The easiest, tastiest chicken meatball bowl (baked on a sheet pan!) recipe starts with a secret ingredient: white miso! Miso is such an easy ingredient to keep on-hand because it’s already preserved and so it naturally keeps for a long time in the fridge. You’ll just need a few tablespoons of it in this recipe — a little in the miso meatballs, and a little more in the miso ranch (yes miso ranch) meatball bowl sauce — but the rest of the container of miso will keep will for next time you make this dish, or our easy Miso-Ginger Chicken Slaw. For even more deliciously easy meatball dinner ideas, browse our 29 Best Meatball Recipes!
Miso Meatball Ingredients
White miso: also called “shiro miso,” white miso is slightly sweet and milder in flavor than red miso paste. It adds a wonderful savory depth to these chicken meatballs and the meatball bowl sauce, too.
Ground chicken: White miso’s light flavor pairs best with poultry — you could also try making these chicken meatballs with ground turkey instead, if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
Panko: Airy and crisp, panko breadcrumbs keep these meatballs moist, light and tender.
Garlic: Miso and ginger are a classic combo, and you could add a little fresh ginger if you wanted to, but we like the simple punch of fresh garlic here.
Herbs: scallions and cilantro.
Egg: Eggs bind the meatball mixture together.
How To Make The BEST Miso Meatball Bowl
Whip up a quick miso-ranch sauce. The reason restaurant food tastes so much better than home food (sometimes) is all the little extras; the fresh herbs, the drizzle of a delicious sauce. Creamy miso ranch sauce is what ties the meatballs and veggies all together into one, delicious dinner. Worth the hassle of buying actual buttermilk (plus leftover buttermilk isn’t a problem — just plan to make Buttermilk Pancakes this weekend).
Make the meatballs.
Arrange the veggies + meatballs on a sheet pan.
While the meatballs bake, make some white rice.
Make the meatball bowls! We like to set out bowls and let everyone assemble their own — if your family is anything like ours, you’ll have at least one kid who will fill their bowl with meatballs only, and another kid who opts for just rice and veggies. And that’s fine! One recipe — many iterations = family dinner magic.
Our BEST Meatball Tips + Tricks
Mix the ground chicken and the rest of the meatball ingredients with your hands, instead of a stand mixer (and definitely never use a food processor). For light, tender meatballs, you need to use a light touch. Tough meatballs are usually the result of over-mixing.
Don’t worry too much about the size of the meatballs — it doesn’t have to be exact. Roughly picture a golf ball, and mostly focus on trying to roll them all the same size. That way, the meatballs will bake evenly and will all be done cooking around the same time.
Use damp hands when rolling the meatballs. Keep a little bowl full of water next to you while you roll the meatballs and keep your palms damp as you roll — it’ll keep the miso meatball mixture from sticking to your palms.
More ‘Bowl’ Dinner Ideas
More Dinner Ideas To Bowl You Over
For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!
