Honey Garlic Meatballs (Sweet & Savory Party Recipe)
Sticky, sweet, and savory honey garlic meatballs that are perfect as a crowd-pleasing appetizer for New Year gatherings or any party. These meatballs combine the richness of ground beef or chicken with a delightful honey-soy garlic sauce that is both flavorful and easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 25-30 meatballs 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 500 g ground beef or chicken
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Honey Garlic Sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp ketchup
Instructions
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef or chicken, breadcrumbs, one egg, and minced garlic. Mix gently until just combined to ensure the meatballs remain tender.
- Shape and Cook Meatballs: Roll the mixture into small, evenly sized meatballs for uniform cooking. You can either bake them at 200°C (400°F) for 15 minutes or pan-fry them over medium heat until browned on all sides. Once cooked, set the meatballs aside while you prepare the sauce.
- Make the Honey Garlic Sauce: In a pan, combine honey, soy sauce, and ketchup. Simmer on medium heat for about 5 minutes while stirring constantly to prevent burning, until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Coat Meatballs: Add the cooked meatballs to the pan containing the sauce. Toss carefully to ensure each meatball is evenly coated with the sticky honey garlic sauce.
- Serve: Transfer the coated meatballs to a serving dish. Serve warm with toothpicks for easy party snacking.
Notes
- Ground beef can be substituted with ground chicken or turkey for a leaner option.
- Baking the meatballs is a hands-off method and yields tender meatballs, while pan-frying offers a crispier exterior.
- Make sure to stir the sauce constantly to avoid burning because of the honey’s high sugar content.
- These meatballs can be made ahead and reheated gently for serving at parties.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari instead of soy sauce.