Description
These Honey Garlic Meatballs are a deliciously sweet and savory appetizer or main dish featuring tender ground beef meatballs baked to perfection and coated in a sticky honey garlic sauce with a hint of heat from red pepper flakes. Perfect for parties, weeknight dinners, or as a flavorful snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup minced garlic (About 4–5 cloves)
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, minced garlic, chopped green onions, beaten egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into small meatballs roughly 1 inch in diameter and arrange them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for about 15 minutes, or until they are browned and fully cooked through.
- Prepare Sauce: While the meatballs bake, prepare the honey garlic sauce by combining honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and optional crushed red pepper flakes in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Toss in Sauce: After baking, remove the meatballs from the oven and immediately toss them in the warm honey garlic sauce until each meatball is evenly coated.
- Serve: Serve the honey garlic meatballs hot, garnished with extra chopped green onions if desired, making them perfect as a flavorful appetizer or main course.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari instead of soy sauce.
- You can substitute ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to control the heat level.
- Serve with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
- Leftover meatballs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 meatballs
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: honey garlic meatballs, baked meatballs, sweet and savory meatballs, party appetizers, quick dinner, ground beef recipes
