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Sweet Chili Turkey Meatballs Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 143 reviews

Delicious and healthy Sweet Chili Turkey Meatballs featuring lean ground turkey coated in a tangy and slightly spicy homemade sweet chili sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or a light meal, these meatballs are baked to juicy perfection and tossed in a glossy chili sauce with a kick of sambal oelek and a hint of sweetness from sugar and rice vinegar.

Ingredients

Scale

Sweet Chili Sauce

  • 3 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tbsp. sambal oelek
  • 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp. water
  • 1/2 tbsp. tamari (or soy sauce or coconut aminos)
  • 2 tsp. cornstarch

Plain Jane Meatballs

  • 1 lb. 99% lean ground turkey
  • 3 tbsp. panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp. dried parsley
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400° F (204° C) to prepare for baking the meatballs.
  2. Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, panko bread crumbs, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, egg, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix until evenly incorporated without overworking the meat.
  3. Shape Meatballs: Use a mini ice cream scoop or kitchen scale to portion out 20 meatballs, each approximately 1 ounce, and shape them evenly.
  4. Prepare Baking Sheet: Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the meatballs spaced evenly.
  5. Bake Meatballs: Place the meatballs in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and cooking.
  6. Make Sweet Chili Sauce: While the meatballs bake, combine sugar, sambal oelek, rice vinegar, 1/4 cup water, and tamari in a small pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
  7. Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Slowly add this slurry to the boiling sauce while stirring continuously. The sauce will thicken and become glossy.
  8. Finish Sauce: Bring the sauce back to a boil briefly to fully activate the thickening agent, then remove from heat once it coats the back of a spoon or whisk.
  9. Toss Meatballs in Sauce: When the meatballs are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 165° F, transfer them to the sauce and toss gently to coat evenly.
  10. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle sesame seeds and thinly sliced scallions over the meatballs before serving. Provide toothpicks for easy appetizer-style eating.

Notes

  • For a gluten-free option, substitute panko bread crumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
  • Use tamari for a gluten-free soy sauce alternative in the sauce.
  • Adjust sambal oelek quantity to vary spice level to preference.
  • Make sure meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165° F for safe consumption.
  • These meatballs can be cooked in an air fryer as an alternative method at 400° F for about 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through.

Keywords: sweet chili meatballs, turkey meatballs, healthy appetizers, lean ground turkey, sweet and spicy sauce

Find it online: https://cookwithruby.com/sweet-chili-turkey-meatballs-recipe/