Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs

Name: Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 lb ground chicken; 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs; 1 large egg, beaten; 2 green onions, sliced; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil; 2 teaspoons peeled and grated fresh ginger; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons cornstarch; Sesame seeds; Green onions, sliced; Rice (optional)

Featured in 30-Minute Weeknight Meals.

Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs transform ground chicken into a delicious Asian-inspired meal that's both satisfying and simple to prepare. These tender meatballs combine ground chicken with panko breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings before being baked to juicy perfection in the oven. While they're cooking, a homemade teriyaki sauce comes together on the stovetop with that perfect balance of salty-sweet flavors from soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and aromatic ginger and garlic. The cornstarch helps the sauce thicken to that ideal sticky consistency that clings beautifully to each meatball. The entire dish comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something that feels special without the fuss. Serve these glazed meatballs over a bed of steamed rice with your favorite vegetables for a complete meal that feels like takeout but is much healthier and more budget-friendly.

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By Comfort Cravings Recipes

Updated on Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:01:22 GMT

Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs deliver incredible flavor with minimal effort, combining tender ground chicken with savory Asian inspired seasonings all enveloped in a glossy homemade teriyaki sauce. These protein packed morsels offer the perfect balance between sweet and savory notes while their baked preparation keeps them surprisingly light. The sticky glaze creates an irresistible exterior that locks in moisture and infuses each bite with complex flavor that belies the simplicity of preparation.

Last month when my sister unexpectedly dropped by with her family, I quickly assembled these meatballs while we caught up over kitchen counter conversation. Everyone from my picky nephew to my culinary enthusiast brother in law kept returning to the platter for "just one more."

Meatball Components

Ground chicken: Lean protein base that absorbs sauce beautifully
Panko breadcrumbs: Creates structure without density
Green onions: Adds allium flavor and color contrast
Garlic: Enhances umami qualities
Egg: Binds ingredients while maintaining moisture

Sauce Elements

Soy sauce: Savory fermented foundation
Brown sugar: Creates sticky glaze with molasses depth
Rice wine vinegar: Balances sweetness with acidity
Fresh ginger: Adds aromatic warmth
Cornstarch: Provides glossy thickening

Glazed Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs | comfortcravingsrecipes.com

Preparation Process

Mixing Methodology: Gently combine ingredients without overworking
Portion Perfect: Form uniform balls with damp hands
Baking Arrangement: Space meatballs on parchment-lined sheet
Sauce Creation: Whisk ingredients until smooth
Final Integration: Simmer meatballs in thickened sauce

My grandmother taught me to test seasoning with a small patty before forming all meatballs. This simple step has saved countless meals from being under seasoned.

Serving Possibilities

Serve over jasmine rice with stir-fried broccoli or in lettuce wraps with julienned vegetables. Perfect for appetizer skewers with pineapple chunks.

Flavorful Variations

Spicy Version: Add sriracha to meatballs and sauce
Crunchy Texture: Mix in chopped water chestnuts
Citrus Twist: Incorporate pineapple juice and zest

Storage Solutions

Store cooled meatballs and sauce separately. Freeze on parchment-lined trays before transferring to bags. Reheat gently with water to refresh sauce.

Savory Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs | comfortcravingsrecipes.com

These meatballs bridge adult and kid preferences effortlessly. Their balance of sweet-savory flavors and nutritional profile makes them a weeknight hero that never disappoints.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make these teriyaki chicken meatballs ahead of time?: Absolutely! You can prepare and bake the meatballs up to 2 days ahead and store them in the refrigerator. You can also make the sauce separately. When ready to serve, warm the meatballs in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, heat the sauce in a skillet until warmed through, then combine and serve.
→ Can I use ground turkey instead of ground chicken?: Yes, ground turkey works perfectly as a substitute for ground chicken in this recipe. You can use either lean ground turkey or regular ground turkey with similar results. The cooking time remains the same.
→ How do I know when the meatballs are fully cooked?: Chicken meatballs are fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. If you don't have a meat thermometer, cut one meatball in half - it should be completely opaque throughout with no pink showing.
→ Can I make these teriyaki meatballs gluten-free?: Yes! To make these gluten-free, substitute the panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice Chex cereal, and use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce.
→ What vegetables pair well with teriyaki chicken meatballs?: These meatballs pair wonderfully with steamed or stir-fried broccoli, snap peas, bell peppers, carrots, bok choy, or a simple Asian slaw. For a complete meal, serve the meatballs and vegetables over steamed rice or cauliflower rice.
→ Can I freeze these teriyaki chicken meatballs?: Yes, these meatballs freeze beautifully! For best results, freeze the baked meatballs without the sauce on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. They'll keep for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm and coat with freshly made teriyaki sauce.

Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs

Juicy baked chicken meatballs smothered in a homemade sticky-sweet teriyaki sauce that's ready in just 30 minutes for an easy, flavorful weeknight dinner.

Prep Time

5 Minutes

Cook Time

20 Minutes

Total Time

25 Minutes

By: Comfort Cravings Recipes

Category: Quick & Easy

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Asian

Yield: 20 meatballs

Dietary: Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ For the Meatballs

01 1 lb ground chicken

02 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

03 1 large egg, beaten

04 2 green onions, sliced

05 1 clove garlic, minced

06 1 teaspoon salt

07 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For the Sauce

08 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce

09 1/4 cup brown sugar

10 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

11 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

12 2 teaspoons peeled and grated fresh ginger

13 3 cloves garlic, minced

14 2 teaspoons cornstarch

→ For Serving

15 Sesame seeds

16 Green onions, sliced

17 Rice (optional)

Instructions

Step 01

Get your oven nice and hot by preheating it to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and set it aside.

Step 02

In a large bowl, combine all your meatball ingredients - ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, beaten egg, sliced green onions, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together really well until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

Step 03

Using a medium cookie scoop or just a regular spoon, scoop about 2 tablespoons of the mixture for each meatball. Roll them between your hands to form nice round balls and place them on your prepared baking sheet. The mixture might be a bit sticky, so you can wear gloves or lightly spray your hands with cooking spray to make it easier.

Step 04

Pop those meatballs in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until they're beautifully browned on the outside and cooked through on the inside. Keep an eye on them toward the end so they don't overcook and dry out. Once done, take them out of the oven.

Step 05

While your meatballs are baking, get started on that sticky-sweet teriyaki sauce. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic, and cornstarch until well combined.

Step 06

Pour your sauce mixture into a large skillet and heat it over medium heat. Bring it to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You'll know it's ready when the sauce thickens to a nice glossy consistency. Turn off the heat when it reaches your desired thickness.

Step 07

Add your warm baked meatballs to the skillet with the teriyaki sauce and gently stir to coat each meatball thoroughly in that delicious sticky sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and some extra sliced green onions for garnish. Serve over rice if you like, and enjoy!

Notes

These meatballs make excellent meal prep - just store them separately from the sauce and combine when reheating.
For a complete meal, serve with steamed broccoli, snap peas, or stir-fried vegetables alongside the rice.
The meatballs freeze beautifully! Freeze them after baking but before adding sauce, then thaw and warm in the sauce when ready to eat.

Tools You'll Need

Large baking sheet
Parchment paper
Large mixing bowl
Medium cookie scoop or spoon
Large skillet
Measuring cups and spoons

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.

Contains gluten (panko breadcrumbs)
Contains eggs
Contains soy (soy sauce)
Contains sesame (sesame oil, sesame seeds)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.

Calories: 61
Total Fat: 2 g
Total Carbohydrate: 5 g
Protein: 5 g