The combination of sweet and savory with these honey garlic meatballs makes for a mouthwatering dinner option. They’re relatively simple to make, and thanks to the high protein content, they’re filling. Make it a full meal with a side garden salad, or turn it into a sandwich for a decadent homemade meatball sub.
Ingredients for Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Eggs: Large eggs are best for this recipe.
- 2% Milk: You can use whole milk here as well for some additional richness.
- Bread crumbs: Make your own for an added boost in flavor.
- Onion: Be sure to finely chop your onion to ensure your meatballs have the desired texture.
- Salt: Large, flaky kosher salt will add a boost of salty goodness here.
- Ground beef: Use lean beef if you’d like less saturated fat in your meatballs.
- Garlic: It’s key to mince your garlic, which brings a mild bite and fantastic aroma to this recipe.
- Butter:Â Butter helps to enhance the flavor of garlic.
- Ketchup:Â Tangy ketchup is delicious in this recipe, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can use tomato paste.
- Honey:Â Use raw or refined honey for the sticky glaze.
- Soy sauce: Essential for a sweet-and-salty glaze, soy sauce adds color and an earthy and salty flavor.
Directions
Step 1: Make the meatballs
In a large bowl, combine the eggs and milk. Add the bread crumbs, diced onion and salt. Crumble the beef into the mixture and stir well to combine. Shape into 1-in. balls. Place on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan and bake, uncovered at 400°F for 12 to 15 minutes. They’re done when the meat is no longer pink.
Step 2: Make the honey garlic glaze
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute the garlic in butter until it’s golden brown and tender. Stir in the ketchup, honey and soy sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat; cover and simmer for five minutes.
Step 3: Glaze the meatballs
Once meatballs are done, drop them into the saucepan. Carefully stir to evenly coat, and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
Recipe Variations
- Mix up the meat: You can use ground turkey, ground chicken or ground pork for this recipe in place of the beef.
- Spice it up: Add some finely minced jalapeño peppers or dried red pepper flakes to the glaze for a hint of spice.
How to Store Honey Garlic Meatballs
Store your honey garlic meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days.
Can you freeze honey garlic meatballs?
Yes. Freeze honey garlic meatballs in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to four months.
Honey Garlic Meatball Tips
What do I serve with these meatballs?
Honey garlic meatballs are delicious with broccoli salad, a side of sourdough bread, or served with your favorite rice pilaf.
How do you reheat honey garlic meatballs?
Because it’s best to reheat these in the sauce, keep everything in the saucepan, with the lid on, in the fridge. That way you can pop it on the stove to reheat over medium heat, stirring often.
Can I make these in a slow cooker?
You’ll want to make the meatballs ahead of time, but if you want to slow-cook these in the sauce for an added boost in flavor, you can put the sauce in a slow cooker and add the meatballs once they’re cooked. Keep it on low for two to three hours.
