Name: Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground chicken; 1/2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated; 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs; 1 egg; 2 tbsp green onion, thinly sliced; 1/4 tsp onion powder; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; salt or adobo, to taste; olive oil, for searing; 1/2 cup chicken broth; PF Chang’s Mongolian style BBQ sauce

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Chicken teriyaki meatballs are sweet and savory, ground chicken meatballs glazed in a rich teriyaki sauce. This family friendly meal is suitable for all ages and never disappoints, even the pickiest of eaters! Save this recipe for an easy family dinner everyone will love.

My kids love meatballs. I have one great eater and one picky eater but they can both agree this recipe is a winner. Kid-friendly and mama approved, this recipe stays on rotation in my home. Another meatball recipe my family loves is Puerto Rican Meatballs in Sofrito Sauce. This one is a family recipe and definitely a crowd pleaser!

What to make with chicken teriyaki meatballs?

I love to serve chicken teriyaki meatballs with white rice. However, you can make vegetable fried rice, lo mein, dumplings, vegetable stir fry, really anything that you and your family like to eat.

Mom hack: Stock up on Trader Joe’s frozen vegetable fried rice and chicken gyoza potstickers. They’re literally the best frozen fried rice and dumplings on the market. On busy weeknights these items are truly a lifesaver. They accompany these chicken teriyaki meatballs perfectly!

Homemade v.s. store bought teriyaki sauce?

Most of the chicken teriyaki meatball recipes that you’ll find will call for homemade teriyaki sauce. Although I enjoy homemade teriyaki sauce, I find that PF Chang’s Mongolian style BBQ sauce is perfect and makes this recipe much easier than making homemade sauce. I’m a busy mom and honestly this saves me a lot of time and energy. Don’t judge! You can find this sauce at most grocery stores and supermarkets like Shoprite, Walmart, Target, even Amazon. If you haven’t tried it, I promise it’ll change your life! This is the best store bought teriyaki sauce I have tried to date.

But if you absolutely must make your own teriyaki sauce, I recommend this recipe by Tasty.

How to make chicken meatballs light and fluffy?

The secret to light and fluffy meatballs is to add the right amount of each ingredient. A common misconception is that eggs add moisture. Eggs are added to bind everything together. Adding too many eggs will result in dense and spongy meatballs. A good rule of thumb is, one egg and half cup of breadcrumb per pound of meat. That ratio will keep your meatballs light and fluffy.

You can learn more about what not to do when making meatballs in this article by Bon Appetit.

How to prevent chicken meatballs from getting dry and tough?

Because chicken is lean, you need to cook the meatballs properly so they don’t become dry and tough. The secret to juicy chicken meatballs is simply to not overcook them. By browning the meatballs on the outside and then cooking them through in broth, you ensure the chicken meatballs stay nice and juicy!

Tips for best results:

Raw ground chicken can be very wet and mushy. To help make your mixture manageable, refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up and rub hands lightly with oil before forming meatballs.

If you want to taste test your mixture for proper seasoning, take a tiny piece and cook it in a skillet. The smaller the piece, the quicker it will cook. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.

If you like some heat, stir some sriracha into the teriyaki sauce or just drizzle over your dish.