If you’re looking for a mouthwatering twist on your everyday meatballs, these pork teriyaki meatballs will impress. Infused with savory and subtly sweet and spicy flavors, this dish brings together the rich umami of soy sauce, the warmth of ginger, and a hint of heat from sambal. Perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests, these meatballs are elevated with a luscious teriyaki glaze crafted from garlic, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and cornstarch to achieve the perfect balance of taste and texture.
Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of flavors, with the tender pork absorbing the deep, caramelized notes of the sauce. Adding garlic gives the meatballs an aromatic punch, while rice vinegar adds a bright, tangy contrast to the sweet undertones of brown sugar. Sambal introduces a subtle kick, perfect for those who enjoy a touch of heat.
These versatile meatballs make a tasty main dish or appetizer, and they’re bound to become a new favorite in your culinary toolbox.
Recipe Variations
- Add finely chopped water chestnuts to the pork mixture for added texture.
- Replace the ground pork with ground beef, turkey, or chicken.
- Use a purchased teriyaki sauce and add a bit of heat with sambal, Sriracha, or chili crunch.
- Garnish the meatballs with sesame seeds along with the green onions.
How to Serve Teriyaki Meatballs
- Serve teriyaki meatballs as an appetizer in a chafing dish or slow cooker.
- Serve them with instant pot rice or coconut rice.
- Add color to your meal with a stir-fry of peppers, broccoli, snap peas, and carrots.
- Serve the meatballs with sautéed spinach or baby bok choy.
- Serve with sesame noodles for a hearty, comforting meal.
- Add a refreshing Thai cucumber salad to your pork meatball meal.
- Make it a low-carb meal with cauliflower fried rice.
Pork Teriyaki Meatballs
Pork teriyaki meatballs provide the perfect balance of flavors. From savory soy sauce to tangy rice vinegar, every bite is delightful.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 21 minutes
- Total Time: 31 minutes
- Yield: 8 appetizer servings 1x
- Category: Meatballs
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 pound ground pork
- 3 green onions (thinly slice, saving some dark green for garnish)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
For the Sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger (or ginger paste)
- 1/2 teaspoon sambal
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the ground pork with the scallions, garlic, egg, and panko. Shape into 20 to 24 meatballs. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning frequently, for 4 minutes or until browned. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until they are cooked through (160 F—165 F if you are substituting with poultry).
Credit: Diana Rattray - Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients; whisk to blend.
Credit: Diana Rattray - Drain off excess fat from the meatballs and place the pan over medium heat. Add the sauce mixture and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until the sauce thickens and clings to the meatballs.
Credit: Diana Rattray - Serve as an appetizer or main dish. Enjoy!
Credit: Diana Rattray
Notes
Serves 4 as a main dish or about 6 to 8 as an appetizer.
