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March 5, 2024

Teriyaki Meatballs

We had you at “teriyaki meatballs” and “ready in 20,” right?

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homemade teriyaki meatballs served over white rice with steamed broccoli next to chopsticks
Photography by Gayle McLeod

More Easy Meatball Recipes To Try

The Best Teriyaki Meatballs Are Ready In 20

If you love our Teriyaki Chicken, you'll love these chicken teriyaki meatballs! Made with vibrant with ginger, garlic, honey and a splash of fresh lime. Our sweet-savory homemade Teriyaki Sauce makes this teriyaki meatball recipe truly the very best of the best. After a quick bake in the oven, the sky’s the limit in terms of how you serve these succulent teriyaki meatballs. While simple White Rice is always a classic pairing for teriyaki, you could get wild and serve them over Coconut Rice instead and no one would be mad about it. Steamed Broccoli rounds it all out. Be sure to check out the rest of our favorite Quick Dinners and Meatball Recipes!

ground chicken, eggs, breadcrumbs, ginger, onions, garlic, sesame oil, tamari, brown sugar lime juice and cornstarch in bowls

Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs Ingredients

  • Ground chicken

  • Eggs

  • Panko breadcrumbs (you might be tempted to substitute regular breadcrumbs, if that’s all you’ve got on hand, but we really recommend using panko, or Japanese breadcrumbs, which are lighter and airier.)

  • Fresh ginger

  • Fresh garlic

  • Green onions

  • Kosher salt

  • Sesame oil

  • Low-sodium soy sauce or tamari

  • Brown sugar or honey

  • Lime

  • Chili paste or sriracha (this is optional, so if you don’t like heat or are serving this to kids, feel free to skip it)

  • Cornstarch or arrowroot starch

ground chicken, eggs, panko, ginger, garlic, green onions, salt, and sesame oil in a large glass bowl
raw meatballs made with ground chicken, eggs, panko, spices, green onions, and sesame oil on a parchment lined baking sheet
meatballs made with ground chicken, eggs, panko, spices, green onions, and sesame oil on a parchment lined baking sheet
soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, lime juice, sesame oil, and chili paste being cooked in a small skillet

How To Make The Best Teriyaki Meatball Recipe, Ever

  1. Make the teriyaki meatball mixture. To ensure that your meatballs are tender perfection, use your hands to gently mix the ground chicken, eggs, panko, ginger, garlic, green onions, salt, and sesame oil.

  2. Roll the meatballs. You know that we’re huge fans of the wet hand trick for rolling meatballs. Keep a little bowl of water by your side as you roll the meatballs and wet your hands a bit as you roll. This will keep the meat mixture from sticking to your hands, and make quick work of the rolling.

  3. Bake the meatballs! Bake for 20 minutes on a lined, rimmed baking sheet, until the internal temperature of the chicken meatballs reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

  4. Make the teriyaki sauce. Stir the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, lime juice, sesame oil, and sriracha in a small saucepan. When it comes to a simmer, stir in a cornstarch slurry and simmer until the sauce is a little thick and looks like it would coat the meatballs nicely.

  5. Finish and let’s eat! Coat the meatballs in the teriyaki sauce and dig in.

teriyaki sauce in a small sauce pan made with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, lime juice, sesame oil and chili paste
a bowl of homemade teriyaki meatballs served on top of white rice with steamed broccoli

How To Store Leftover Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs + Tips

  • What not to do when making meatballs? Do not overmix! The secret to firm meatballs that are still nice and tender is to have light touch when mixing. Handle the meatball mixture only as much as you need to to form meatballs. Wetting your hands occasionally as you roll will help keep the meatball mixture from sticking to your hands.

  • What ingredient makes meatballs stick together? Our binding ingredient is eggs and our filler is the panko! Both help the meatballs not fall apart!

  • Leftover chicken teriyaki meatballs will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container, or in the freezer for up to a month.

a large serving bowl full of homemade teriyaki meatballs with a serving spoon
a bowl of homemade teriyaki meatballs served on top of white rice with steamed broccoli

More Homemade Versions Of Takeout Favorites To DIY

You Got Your Teriyaki Fix, What Else Do You Need?

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Teriyaki Meatballs

  • Serves: 6
  • Prep Time:  25 min
  • Cook Time:  15 min
  • Calories: 294

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1½ pounds ground chicken
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 3 green onions, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil

Teriyaki Sauce

  • ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • ¼ cup brown sugar or honey
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon chili paste or sriracha (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot starch

For Serving (optional)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F with a rack in the center position. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.

  2. Make the meatballs. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, eggs, panko, ginger, garlic, green onions, salt, and sesame oil. Mix well, then with wet hands, form meatballs (about 2 tablespoons each) and place on the prepared sheet pan. You should have about 28 meatballs. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

  3. Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a small saucepan, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, lime juice, sesame oil, and chili paste (if using). Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.

  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and ¼ cup water to form a slurry. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes more. If the sauce gets too thick, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired thickness.

  5. Place the meatballs in a large serving bowl. Add the teriyaki sauce and toss to coat. Serve with broccoli alongside, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions, if using.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories294
  • Protein26 g
  • Carbohydrates16 g
  • Total Fat14 g
  • Dietary Fiber1 g
  • Cholesterol160 mg
  • sodium1451 mg
  • Total Sugars6 g

Teriyaki Meatballs

Questions & Reviews

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  • Jenn

    New family fave and was so fast which makes it a personal new fave of mine.

    So fast right?! Thanks Jenn, glad you all loved them!