Honey Garlic Turkey Meatballs (Printable version)

Tender turkey meatballs in honey-garlic glaze paired with rice and broccoli for a balanced meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 pound ground turkey
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 green onions, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil

→ Honey Garlic Glaze

10 - 1/3 cup honey
11 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
12 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
15 - 1/4 cup water

→ Bowl Assembly

16 - 2 cups cooked jasmine or basmati rice
17 - 3 cups broccoli florets
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional
19 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

# Directions:

01 - Prepare rice according to package instructions and set aside.
02 - Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add broccoli florets and blanch for 2 to 3 minutes until just tender. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, green onions, garlic, soy sauce, salt, and pepper until just combined.
04 - Shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, yielding approximately 18 to 20 meatballs.
05 - Heat sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs in batches and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
06 - In the same skillet, combine honey, soy sauce, garlic, and rice vinegar. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
07 - In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir into the skillet and cook until the sauce thickens, 1 to 2 minutes.
08 - Return the meatballs to the skillet and toss to coat them evenly in the glaze.
09 - Divide rice among serving bowls as the base. Add broccoli and top with glazed meatballs. Drizzle any extra glaze over the top and garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce clings to every meatball like a glossy glaze, making each bite feel indulgent without any dairy weighing you down.
  • You can have this on the table in under 45 minutes, which means it works for busy weeknights and impressive enough for when people show up unexpectedly.
02 -
  • Don't skip making a cornstarch slurry—dumping cornstarch directly into the sauce creates lumps, and lumpy glaze is genuinely disappointing when everything else is so smooth.
  • The moment you add the meatballs back to the glaze, the heat needs to be lower, or the outside will burn before the inside gets properly coated.
03 -
  • If you're cooking for people with different preferences, make the meatballs and glaze, then let everyone assemble their own bowl with whatever vegetables and toppings they want.
  • The glaze actually works on chicken, beef, or even tofu, so once you master it here, you've unlocked a whole category of weeknight meals.
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