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    Home » Food

    Sticky Sweet Chicken Meatballs

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    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest graphic text with sticky sweet chicken meatballs

    These sticky sweet chicken meatballs are oven baked and then coated in a honey balsamic reduction. They are easy to make and ready in under 30 minutes.

    This recipe is excellent for meal prep. They store and reheat really well.

    They pair well with rice and brussels sprouts. The sauce has a sweet balance of balsamic, honey, and ginger.

    sticky sweet chicken meatballs in a bowl with rice and brussels sprouts

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you decide to purchase through my link, I may earn a very small commission at no additional cost to you.

    what I love about sticky sweet chicken meatballs

    • meal prep - this recipe makes an excellent meal prep. Not only does it store well, but it also reheats well too. You don't end up with dry chicken.
    • flavor - the flavor combination is incredible! The balsamic & honey come together to make a sweetened balsamic flavor.
    • easy to make - there are no complicated steps and it comes together quickly.
    • stores well - the chicken stores well and doesn't develop a weird texture after storing. it does well in both the refrigerator and the freezer.
    • reheats perfectly - when you reheat this recipe, you don't have dry, inedible chicken.

    ingredients

    • ground chicken - I prefer to get at least 93% lean ground chicken. You can always ground the chicken yourself from chicken breasts if you'd like.
    • panko breadcrumbs - I like the texture that panko breadcrumbs add to meatballs, but plain breadcrumbs work here as well.
    • egg - one whole egg will help the meat mixture to bind together.
    • salt & pepper - I prefer to use kosher salt and ground black pepper.
    • dried oregano - you could also use fresh oregano, but don't skip it.
    • onion powder - you could swap the onion powder for actual onions, but I prefer the taste of onion powder in this recipe.
    • garlic - you can use the pre-minced type to save some time.
    • balsamic vinegar - using high-quality balsamic vinegar will helps this taste great. Be sure to use vinegar and not glaze.
    • honey - I use raw honey, but you can also swap for maple syrup.
    • ginger - freshly grated ginger and fresh ginger paste both work well.
    ingredients to make sticky sweet chicken meatballs

    how to serve

    • rice - these go really well over basmati and jasmine rice.
    • pasta - you can serve these over pasta, using the sticky sweet sauce in place of pasta sauce.
    • vegetables - these go really great with roasted Brussels sprouts and broccoli.

    how to make the chicken meatballs

    Detailed instructions and measurements to make sticky sweet chicken meatballs are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

    1. Add all of the ingredients for the meat mixture to a mixing bowl.
    2. Mix to combine.
    3. Scoop the meat mixture into 17 even meatballs.
    4. Place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
    5. Bake in the oven at 350°F for 20-23 minutes.
    6. Remove from the oven.
    ground chicken in a mixing bowl
    ground chicken and panko breadcrumbs in a mixing bowl
    ground chicken, salt, pepper, and panko breadcrumbs in a mixing bowl
    ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and egg in a mixing bowl
    all ingredients for chicken meatballs in a bowl, unmixed
    chicken meatball mixture in a bowl
    chicken meatballs on a parchment lined sheet pan

    how to make sticky sweet sauce

    1. Add all sauce ingredients to a small saucepan.
    2. Simmer over low heat until the honey has dissolved.
    3. Continue to simmer until it has reduced slightly and begins to thicken.
    4. Remove from heat and pour over the chicken meatballs. Stir them to coat.
    garlic in a saucepan
    garlic and ginger in a saucepan
    salt, pepper, garlic, and ginger in a sauce pan
    garlic, ginger, salt, pepper, and honey in a saucepan
    all ingredients for sauce of sticky sweet chicken meatballs in a sauce pan

    tips, tricks, and faqs

    When making the sauce, be sure to stir to prevent sticking.

    If you want an easier way to make sure that the meatballs are evenly sized, you can use a cookie scoop and then smooth them out with your hands.

    Can I use ground turkey instead of chicken?

    Yes, you can use ground turkey in this recipe.

    Can I use balsamic glaze?

    No, you need to use balsamic vinegar in this recipe.

    sticky sweet chicken meatballs in a bowl with rice and brussels sprouts

    substitutions

    • chicken - you could substitute ground turkey instead of ground chicken.
    • panko breadcrumbs - if you can't find panko breadcrumbs, or don't have any on hand, you can use regular breadcrumbs as well.
    • honey - if your diet doesn't include honey, you can replace the honey with maple syrup.
    • ginger - if you can't get fresh ginger, you can substitute ginger paste in this recipe.
    • garlic - fresh garlic is best, but you can also use pre-minced garlic to save time.

    how to store sticky sweet chicken meatballs

    Allow the meatballs to come to room temperature.

    to freeze - place the meatballs on a sheet pan and place them in the freezer. Once frozen, remove them from the sheet pan and place them in a zip-top freezer-safe bag. They can be frozen for up to 6 months.

    to refrigerate - once the meatballs have come to room temperature, store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    how to reheat sticky sweet chicken meatballs

    To reheat the meatballs, place them on a microwave safe plate and cover with a paper towel. Heat for 1 minute. If they need more time, continue to heat in 30 second increments until your desired temperature.

    other meatball recipes you might like

    • Chicken Pesto Meatballs
    • Oven-Baked Turkey Meatballs
    • Homemade Meatballs
    sticky sweet chicken meatballs in a bowl with rice and brussels sprouts

    Sticky Sweet Chicken Meatballs

    These sticky sweet chicken meatballs are oven baked and then coated in a honey balsamic reduction. They are easy to make and ready in under 30 minutes.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Main Dish, Main Dishes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 17 meatballs
    Calories 55 kcal
    Protein 5 g

    Equipment

    • baking sheet
    • cookie scoop
    • saucepan

    Ingredients
      

    Meatballs

    • 1 pound ground chicken
    • ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
    • 1 whole egg
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder

    Sauce

    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 1 teaspoon ginger grated
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    Meatballs

    • Add all meatball ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
    • Mix until combined.
    • Scoop the mixture into 17 even meatballs and place on a parchment lined sheet pan.
    • Bake for 20-23 minutes at 350°F. Remove and mix with the sticky sweet sauce.

    Sticky Sweet Sauce

    • In a small saucepan, combine sauce ingredients.
    • Simmer over low heat until it has reduced slightly, honey dissolved, and it begins to thicken.
    • Mix with meatballs and serve!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Sticky Sweet Chicken Meatballs
    Serving Size
     
    1 meatball
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    55
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    2
    g
    3
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    23
    mg
    8
    %
    Sodium
     
    161
    mg
    7
    %
    Potassium
     
    155
    mg
    4
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    4
    g
    1
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    3
    g
    3
    %
    Protein
     
    5
    g
    10
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    6
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    11
    mg
    1
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword baked, chicken, dairy free, meal prep, meatballs
    Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy. It should only be used for estimation purposes and is not a guarantee of any kind. Nutritional information varies widely between brands and types of ingredients used. It is recommended that you calculate the nutritional information based on your own ingredients and brands used. Sweetly Splendid, LLC makes no guarantees as to the exact nutrition information.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kacy

      February 24, 2022 at 5:46 pm

      I need to try this! How have I missed this one!

      Reply
      • kara

        February 24, 2022 at 11:26 pm

        This is one of my all time favorites

        Reply

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    Kara is a wife & mother living deep in the heart of Texas. She loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes.

    More about me →

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