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Weeknight • Beef

Honey Garlic Glazed Meatballs

Tender homemade meatballs coated in a sticky, sweet, and savory honey-garlic glaze – truly irresistible!

Prep
20 min
Cook
25 min
Servings
4
Level
Weeknight
Honey Garlic Glazed Meatballs

Who can resist a good meatball? These Honey Garlic Glazed Meatballs are destined to become a family favorite! They're perfectly tender, swimming in an addictive sticky-sweet garlic sauce, and totally approachable for any home cook. Serve them as an appetizer or a main course over rice!

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

For the Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
  • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (plain or panko)
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp ginger powder (or 1 tsp fresh grated)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (for cooking)

For the Honey-Garlic Glaze

  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water (slurry)
  • Sesame seeds and sliced green onions, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Step 2

    Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, gently combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, chopped onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp soy sauce, ginger powder, salt, and pepper. Do not overmix. Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs (about 20-24 meatballs).

  3. Step 3

    Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet (cast iron works well) or on the prepared baking sheet. If using a skillet, sear the meatballs over medium-high heat until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. If using a baking sheet, arrange meatballs and bake for 10 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    While meatballs cook, prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan, whisk together honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, rice vinegar, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tsp grated ginger. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

  5. Step 5

    Whisk in the cornstarch slurry and continue to simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency (it should coat the back of a spoon), about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.

  6. Step 6

    Once meatballs are browned, if using a skillet, pour the glaze over the meatballs and gently toss to coat. Transfer skillet to the oven. If using a baking sheet, transfer browned meatballs to a separate dish, add glaze to the skillet, then return meatballs to the skillet with the glaze, tossing to coat. Bake or simmer on stovetop with glaze for another 10-15 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and the glaze is bubbly and sticky.

  7. Step 7

    Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions. Excellent over rice or as an appetizer.

Tips

  • Don't overmix the meatball mixture, or your meatballs can become tough.
  • The glaze amount is generous; if you prefer less sauce, reduce the glaze ingredients by a quarter.

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