Aggie's Kitchen

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Chili Garlic Glaze

plate of turkey meatballs with a side of carrot and cabbage slaw and toothpicks

Last week my friend Julie and I had a play date. We’ve been wanting to get together for a while, and even though she lives just a little over an hour from me, it seems like it’s always hard to find the time with both of our busy schedules.

We talked about cooking up some lunch, playing with our cameras and just hanging out but little did I know that our time together was going to stir up both of our creative juices in the kitchen. Personally, I’ve been in somewhat of a cooking slump since the holidays, really not in the mood to try anything new…basically it’s been survival mode around here with lots of easy pasta dishes and big pots of soup. That’s not a bad thing. But I’ve missed the excitement and energy I get when I start playing around in the kitchen, and of course I’ve been wanting to share new stuff with all of you!

4 dumplings on a plate

Our plan that day was to learn how to make Chinese dumplings together. It’s one of my kids’ favorite things to order when we pick up take-out and something I’ve been wanting to get better at making at home. Well, it turns out, Julie was a natural at putting these dumplings together. They turned out delicious and my kids scarfed them down at dinner time. I’m seriously so excited about making them again and experimenting with different types of fillings.

dumplings

Julie is sharing the recipe for these Chinese Potstickers (or dumplings) along with a video of her demonstrating how to make these pretty little things over on her blog. We had fun filming it during our “play date” and I’m so impressed by how good it turned out – nice work Julie! ๐Ÿ™‚

So where do these meatballs come into the story? While we were putting together the filling for those dumplings, we remembered a tip we learned about adding a small amount of the meat mixture to the pan or wok to cook up and taste so that seasonings could be adjusted before filling the dumplings. While we did this Julie thought the meat mixture would turn into awesome little meatballs. And you know what? They sure did!

turkey meatballs covered in a chili garlic glaze on a plate with a mini side salad

I cooked up a batch of meatballs with a simple homemade glaze and dipping sauce. My husband LOVED these and so did I. They would be a perfect cocktail meatball, or great for dinner along some stir fried rice, noodles or vegetables. I actually added them to a crunchy fresh cabbage and mushroom salad that we created that same day that I’m going to share with you very soon.

Enjoy!

Print

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Chili Garlic Glaze

  • Author: Aggie's Kitchen
  • Yield: makes approximately 24 small meatballs (about 1.5 tablespoons each) 1x
  • Category: Ground Turkey
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean ground turkey
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped Napa cabbage (few leaves of cabbage)
  • 1/4 cup shredded carrots (about 2 large carrots)
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions (about 3 onions)
  • 2 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Chili-Garlic Glaze:

  • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Add ground turkey to a large mixing bowl. Add ginger, carrots, cabbage, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and pepper to turkey and using your hands and a light touch, gently combine until thoroughly mixed.
  3. Using a small scoop (1.5 tablespoon) or spoon roll into small meatballs and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes.
  5. While meatballs are cooking, prepare glaze by combining soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, brown sugar and water into a small bowl. Whisk together and let sit so that sugar can dissolve.
  6. At 10 minutes of cooking time, brush or spoon glaze over each meatball. Bake for another 3-5 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
  7. Note: Double recipe for glaze if you want to serve as dipping sauce. Separate and set aside, do not use same sauce for glazing and dipping to avoid cross contamination.

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47 comments on “Asian Turkey Meatballs with Chili Garlic Glaze”

  1. Pingback: How to Make Chinese Potstickers (Recipe and Video) | the little kitchen

  2. I had soooo much fun, Aggie! Thanks for having me over. Your meatballs were amazing and I can’t wait for you to share that amazing salad!! Say hi to Amber for me!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. First, so jealous you and Julie got to hang – so fun!! Second, my Aunt always makes Asian meatballs – she said it’s her favorite part of the dumpling so she just makes the filling!! I’ve never done them myself and haven’t tried dumplings in ages – can’t wait to try these!!!

    • I can’t believe I haven’t made these sooner. I’m going to make again with a sweeter glaze for the kids, they aren’t so into the kick from the chili like I am ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Love that you girls got to hang out together!!! And those MEATBALLS? They look amazing!

  5. I love the fact that this recipe can serve double duty and create 2 tasty dishes.

  6. Why don’t we live 5 minutes from each other? waaaaaaah.

  7. I just told Julie I’m coming next month… be forewarned ๐Ÿ˜‰

  8. These look fantastic and it looks and sounds like you and Julie had the best time cooking up these great dishes!

  9. I totally understand, we’ve been in survival mode for the past few weeks and the only real cooking I’ve been doing is the cooking required for a few articles that I had due. I’m going to head over to Julie’s blog to check out those dumplings, but first wanted to stop by and say hey and tell you that these meatballs look so good! I am going to try these really soon!

