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Honey Garlic Meatballs

Honey garlic meatballs in a glossy sticky sauce on a white plate.
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These Honey Garlic Meatballs are a globally craveable sweet-savory dish. They transform humble ground beef into tender, saucy bites with a sticky honey garlic glaze. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a standout party appetizer.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 2/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced onion
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil (for browning)
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon cold water
  • Sliced green onions (for garnish)
  • Sesame seeds (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine milk and breadcrumbs. Let sit for 1 minute.
  2. Add egg, 3 cloves minced garlic, minced onion, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix with a fork until combined.
  3. Add ground beef. Gently mix with hands just until incorporated; avoid overmixing.
  4. Roll mixture into 1 to 1.5-inch meatballs (about 24-28 total).
  5. Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs in batches on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
  6. Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, whisk together honey, 1/3 cup soy sauce, ketchup, 4-5 cloves minced garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  7. Return all meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through.
  8. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry. Remove lid from skillet, stir slurry, and pour into sauce. Gently stir until sauce thickens into a glossy glaze, about 1-2 minutes.
  9. Turn off heat. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Notes

For tender meatballs, do not overmix the beef. Browning in batches ensures a good sear. The cornstarch slurry must be added to simmering sauce to thicken properly. Use low-sodium soy sauce to control saltiness. Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for beef.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.stacksipsnack.com/honey-garlic-meatballs/