Description
These Weeknight Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs are a quick and wholesome homemade alternative to take-out. Made with ground turkey, chicken, or beef, they’re coated in a sticky, flavorful sauce of honey, tamari, and garlic, served with lightly charred broccoli. Perfect for a balanced and delicious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground turkey, chicken, or beef
- 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 green onions, chopped
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup avocado or sesame oil (for coating hands and cooking)
Coating and Sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch (2 tablespoons for dredging, 1 tablespoon mixed with 2 tablespoons water for slurry)
- 1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup water (for sauce)
Vegetables and Seasoning
- 1 large head broccoli, cut into florets (about 1.5 cups)
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped ginger
- Chili flakes, to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Make the Meatballs: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, chopped green onions, and a pinch of black pepper. Mix gently until just combined to keep the texture tender. Coat your hands lightly with oil to prevent sticking, then roll the mixture into tablespoon-sized meatballs. Note that the mixture will be wet, so handle gently.
- Coat Meatballs with Cornstarch: Place 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in a shallow dish. Dredge each meatball in the cornstarch, coating all sides. Set aside. Mix the remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to create a slurry and set this aside separately.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a glass jar or bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/3 cup water until well combined. This will be used to flavor the meatballs and vegetables later.
- Cook the Meatballs: Heat 1/4 cup avocado or sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer and cook for about 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are nicely seared on all sides and cooked through. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the Broccoli and Aromatics: In the same skillet, add the broccoli florets and cook for about 5 minutes, allowing them to lightly char for extra flavor. Then add the chopped garlic, chopped ginger, and chili flakes. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add Sauce and Finish Cooking: Pour the prepared tamari-honey sauce into the skillet with the vegetables. Bring it to a boil and let it boil gently for 3-4 minutes. Return the meatballs to the skillet and toss well to coat in the sauce. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings to the meatballs and veggies.
- Serve: Serve the sticky honey garlic meatballs and broccoli over steamed rice. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and additional chopped green onions if desired. Optionally, serve with extra dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
- Serve over steamed rice for a complete meal.
- Use toasted sesame seeds and extra green onions as garnishes for added texture and flavor.
- This recipe is a quicker and healthier alternative to take-out sticky meatballs.
- Adjust the amount of chili flakes to suit your preferred spice level.
- Ground turkey or chicken keep the dish leaner, but beef can be used for a richer flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 536 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
