Description
Easy Korean BBQ meatballs are juicy, oven-baked meatballs tossed in a sticky, sweet, and savory glaze made with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and gochujang. Perfect for appetizers, weeknight dinners, or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- For the Korean BBQ glaze:
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water (slurry)
- Optional: sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, garlic, ginger, green onions, panko, egg, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Mix just until combined.
- Form into 1 to 1.5-inch meatballs and place on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, until cooked through and lightly browned.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, gochujang, and sesame oil. Bring to a simmer.
- Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook for 1–2 minutes until thickened into a glaze.
- Remove meatballs from oven and toss them in the glaze until fully coated.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Add grated carrots or zucchini to sneak in veggies.
- Adjust spice level by increasing or decreasing gochujang.
- Serve over rice, in lettuce wraps, or as a party appetizer on skewers.
- Make ahead and store meatballs and glaze separately, then combine before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
