Description
Oven-baked teriyaki meatballs made with ground turkey, coated in a homemade sweet and savory teriyaki sauce, perfect served over rice with garnishes.
Ingredients
- For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground turkey (or ground pork, beef, chicken)
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup finely minced onion
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk (or water, if mixture seems dry)
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- For the Teriyaki Sauce:
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce (or GF tamari)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or GF tamari)
- 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 medium minced garlic clove
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (or 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger)
- For serving:
- Cooked rice
- Chopped chives and sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
- In a large bowl, gently combine all meatball ingredients (ground turkey, Panko bread crumbs, minced onion, egg, milk, grated ginger, minced garlic, salt, and pepper) until just mixed. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough meatballs. If the mixture appears too dry, add milk or water, one tablespoon at a time, until moist.
- Form the meat mixture into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 13-18 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the juices run clear (internal temperature of 165°F / 74°C).
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare the teriyaki sauce: In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
- Simmer the sauce over medium-low heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until it slightly thickens.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, transfer them to a mixing bowl. Drizzle the warm teriyaki sauce over the meatballs and gently toss to coat them completely.
- Serve the teriyaki meatballs hot over a bed of cooked rice, garnished with chopped chives and sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
- Use gluten-free tamari instead of soy sauce and hoisin for a gluten-free version.
- Do not overmix the meatball mixture to avoid tough texture.
- Ensure meatballs reach 165°F internal temperature for safety.
- Adjust sauce sweetness by varying brown sugar amount.