Asian Meatballs
Posted Jan 12, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Asian meatballs recipe is a quick, easy and flavorful main dish. Meatballs infused with ginger, soy & hoisin sauces are baked then simmered in a homemade sauce – best served over fried rice, or noodles!
When I need to make dinner in a hurry, I often choose to make meatballs, and these asian meatballs are some of our favorites.
They are bursting with flavor and cooked in the most delicious sauce. Serve them with your favorite Asian recipes like fried rice, vegetable lo mein or stir fry vegetables for a complete and healthy dinner your whole family will love.
Asian Meatballs: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground beef. ground turkey or chicken are both great substitutes.
- Hoisin sauce. Found in both the meatballs and sauce – it gives a delicious asian flavor and should not be substituted.
- Soy sauce. low sodium and regular both work well.
- Breadcrumbs. quick-cooking oats work well in place of breadcrumbs.
- Rice vinegar. Mirin is a great substitute.
- Sesame oil. critical for the most authentic flavor, but can be substituted with peanut oil if you must.
How to Make Asian Meatballs
Let’s walk through this Asian meatballs recipe step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video!
Make the Asian Meatballs
The first step is making and cooking the meatballs! Begin by mixing the ground beef, egg, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil. Mix until combined.
Then, add the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger, sea salt and pepper and stir until the mixture is uniform throughout.
Next, use a small cookie scoop or measuring spoon and measure out 1 Tablespoon portions of the meatball mixture, and roll it into balls with your hands.
As you roll the Asian meatballs, evenly spread them out on the prepared baking sheet.
Once all the meatballs are rolled, bake them in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes. Or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Alternately, you can cook them on the stovetop – you can find directions for this in the recipe card.
Make the Sauce
While the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce by whisking the sauce ingredients together in a small saucepan.
Then, warm the sauce over low heat, whisking often, until the ingredients are heated through and the mixture is smooth.
Add the meatballs to the sauce mixture and serve. Or, you can serve the sauce on the side to dip!
Serve
We love serving these with our favorite Asian recipes – like fried rice, stir fry vegetables, and veggie lo mein!
Store
Store leftover Asian meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freeze
Or, you can freeze the meatballs (with or without sauce – your choice) in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge then reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
Asian Meatballs Recipe FAQS
Yes, you can double it and make 48 meatballs.
These meatballs are made with ground beef, ginger, soy sauce, hosin sauce, spices and more.
Hoisin sauce is a sweet, soybean paste that imparts a delicious flavor!
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
Asian Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 egg (lightly beaten)
- 2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce:
- 4 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon powdered ginger
Garnish: green onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. (See notes for how to cook on the stovetop).
Make the Asian Meatballs
- Combine the ground beef, egg, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil in a large bowl.
- Add the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger, sea salt and pepper and stir until combined.
- Use a small cookie scoop or measuring spoon and measure out 1 Tablespoon portions of the meatball mixture, then roll it with your hands.
- Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet evenly spread out.
- Bake in preheated oven for 13-15 minutes. Meatballs should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Make the Sauce
- While the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce.
- Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a small saucepan.
- Then, warm the sauce over low heat, whisking often, until the ingredients are heated through and the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
Serve
- Toss the meatballs with the sauce and serve with your favorite Asian dishes (white or fried rice, stir fry vegetables, etc.).
- Alternately, you can serve the sauce on the side for dipping.
Video
Notes
- Add 1-2 Tablespoons peanut or sesame oil to a nonstick fry pan and turn heat to medium.
- Add half of the meatballs (12) and cover.
- Cook, covered, on one side for 4-5 minutes or until they are golden-brown.
- Remove lid and flip the meatballs. Cook for another 4-5 minutes until meatballs are golden brown and the internal temperature is 160 degrees F.
- Repeat with remaining meatballs (or cook in very large skillet).
- Ground beef. ground turkey or chicken are both great substitutes.
- Hoisin sauce. Found in both the meatballs and sauce – it gives a delicious asian flavor and should not be substituted.
- Soy sauce. low sodium and regular both work well.
- Breadcrumbs. quick-cooking oats work well in place of breadcrumbs.
- Rice vinegar. Mirin is a great substitute.
- Sesame oil. critical for the most authentic flavor, but can be substituted with peanut oil if you must.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
