Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. These tender and juicy Asian meatballs are baked, tossed in a sweet and sticky honey garlic sauce, and topped with green onions and sesame seeds. They are a quick and easy weeknight dinner to prepare over a bowl of steamed rice, or on their own as a bite-sized appetizer on game day. They are seriously so good and loved by everyone who tries them. A total crowd pleaser.
Meatballs are always a go-to weeknight dinner because they are so quick and easy to make and are ready in under 30 minutes. Some of our other favourites for busy weeknights are classic Spaghetti and Meatballs and Baked Turkey Meatballs.
Ingredients
To make sticky honey garlic meatballs, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- ground beef - you can also switch things up and easily substitute the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- breadcrumbs
- onion
- green onions
- egg
- soy sauce
- brown sugar
- garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- honey garlic sauce - the honey garlic sauce takes less than 5 minutes to make with a combination of rice vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, cornstarch (or flour), and water.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, large half sheet baking pan, meat thermometer, and a shallow saucepan.
How to Make the Best Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Prepare the meatballs. In a large mixing bowl, combine beef with bread crumbs, onion, green onions, egg, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well to form into a uniform consistency. Take 2 spoonfuls of beef mixture at a time and roll into 1.5-inch thick meatballs. Transfer the meatballs into a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper and lightly coat with some oil to keep them from sticking, if needed.
- Bake the meatballs. Bake in a 400F preheated oven for 15 minutes until fully cooked, and set aside. The internal temperature should reach 160F, as read on a meat thermometer.
- Prepare the honey garlic sauce. In a medium mixing bowl, add vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, cornstarch and water. Whisk well to combine until cornstarch and sugar dissolves. In a shallow saucepan, stir in sauce mixture and heat over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Keep stirring until thickened to a desired consistency.
- Serve. Add the meatballs to the saucepan and toss well to coat evenly. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds and serve warm on its own or over a bowl of steamed rice or fried rice.
How to Cook Honey Garlic Meatballs in the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 375 F, about 3 minutes. Place meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil to coat evenly. Air fry the meatballs for 12-14 minutes until browned and the center of the meatball reaches 160 F as read on a meat thermometer. Shake the basket halfway during cooking to brown evenly.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
- How to store: Store sticky honey garlic meatballs in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply reheat in a shallow saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through (or in the microwave). You may need to add a little water if the sauce thickened up too much in the refrigerator.
- How to freeze: You can freeze the meatballs before tossing them into the sauce. Bake and let them cool down, then transfer into a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How to reheat from frozen: Allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the refrigerator first, then reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. Prepare the honey garlic sauce and toss the meatballs in.
More Ground Beef Recipes
- Ground Beef Meat Pie
- Beef Potstickers (Dumplings)
- Easy Meat Lasagna
- Sheet Pan Nachos
- Beef Cabbage Barley Soup
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Classic Juicy Hamburgers
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Recipe
Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 15 meatballs
Description
Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. A total crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon green onions, finely chopped (plus more for garnish)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- sesame seeds (for garnish)
For the honey garlic sauce:
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons liquid honey
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch (or flour)
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
Prepare the Meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine beef with bread crumbs, onion, green onions, egg, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well to form into a uniform consistency.
- Take 2 spoonfuls of beef mixture at a time and roll into 1.5-inch thick meatballs. Transfer the meatballs into a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper and lightly coat with some oil to keep them from sticking, if needed.
- Bake for 15 minutes until fully cooked, and set aside. The internal temperature should reach 160F, as read on a meat thermometer.
Prepare the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- In a medium mixing bowl, add vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, cornstarch and water. Whisk well to combine until cornstarch and sugar dissolves.
- In a shallow saucepan, stir in sauce mixture and heat over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Keep stirring until thickened to a desired consistency.
Serve:
- Add the meatballs to the saucepan and toss well to coat evenly. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds and serve warm on its own or over a bowl of steamed rice or fried rice.
Notes
Air fryer instructions: Preheat the air fryer to 375 F, about 3 minutes. Place the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil to coat evenly. Air fry the meatballs for 12-14 minutes until browned and the center of the meatball reaches 160 F as read on a meat thermometer. Shake the basket halfway during cooking to brown evenly.
How to store: Store sticky honey garlic meatballs in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply reheat in a shallow saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through (or in the microwave). You may need to add a little water if the sauce thickened up too much in the refrigerator.
How to freeze: You can freeze the meatballs before tossing them into the sauce. Bake and let them cool down, then transfer into a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to reheat from frozen: Allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the refrigerator first, then reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. Prepare the honey garlic sauce and toss the meatballs in.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Ground Beef
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Asian
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Brit says
These were very good. Something different for our family! The meatballs, I doubled the recipe, used fresh garlic, added a little ginger and for some spice I added some chili garlic sauce. The glaze I tripled (we are a saucy family plus to add some to the rice while plating) and just a touch of sirracha. Wish I honestly made more sauce because it was so delicious and we like to put it over our rice as well. Without the little bit of heat I added I think it would have been too sweet but I will definitely make these again! ( Oh and I did use a little toasted sesame oil and not seeds...we are not big on sesame seeds..) we served them with steamed rice and sauteed cabbage and onions. We did definitely enjoy them and will be making them again!
Arianna says
Just made this for dinner tonight! It was really good. My husband and I both really enjoyed it and it was super quick and easy to make.
Erika says
Excellent recipe, so quick and easy too! I put extra garlic in the meatball mixture and in the sauce and added a little cayenne because we like spice. Served over white rice and topped with green onions and sesame seeds. Husband loved it this will be in our rotation!
Linda says
First recipe I've made on this site. Easy with excellent flavour. So good I've saved to make sure I have it the next time.
I'll be looking for more recipes!!!
Kyle W. says
This recipe is definitely a keeper and will be added to my rotation. I halved the meatballs but made the full sauce recipe. I served with rice, sautéed zucchini, and pickled shaved carrots. Delicious!
Elizabeth Tinios says
Highly recommend this recipe! I added sauteed leeks (didn't have green onions) and diced mushroom to the meatball mixture. Added the meatballs and sauce on top a bed of brown rice and a stir fry veggie mix (broccoli, carrot, snow peas). It was delicious!! Make sure to toss your meatballs in the sauce to get all that good flavor- I poured the sauce on top instead but it was still amazing!