizer, roll them smaller and serve them with a tiny fork or toothpick.
Use your hands to mix the ingredients, it helps incorporate everything evenly.
Don't roll them too tight like snowballs, just enough so they hold together.

FAQS

How long do honey garlic meatballs keep in the fridge?

Leftovers will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

What's the best way to reheat them?

The best way to reheat meatballs is in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes.

Can I freeze them?

If you're planning on freezing them, freeze the meatballs alone without the sauce. When you're ready to eat them, thaw the meatballs and make the sauce so it tastes super fresh.

Can I prepare the honey garlic sauce ahead of time?

Definitely! The honey garlic sauce will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.

Love honey garlic? Try these honey garlic recipes!

What to serve with honey garlic meatballs

This versatile recipe is both the perfect party appetizer and casual family dinner. Serve them as a starter with little forks or toothpicks, or transform them into a meal with a side of our favorite coconut rice and a simple steamed vegetable like garlic sugar snap peas or roasted broccoli.