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Asian Turkey Meatballs

with Sweet Soy Dipping Sauce

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Sweet Soy Dipping Sauce on a white platter ready to serve.
​© Hèléne Dujardin
Prep Time
3 hrs prep time
Number of Servings
4
Recipe Source
From From Freezer to Cooker by Polly Conner & Rachel Tiemeyer ($22.99, Rodale Books, 2020), Image Credit: ​© Hèléne Dujardin
Ingredients
  • Meatballs

    • 1 to 1 14 lb lean ground turkey
    • 14 cup finely chopped green onions (about 3)
    • 14 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro or fresh parsley (about 12 bunch)
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
    • 2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
    • 34 cup whole-wheat panko bread crumbs
  • Dipping Sauce

    • 12 cup low-sodium soy sauce
    • 12 cup honey
    • 3 Tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
    • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
    • 2 green onions, sliced
    • 1 12 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
    • Pinch of red pepper flakes
    • Cooked brown rice, for serving (optional)
Directions

Make It Now:

Meatballs

  1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a large bowl, combine turkey, green onions, cilantro, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, bread crumbs, and egg. Mix well using your hands. Shape turkey mixture into roughly 1 12-inch-diameter (tablespoon-size) meatballs and place them on prepared baking sheet.
  2. Position top oven rack about 6 inches below broiler. Preheat broiler. Broil meatballs for 4 to 5 minutes, until they are browned on outside and some fat is rendered. (They will not be cooked through yet.)

For the Dipping Sauce:

  1. In a 6-quart slow cooker, stir together soy sauce, honey, vinegar, oil, onions, ginger, and pepper flakes.
  2. Transfer meatballs to slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 2 to 3 hours. (The meatballs are done when they register at least 165° internally.)
  3. Serve with dipping sauce from slow cooker on side, or over brown rice, with dipping sauce drizzled over top.

Freeze For Later:

  1. Follow Step 1.
  2. Place the raw meatballs (do not broil the meatballs before freezing them, as it is not safe to freeze partially cooked meat) in even layers in a gallon-size freezer bag or container, being careful not to smash them; use parchment paper to separate the layers, if needed.
  3. Seal and freeze flat. Add all the dipping sauce ingredients into a quart-size freezer bag or container. Seal, shake to combine, and freeze alongside the meatballs.

Prepare From Frozen:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Follow Step 2.
  3. Transfer the dipping sauce to the slow cooker, and then follow steps 4 and 5.
Nutrition Info
Without brown rice: 447 Calories, 29 g Protein, 47 g Carbohydrates, 1 g Fiber, 17 g Total fat (4 g sat), 1,507 mg Sodium, ★★★★★ Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, ★★★★ ​Phosphorus, ★★★ ​Zinc, ★★ Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin K,  Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium

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