Asian turkey meatballs are flavorful, easy-to-make turkey meatballs in a savory Asian-inspired sauce. With simple ingredients and a quick preparation time, this recipe is ideal for a delicious weeknight meal or a casual gathering.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time15 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Asian Turkey Meatballs Recipe
Servings: 20meatballs
Calories: 61kcal
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
1poundground turkey,85%-20% lean
½cupplain panko bread crumbs
¼cupfinely chopped green onions
1largeegg,room temperature
1tablespoonlow-sodium soy sauce
1 ½teaspoonsgrated fresh ginger,or ginger paste
1 ½teaspoonsgrated fresh garlic
½teaspoonsesame oil
olive oil cooking spray
For the Sauce
½cupwater,for sauce
1 ½tablespoonswater,to make the cornstarch slurry used to thicken the sauce
¼cuplow-sodium soy sauce
3tablespoonshoisin sauce
3tablespoonshoney
1 ½teaspoonsgrated fresh ginger
1 ½teaspoonsgrated fresh garlic
½teaspoonsesame oil
1tablespooncornstarch
Optional Garnish
Finely sliced green onions
Sesame seeds
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
To a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, plain panko breadcrumbs, finely chopped green onions, egg, low-sodium soy sauce, grated fresh ginger, grated fresh garlic and sesame oil. Using a wooden spoon, or large rubber spatula, mix the meatball mixture until all the ingredients are fully incorporated and the mixture has a uniform consistency.
Using a small cookie scoop (approximately 1 ½ inches wide or 1 - 1 ¼ ounces), scoop out a level amount of Asian meatball mixture and gently roll it into a ball in the palm of your hand to smooth any ragged edges.
Place the Asian turkey meatball onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the meatballs have been formed and placed onto the baking sheet. Be sure to allow about 1-inch of space between each of the meatballs.
Lightly mist the tops of Asian turkey meatballs with an olive oil cooking spray to help the tops of the meatballs turn a light golden brown when baked.
Bake the Asian turkey meatballs for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165°F.
Remove the meatballs from the oven and allow them to cool slightly on the baking sheet before adding to the sauce.
While the meatballs are baking, you will make the sauce. To a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add ½ cup water, low-sodium soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, grated fresh ginger, grated fresh garlic, and sesame oil. Whisk to combine.
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often to avoid burning the sauce, and allow the sauce to thicken for about 2-3 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 ½ tablespoons of water and cornstarch together to form a slurry. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps. This will thicken the sauce and help to give it a glossy shine.
While whisking constantly, add the cornstarch slurry to the bubbling sauce and cook for an additional 30-45 seconds or until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a soup spoon. Remove the sauce from the heat and pour ¼ cup of the sauce into a small bowl. Reserve to drizzle onto the Asian turkey meatballs once plated.
To a large serving bowl add the baked Asian turkey meatballs and the remaining sauce. Gently toss to coat the meatballs in the sauce before serving. You can drizzle the reserved sauce over the meatballs and garnish with a light sprinkle of finely sliced green onions and sesame seeds once plated, if desired.
Notes
Meatball Size: Make sure all meatballs are of uniform size for even cooking. Using a cookie scoop can help you scoop even portions.
Avoid Overcrowding: If the baking sheet is too crowded, the meatballs may steam rather than bake, leading to less browning. Use two baking sheets if needed.
Watch the Sauce: When making the sauce, keep an eye on it to prevent burning. Stirring frequently helps maintain an even consistency.
Keep the Sauce Warm: If the sauce thickens too much before the meatballs are ready, keep it warm over low heat and stir occasionally to maintain a smooth texture. You can also cover it with a lid so it maintains its liquid content.
Fresh Ingredients: It's worth investing in fresh ginger and garlic for this recipe. They give this recipe authentic the Asian flavors you want.