Asian Turkey Meatballs

I don’t make meatballs very often, but every time I do, I always question why they aren’t in our regular dinnertime rotation. Meatballs are so easy to make, and they can be flavored in so many different ways—there’s so much to be enjoyed outside of spaghetti and meatballs!

Take, for example, this Asian turkey meatball recipe: You start with classic meatball ingredients like ground meat, bread crumbs and an egg, and then take a detour to Asia with the addition of ginger, garlic, green onions, soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. The meatballs are baked and glazed with a sweet and tangy sauce that your loved ones will want more of—so save some for dipping! Serve the flavor-packed meatballs over cooked rice, and you’ll have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Asian Turkey Meatball Ingredients

• Ground turkey: You will need 1 pound of ground turkey for this Asian turkey meatballs recipe.
• Panko: Panko are Japanese-style bread crumbs that have a neutral flavor and a coarser texture than other types of bread crumbs. However, you can use regular bread crumbs if necessary. In a meatball recipe, the bread crumbs help retain moisture and ensure the cooked meatballs are tender and juicy.
• Egg: An egg helps bind all the ingredients together.
• Meatball seasonings: The meatball mixture is seasoned with a combination of fresh garlic, ginger, green onions, soy sauce and toasted sesame oil.
• Soy sauce: Our Test Kitchen recommends Kikkoman soy sauce for everyday use; if you’re watching your salt intake, opt for the low-sodium variety.
• Lime juice: Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor. You’ll need two small limes to make 2 tablespoons of fresh juice. Before juicing the limes, roll them firmly against your countertop or cutting board; this breaks the internal membranes and will help release the maximum amount of juice.
• Toasted sesame oil: This flavorful seed oil adds a nutty, rich and warm flavor to the sauce.
• Honey: A bit of honey helps sweeten the sauce.
• Hoisin sauce: This Asian sauce is a great one to have stocked in your pantry. It is thick and dark, and has a savory, slightly sweet flavor.
• Sauce seasonings: The sauce is seasoned with garlic powder and ginger powder.
• Cooked rice: The meatballs are served over cooked rice; a long-grain variety such as jasmine is a good choice, but if you forget to make the rice ahead of time, instant rice will work just as well.
• Sesame seeds: Garnish the meatballs with a sprinkle of sesame seeds just before serving.

Directions

Step 1: Make the meatball mixture

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

In a large bowl, use your hands to gently mix together the ground turkey, egg, bread crumbs, green onion, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and sesame oil until well-combined.

Editor’s Tip: To help prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your hands as you roll it into balls, moisten your hands with water, a little oil or a spritz of cooking spray.

Step 2: Shape the meatballs

Use a small scoop (1-1/2 to 2 tablespoons) to form the mixture into balls. Set the meatballs 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes.

Step 3: Make the sauce

In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, lime juice, honey, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, ground ginger and garlic powder. Pour 1/4 cup of the sauce into a separate bowl and set aside for serving.

Step 4: Bake the meatballs

Brush the meatballs with the sauce mixture. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the center of the meatballs registers 165°.

Step 5: Serve

Serve the meatballs over cooked rice and garnish with sesame seeds. Drizzle the meatballs with the reserved sauce or serve it alongside the meatballs for dipping.

Asian Turkey Meatball Variations

• Make them spicy: For spicier meatballs, stir a teaspoon or more of Sriracha into the meat mixture. You could also stir in a pinch or two of Chinese five spice, which is a tasty blend of aniseed, fennel seed, ground cinnamon, whole cloves and peppercorns.
• Switch up the protein: These meatballs can also be made with ground chicken or ground pork.
• Use a store-bought sauce: Instead of making the sauce from scratch, there’s no shame in the store-bought game! Choose from teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, or sweet and sour sauce.

How to Store Asian Turkey Meatballs

Store leftover Asian turkey meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How long do Asian turkey meatballs last?

Asian turkey meatballs last up to four days when stored properly in the fridge.

Can you freeze Asian turkey meatballs?

Absolutely! After allowing the meatballs to cool to room temperature, set them on a baking sheet and flash-freeze until hardened, about 30 minutes. Then transfer to a freezer-safe storage bag or container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How should you reheat Asian turkey meatballs?

The best way to reheat Asian turkey meatballs is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°, and place the meatballs in a baking dish. Cover with foil to prevent the meatballs from drying out, and heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until the center reaches 165°.

Asian Turkey Meatball Tips

What should you serve with Asian turkey meatballs?

You can serve these Asian turkey meatballs over rice, egg noodles, rice noodles or even zoodles. Serve alongside Asian-inspired dishes such as Asian green beans, Thai salad with peanut dressing or ginger-sesame steamed vegetable salad.

What else can you do with Asian turkey meatballs?

Use these flavorful meatballs to make a meatball banh mi (use the meatballs in place of the chicken called for in this banh mi sandwich recipe), lettuce wraps or an egg roll in a bowl.