What is the best binder for meatballs?

Using both egg and breadcrumbs serves as a great binder for meatballs so they don't completely fall apart.

Is egg necessary in meatballs?

Adding only one egg to the meatball mixture does really help them keep their shape and become dense without changing the flavor of the meatballs.

Is it better to cook meatballs in sauce or in the oven?

I like to first cook meatballs in a pan so they get brown and slightly crisp on the outside before adding them to the sauce to soak in the flavor.

Asian Pork Meatballs | Kathleen's Cravings

Name: Asian Pork Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 lb ground pork; 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs; 1 large egg; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon olive oil; Extra oil or cooking spray, for cooking the meatballs; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce; 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce; 2 tablespoons Hoisin sauce; 1/4 cup honey; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1/4 cup water, to make cornstarch slurry; Sesame Seeds and Sliced Green Onions, for garnish

Asian Pork Meatballs

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

Asian Pork Meatballs are tossed in a sticky hoisin-based sauce, made all in one pan AND are ready in only 30 minutes. Perfect as an appetizer or served with rice for a meal.

Author: Kathleen Hansen
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Category: Main, Appetizer
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

Pork Meatballs

1 lb ground pork
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Extra oil or cooking spray, for cooking the meatballs

Asian Sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup water, to make cornstarch slurry
Sesame Seeds and Sliced Green Onions, for garnish

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Instructions

Mix Meatballs - Mix up the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. I like to do this with my hands - be careful not to over mix! Mix just until combined.
Form Meatballs - Roll into ~1.5 tablespoon sized balls. I like to use a small cookie scoop to make quick work of this. I made 20 meatballs.
Cook Meatballs - Heat a large sauté pan or skillet to medium heat. Add about a tablespoon of oil to coat the bottom or a heavy spray of cooking spray. Cook the meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through (165 degrees F internal temp) - this should take about 10 minutes. The meatballs should easily release when they're ready to be turned. If your pan is smaller, you'll need to cook in batches.
Make Asian Sauce - Set aside cooked meatballs and lower the heat to medium-low. Add all sauce ingredients (except for the cornstarch and water). Whisk to combine. Once combined, mix together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce and whisk while bringing to a simmer. Allow to simmer, while whisking, for a 2-4 minutes until thickened.
Add Meatballs to Sauce - Add the meatballs back to the pan with the sauce and gently flip to coat.
Serve and Enjoy - Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, if using. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Internal Temp When Cooked - Checking the internal temperature is the best way to know that the pork meatballs are cooked. The internal temperature should read 165 degrees F.

Keep Warm in a Crockpot - If you're serving as an appetizer, you can transfer the finished meatballs and sauce to a crockpot set to Warm.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 5 meatballs + sauce
Calories: 495
Sugar: 18.6 g
Sodium: 890 mg
Fat: 29.8 g
Carbohydrates: 32.4 g
Fiber: 1.2 g
Protein: 24.2 g
Cholesterol: 128.5 mg

Keywords: Asian Pork Meatballs, Asian meatballs, hoisin meatballs

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