  10. I want to come next time! The dumplings AND the meatballs sound so incredible right now – I don’t even care that it’s 9:45am!

  11. I may just be oblivious, but what do you do with the cabbage? I don’t see anything in the instructions about it. I assume it goes in the meatball mixture as well?

    • Sorry, missed it in the instructions but yes it gets added into the meatball mixture as well. Thanks for asking!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. The looks like really tasty meatballs!

  13. I’m so jealous of your foodie playdate! Sounds like so much fun!

    These little meatballs look fabulous, too. I have a major crush on all things meatball, especially when you coat them in a chili garlic glaze!

  14. Oh goodness, YUM. I love Asian flavors. Pinned and making! and p.s. isn’t fun to cook with foodie friends? I cherish the time Melissa (Alosha’s Kitchen) and I hung out.

  15. these meatballs look absolutely delicious but that chili garlic glaze puts them over the top!

  16. What a fun day!Totally grabbing that recipe for the potstickers!! The meatballs sound delicious! Suggest adding diced water chestnuts in there next time- so good!

  17. What fun!!! Love those meatballs and those potstickers too!

  18. Aggie, this recipe looks awesome! I so glad you and Julie got to have a “play date”. Hopefully one of these days we will get together and “play”! ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. My son loves different types of meatballs and I am always looking for something new to try out with him. These look awesome–I must try them soon!

  20. What a fun day! It’s so nice when you live close (close enough!) to blogging friends. These look amazing and so do Julie’s pot stickers. Can’t wait to make both!!

  21. That sounds like a really fun day and the food looks pretty fantastic!

  22. Ah man, I’m so jealous of your play date with Julie. You two are favorites of mine! And I love these meatballs!

  23. Do you know how much I wish I could have a food date with you and Julie??? You guys have got to be the nicest people I’ve ever met from this whole food blogging thing. Want to come hang out in michigan? ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. How fun. My family loves potstickers/gyoza/mandoo and I haven’t made them in forever. I think if I had any leftover meatballs they’d be great in a spring roll wrapper with lettuce and carrots. The dipping sauce made me think of it–I love turning leftovers into spring rolls in the summer. Or is that summer rolls in the spring?

    Thanks!

  25. So fun that you guys spent the day together!! Julie’s video is awesome!
    Also, these meatballs..sigh…love them!

  26. Aggie, can’t wait to try these. Yummy, I have all the ingredients. Maybe dinner tonight. I know you and Julie had a great time toteher – so fun! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Thanks Sandy! I added these to a yummy Asian salad. Julie and I thought they would be great with a stir fried lo mein noodle dish too. Let me know if you try them. Happy Friday!

  27. Oh wow!! Sounds like SO much fun. And what great outcomes food wise. These meatballs look to die for & I just bookmarked them to make….hopefully this week.

    So glad you and Julie got to hang out. ๐Ÿ˜‰ What fun!! Michelle (village cook) and I hang out together everywhere (it sems) but the kitchen…and we’ve been wanting to remedy that for a LONG time.

  28. How fun that you two got together??? LOVE that. And umm…. those turkey meatballs are SO going to be made in my house. My man loves Asian flavored dishes, and it’s hard for me to find easy and quick recipes to suit that.

  29. Yum! These meatballs look awesome!

  30. I envy the girl/blogging/cooking time! I need some of that. These meatballs have just made me so hungry. Yum!

  31. I am so jealous, love Julie. I am also jealous you get to cook with other bloggers. I don’t have any close to me so I miss out on foodie fun. The closest pal is 4 hours away. I need to move I swear, lol.

    Love the meatballs. It’s one of my fave things to eat yet I don’t make them enough. These look spectacular.

  32. This is one of my fav, meatballs!!!! And yours, they looks so great. Fabulous!!

  33. These meatballs sound really delicious. I love trying to make foods I’d normally get a take-out at home. The dumplings sound yummy, too! I love Asian flavors.

  34. Pingback: 100 Best Super Bowl Party Recipes | the little kitchen

  35. These look delicious. I was wondering about freezing some of them.
    Would you suggest freezing before or after cooking?

  36. I bet these would be great in lettuce wraps or as sliders too. yum!

  37. Pingback: Asian Turkey Meatballs โ€” very culinary