Firecracker Chicken Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chicken
• 0.5 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 egg (large)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tbsp green onion (finely chopped)
• 2 tbsp parsley (chopped)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp paprika
• 0.25 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 0.33 cup hot sauce
• 0.25 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp cornstarch (mixed with 1 tbsp water)
• parsley or green onion (chopped, for garnish)
• sesame seeds (optional garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large bowl, mix ground chicken, panko, egg, garlic, green onion, parsley, 1 tbsp soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Mix just until combined; do not overwork the meat.

2. 2

   Roll the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs. You should get about 18–20 meatballs. Place them on a parchment-lined tray or plate.

3. 3

   Choose a cooking method. For the oven: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 16–18 minutes until cooked through and lightly golden. For the skillet: Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook 8–10 minutes, turning often, until browned and cooked through.

4. 4

   While the meatballs cook, make the firecracker sauce. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine hot sauce, brown sugar, honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, vinegar, minced garlic, and butter. Bring to a gentle simmer.

5. 5

   Stir in the cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water) and cook for 1–2 minutes until the sauce is glossy and slightly thickened.

6. 6

   Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce and toss until they are fully coated and sticky.

7. 7

   Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with chopped parsley, green onion, or sesame seeds.

Notes

Tips: Ground chicken is soft, so lightly wet your hands when rolling. For extra browning, broil the baked meatballs for 1–2 minutes before tossing in sauce. For spice adjustments: add more hot sauce/chili flakes for heat, or more honey to make it milder. Variations: Swap chicken for turkey or add 1 tsp grated ginger to the meatball mix for more zing.

Nutrition per serving

• main dish
• appetizer
• chicken
• spicy
• baked
• skillet
• meatballs