Ginger Soy Chicken Meatballs

In the time it takes to wait for your Chinese takeout to arrive, you can make this simple recipe for Ginger Soy Chicken Meatballs.

These delicious meatballs, made from simple ingredients, deliver a healthier, homemade version of Eastern comfort food.

These low carb, baked gluten-free meatballs are packed with flavor but have no bread crumbs or dairy! And the sticky-sweet plum sauce is totally addictive. The whole family’s going to love this one!

What is in these Ginger Soy Chicken Meatballs

Guys, I am totally in love with this chicken meatball recipe. There. I said it. And it’s healthy! The meatball ingredients have zero filler – zero! There’s also no sugar, gluten or dairy in them. Here’s what you’ll need:

• ground chicken
• chopped water chestnuts
• ground ginger
• soy sauce (choose your favorite gluten free soy sauce for gluten free chicken meatballs)
• chili garlic sauce
• scallions
• cilantro
• egg

Since there is no filler, working with oiled hands to form the meatballs helps. Coating your hands in olive oil also adds a little fat to these healthy chicken meatballs, which will help them hold their shape in the oven.

This easy meatball recipe will bake up to perfection in under 30 minutes. While they’re baking, you can make the easy plum sauce. Which is obviously my favorite part.

What is plum sauce?

Asian plum sauce is a sweet and sour dipping sauce that you can find in a jar in the Asian section of grocery stores.

If you have trouble finding plum sauce, you can substitute duck sauce or even plum jelly. If all fails and you can’t find any of these things, try cherry jam. YUM.

All we’re really doing is doctoring up jarred plum sauce. Make it on the stove while the easy baked chicken meatballs are in the oven. Here are the ingredients:

• Plum sauce
• Lime juice
• Ketchup
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Cilantro

In less than 20 minutes, you’ll have a syrupy mixture that resembles the sauce you’d get in a Chinese restaurant, only way better. Be generous when you pour it over these gluten-free chicken meatballs and sticky rice. It’s really my favorite sauce ever.

If you have any left over, just keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.

What kind of rice should I use for Ginger Soy Chicken Meatballs?

For recipes like these Ginger Soy Chicken Meatballs where the rice is really important, I always grab my rice cooker and fill it with sushi rice.

I use my rice cooker at least once a week. A worthy investment, if you don’t have one. If you’re not a proud owner of a rice cooker, you can make sushi rice on your stovetop. Sushi rice is easy to find in the Asian section of your supermarket.

The best way to get perfect sticky rice is to use one cup more water than dry rice. For example, use 2 cups of dry rice and 3 cups of water. Using this method, your rice will come out just like you’d get from a Chinese restaurant.

Cook’s Notes for these Chicken Meatballs

If you’re trying to reduce sugar, try the meatballs without the plum sauce over a bowl of cauliflower rice. Doing it this way will give you a totally keto-friendly meal.

You can also swap in ground turkey or beef for the chicken in this recipe.

And these Ginger Soy Chicken Meatballs also make an awesome party appetizer. Use 2 tablespoons of meat to form each meatball. Then, dunk them in the plum sauce, place them on a tray and stick them with toothpicks. So fun and bite-sized!

Try making a big batch by doubling the recipe, and freeze half of the meatballs. It’s an awesome healthy meal prep for busy weeknights. The frozen meatballs can go directly into the oven. Just extend the baking time by 5-10 minutes.

This easy weeknight meal is destined to become a family favorite. And when you make these Ginger Soy Chicken Meatballs, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!

For more better-than-takeout recipes, try these:

• 30 Minute Saucy Ginger Sesame Noodles with Vegetables
• Gluten Free Pad Thai with Shrimp
• Sesame Chicken & Broccoli

For more healthy main dish recipes, try these:

• Best Texas-Style Chili
• Chicken Shawarma with Tahini Yogurt Sauce
• Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Ginger Soy Chicken Meatballs

Easy recipe for healthy baked meatballs made without breadcrumbs or dairy in a sticky Asian-style plum sauce

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 1 hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

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The Meatballs

• 1 lb. lean ground chicken
• 1/3 cup chopped scallions
• 3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 2 Tbsp. gluten free soy sauce
• 2 tsp. chili garlic sauce
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup chopped water chestnuts
• 1 tsp. each white & black sesame seeds
• 4 cups cooked white rice

The Plum Sauce

• 1 cup plum sauce or jelly
• 4 Tbsp. lime juice
• 4 Tbsp. water
• 2 Tbsp. ketchup
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make the meatball mixture: combine all ingredients except for the sesame seeds and rice in a large bowl. Form the mixture into 12-14 meatballs. Place meatballs in a single layer onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 25-30 minutes.
• While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce: Combine all ingredients except the cilantro in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes to thicken. Be sure to whisk the mixture occasionally.
• Place the rice into bowls. Top with meatballs and plum sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and additional cilantro.

Keyword chicken, gluten free, healthy

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!