Saucy Asian Meatballs 🥢 are ready in 10 minutes because you simply doctor up a bag of frozen meatballs with the BEST sauce! It’s made with hoisin sauce, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and there’s flavor galore! Green onions and sesame seeds finish off these EASY meatballs that are great for game days, casual get-togethers, or an easy dinner. Works with any kind of meatballs.
Easy Saucy Asian Meatballs Recipe
- Take a bag of frozen meatballs of your choice and send them swimming into a pool of the best Asian-inspired sauce that’s savory with a bit of sweet, plenty of garlic and ginger coming through, along with toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, and green onions for even more flavor!
- These meatballs are a one-pan or one-skillet wonder and ready in under 10 minutes. Since the meatballs are already cooked, you’re just allowing them to warm through and absorb the sauce on the stovetop.
- Measurements for the sauce are approximate and so if you want to add more garlic, less soy sauce, hot pepper flakes to make these spicier, or whatever tickles your fancy – be my guest.
- I brought these to a recent book club and they were gobbled up. They’re a great appetizer for casual entertaining, game days, tailgating, or a quick yet tasty meal that’s protein-forward. Leftovers reheat great in the microwave too.
Asian Meatball Ingredients
Sauce: Hoisin sauce, reduced sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, ground ginger, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes to amp up the spice level are optional if you want a bit of heat. If you don’t have one or two of seasonings, it’s probably fine. However, the hoisin, soy, and toasted sesame are non-negotiable and you need to use them! To keep things gluten-free, substitute tamari or coconut aminos.
Meatballs: I use a 20-ounce bag of frozen turkey meatballs that I allowed to thaw. I prefer turkey meatballs because they have less fat and still have great protein. You can use lean ground beef meatballs, ground chicken meatballs, or your favorite frozen meatballs. I use the slightly smaller meatballs that are sometimes referred to as ‘cocktail meatballs’. The brand is Farm Rich Broiled Turkey Meatballs from my local Ralph’s grocery store or try these turkey meatballs on Amazon – if the bag is smaller get two bags so you’ve got between 20-24 ounces meatballs.
Wondering if you can use your own homemade meatballs? You can. Fully cook them first, then make the sauce, and add them to the sauce. The meat portion of my Honey Garlic Meatballs would be great here.
Garnishes: Green onions or scallions and sesame seeds really bring the final flavor to the next level and add some texture so don’t skip them.
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How To Make Asian Meatballs with Frozen Meatballs
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a large skillet and stir the mixture.
- Add the meatballs, toss to combine and coat, and simmer for about 5 minutes over medium heat, or until the meatballs are warmed through.
- Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and serve your saucy sticky Asian meatballs. Serve them as is or with some veggies to round things out.
Note: Make sure to watch the video that’s inserted above or in the recipe card below.
Saucy Asian Meatballs
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup hoisin sauce, (if you like more sauce or you have closer to 24 ounces meatballs, use 1/2 cup hoisin)
- 3-4 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon onion powder, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
- red pepper flakes, optional and to taste
- salt and pepper, optional and to taste
- 20 ounces turkey meatballs, about 30 meatballs, thawed and at room temperature (I use smaller sized 'cocktail' meatballs or 'Swedish meatball' size. Beef, chicken, or the meatballs of your choice may be substituted; if using homemade meatballs they must be cooked through first, then make the sauce, and coat them)
- 1 green onion, trimmed and sliced into thin rounds for garnishing (I use both white and green parts)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, or as desired for garnishing
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add all ingredients through the optional salt and pepper, turn the heat to medium or medium-high, and stir to combine the sauce.
- Add the meatballs and toss well in the sauce to coat evenly. Allow them to simmer for about 5 minutes, or until warmed through. Tip – Taste the sauce and if you'd like to add additional hoisin or soy for more volume, or more ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, etc. for flavor you can add it now.
- Evenly sprinkle the green onions, sesame seeds, and serve. Tip – If you're serving these for an event and want to keep them warm, you can transfer them into a slow cooker and use the 'keep warm' or lowest heat setting.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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