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Sticky Sesame Turkey Meatballs with Ginger and Soy

Sticky sesame turkey meatballs are baked until cooked through, then coated in a glossy honey, ginger, and soy sauce. The tender meatballs finish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds for a savory-sweet dinner with plenty of texture.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Calories: 425
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the meatballs
  • 1.5 lb ground turkey
  • 0.5 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg large
  • 2 scallions medium, thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
For the sauce
  • 0.33 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger finely grated
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Equipment

  • 1 rimmed baking sheet
  • 1 small saucepan

Method
 

Bake the meatballs
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Combine the turkey, panko, egg, scallions, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, mixing just until evenly combined.
  4. Shape the mixture into about 20 meatballs, each about 1 1/2 inches wide, and arrange them on the baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 16–20 minutes, until cooked through to 165°F in the center.
Make the sauce
  1. Combine the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and ginger in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the honey dissolves.
  2. Whisk the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl, then whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce and cook for 1–2 minutes, until glossy and thickened.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the sesame oil.
Glaze and serve
  1. Toss the cooked meatballs with the sauce until coated, then sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Notes

For tender meatballs, mix the turkey just until evenly combined. Refrigerate leftovers for 3–4 days; freeze for up to 3 months. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free panko and tamari in place of the panko and soy sauce.