Description
These Sweet Chili Turkey Meatballs offer a flavorful and healthy twist on classic meatballs, combining lean ground turkey with a spicy and tangy homemade sweet chili sauce. Perfect as a party appetizer or a delicious main course, they’re baked to juicy perfection and coated with a glossy, slightly spicy sauce finished with sesame seeds and scallions.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Chili Sauce
- 3 tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 tbsp. sambal oelek
- 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp. water
- 1/2 tbsp. tamari (or soy sauce or coconut aminos)
- 2 tsp. cornstarch
Plain Jane Meatballs
- 1 lb. 99% lean ground turkey
- 3 tbsp. panko bread crumbs
- 1 tsp. dried parsley
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Meatballs: Preheat your oven to 400° F. In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients—ground turkey, panko bread crumbs, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, egg, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until just combined.
- Form and Bake Meatballs: Use a mini ice cream scoop or a scale to portion out 20 meatballs, each roughly 1 oz. Lightly spray a baking sheet with your preferred cooking spray and arrange the meatballs on it. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning.
- Make the Sweet Chili Sauce: While the meatballs bake, combine sugar, sambal oelek, rice vinegar, 1/4 cup water, and tamari in a small pot. Bring this mixture to a low boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and blend the flavors.
- Thicken the Sauce: Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Slowly stir this into the boiling sauce. Continue to cook and stir as the sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Once it reaches a consistency that coats a spoon or whisk, remove it from heat.
- Toss Meatballs in Sauce: When the meatballs are fully cooked and slightly cooled, toss them directly in the thickened sweet chili sauce, ensuring each meatball is well coated.
- Garnish and Serve: Plate the sauced meatballs and garnish with sesame seeds and thinly sliced scallions. Serve with toothpicks for easy eating, making them perfect for sharing at gatherings or as a flavorful snack.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, substitute panko bread crumbs with gluten-free bread crumbs.
- Adjust sambal oelek quantity based on your spice preference.
- Use tamari for a gluten-free soy sauce alternative in the sweet chili sauce.
- These meatballs can be made ahead and refrigerated; reheat gently in sauce before serving.
- To add extra texture, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Keywords: sweet chili meatballs, turkey meatballs, healthy appetizers, baked meatballs, spicy meatballs, Asian sauce meatballs
