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In my house, meatballs are like a magic word. You tell my kids that meatballs are for dinner, and all three of them inevitably start jumping for joy. Almost nothing else an cause such glee in all of them.
While my grandmother’s Italian Meatballs will always be their favorite, these Teriyaki Meatballs are a pretty great new spin. These are quick to make, cook up in the oven, and have a great sauce to go with them. They make a perfect quick weeknight meal!
How to Make Teriyaki Meatballs
Here is a brief overview of how to make homemade meatballs with teriyaki sauce. They come together in less than 35 minutes and are sure to be a hit for kids and adults alike. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Make the meatballs. Mix all of the meatball ingredients together until thoroughly combined.
- Bake the meatballs. Form into balls and bake until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees.
- Make the sauce. While the meatballs are cooking, combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil while stirring regularly. Reduce heat until sauce thickens
- Combine meatballs and sauce. Toss together until fully coated.
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
This Easy Teriyaki Sauce recipe really makes homemade meatballs something that your family and friends will request again and again. It is the perfect balance of sweet and flavorful and is made with just a few simple ingredients. While you can buy teriyaki sauce from the store, when you make it from scratch you can control added sugar, preservatives, sodium, and even gluten. The post linked below gives lots of a good ideas for dietary restrictions. This homemade teriyaki sauce also stars in stir fry recipes like Pork Stir Fry and Chicken Stir Fry!
Teriyaki Sauce
Freshly Grated Ginger
Ginger adds such great flavor to recipes, including this turkey meatball recipe! You can buy it as a root, peel it, and store the leftovers in the freezer for future use. We love to buy it as a refrigerated tube.
Instant Read Thermometer
Cooking Meatballs
It is important to make sure that teriyaki meatballs are fully cooked before removing them from the oven. You will know they are fully cooked when the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to watch this is to use an internal meat thermometer. This way you make sure they are fully cooked without overcooking them. I highly recommend using an instant read thermometer in any meat recipe, including this one. It allows you to end the cooking process at the exact right temperature. You can see my recommendation for an instant read thermometer above.
How to Serve
Serve your homemade meatballs with teriyaki sauce with rice and steamed broccoli. To make your meal lower carb and get some extra vegetables, serve the turkey meatballs over cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
These are also great served alone as an appetizer. Once tossed with the teriyaki sauce, add to a serving dish and put out toothpicks for you guests. To make your meal lower carb and get some extra vegetables, serve the turkey meatballs over cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
Cauliflower Rice
FAQ
If the sauce contains soy sauce, it is not gluten-free. Check out my post on homemade teriyaki sauce for how to replace soy sauce with a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
Teriyaki has a sweet and slightly tangy flavor that complements so many recipes. Made with ingredients like ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, and garlic, it is flavorful without being spicy.
The addition of an egg binds the meatball together to prevent them from falling apart.
The key to knowing when meatballs are fully cooked is to bake them until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you remove them too soon, they will be undercooked so I recommend using a meat thermometer to test them.
Storing and Reheating
Store any leftover teriyaki turkey meatballs in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven and serve over fresh or reheated rice or cauliflower rice. Always use your best discretion when storing and reheating leftovers.
What to Serve With Teriyaki Meatballs
These baked meatballs can be enjoyed as a meal with rice and broccoli or alone as an appetizer. Serve with these recipes to round out your meal!
- This light and crisp Asian Cucumber Salad is so delicious.
- Air Fryer Broccoli comes out perfectly crisp every time.
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps make a great appetizer that would pair well with these meatballs.
If you try this turkey meatball recipe or any of my other recipes, leave a comment telling me what you think. I love hearing from you!
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2 pounds ground turkey (93% lean) or ground beef (907.2 grams)
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (60 grams)
- 2 tablespoons green onions minced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger (read more about this here)
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- green onions diced, for garnish
- sesame seeds for garnish
Teriyaki Sauce
- 2 cups water (473.2 ml or 226.8 grams)
- 2/3 cup low sodium soy sauce see note (157.7 ml)
- 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
Meatballs
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Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking sheet with tin foil and set a cooling rack on top of it. Spray the cooling rack with cooking spray.
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In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together until thoroughly combined.2 pounds ground turkey,2 eggs,1 cup panko breadcrumbs,2 tablespoons green onions,2 garlic cloves,2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger,2 teaspoons onion powder,2 teaspoons sesame oil,1 teaspoon honey
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Using a 1 1/2 tablespoon scoop, form the mixture into meatballs.
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Bake for 15 minutes or until a meatball in the middle of the pan registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit with an instant read thermometer.
Teriyaki Sauce
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While the meatballs are cooking, combine all of the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat.2 cups water,2/3 cup low sodium soy sauce,2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar,2 tablespoons honey,3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger,6 garlic cloves,2 tablespoons cornstarch
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Stir regularly while bringing to a boil.
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Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
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Toss with the cooked meatballs and serve as an appetizer, or over rice with steamed broccoli.
Notes
