Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Meatballs
These Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and coated in a rich sweet-and-savory garlic sauce that’s perfect over rice with steamed broccoli. Made with lean ground chicken and simple ingredients, this easy weeknight dinner is cozy, satisfying, and better than takeout.
I grabbed some ground chicken on sale and wanted to make something a little different for dinner while still keeping it fairly cheap and easy. I started thinking about honey garlic sauce, meatballs over rice, and steamed broccoli on the side and honestly, it ended up being such a good combo.
The meatballs stay really juicy, and the sticky honey garlic sauce is so good spooned over the rice. It’s one of those simple dinners that feels a little like takeout at home without costing a ton to make.
I hope you enjoy this recipe! ❤️ If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out for you in the comments section at the bottom of the page or share a pic of your om noms on Instagram and tag @dishesanddustbunnies! ❤️
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These honey garlic chicken meatballs are easy to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for serving over rice with broccoli for a full meal. The sauce is sweet, garlicky, and sticky in the best way, and the meatballs stay juicy thanks to the ground chicken. It’s a simple weeknight dinner that tastes way more impressive than the effort involved.
What Are These Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Meatballs Like?
These chicken meatballs are soft and juicy with a sticky honey garlic sauce that coats everything really well without being too heavy. The sauce has a good balance of sweet and savory flavor with enough garlic to make it feel rich and comforting.
Served over rice with steamed broccoli, it turns into one of those easy dinners that feels filling and satisfying without needing a ton of ingredients or work.
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Meatballs – Overview
You can find the full recipe details, including ingredient amounts and the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but first, here's a quick overview of how to make honey garlic chicken meatballs!
You’ll start by mixing the ground chicken with breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic, and a few simple seasonings before rolling the mixture into meatballs and baking them until cooked through. While the meatballs bake, the honey garlic sauce comes together quickly on the stovetop with honey, soy sauce, garlic, and a little cornstarch to thicken it up.
Once the meatballs are done, toss them in the sticky sauce until fully coated, then serve everything over rice with steamed broccoli on the side. The extra sauce is especially good spooned over the rice.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
If you like a stronger garlic flavor, go with the full 6 cloves of garlic in the sauce. The sauce still tastes great with 4 cloves, but using more gives it a bolder honey garlic flavor.
Ground turkey can easily be used instead of ground chicken if that’s what you have available. You can also add a little heat to the sauce with some sriracha or red pepper flakes if you want a spicy version.
For serving, I usually pair these with rice and steamed broccoli, but they’re also good with snap peas, green beans, or sautéed peppers. Jasmine rice works especially well with the sauce, but any rice you have on hand will work fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the sauce less sweet?
If you prefer a less sweet sauce, you can reduce the honey slightly or add a little extra soy sauce to balance it out more.
Do I need to brown the meatballs first?
Nope! Baking them in the oven keeps this recipe simple and easy while still giving the meatballs plenty of flavor.
Can I use pre-minced garlic?
Yes, you can use pre-minced garlic if that’s what you have on hand, but fresh garlic will give the sauce the best flavor.
Storage, Reheating & Freezing
These honey garlic chicken meatballs store really well and make great leftovers for easy lunches or dinners later in the week.
Storing in the Fridge
Let the meatballs cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I recommend storing the extra sauce with the meatballs so they stay nice and juicy.
Reheating
Reheat the meatballs gently in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium-low heat until warmed through. If the sauce thickens too much after being chilled, just stir in a splash of water while reheating to loosen it back up.
Freezing
The cooked meatballs and sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
What Can I Serve with Honey Garlic Chicken Meatballs?
Rice and steamed broccoli are my favorite way to serve these honey garlic chicken meatballs since the extra sauce is so good spooned over everything. Jasmine rice works especially well, but any rice you have on hand will work fine.
If you want to switch things up, these meatballs are also good with noodles, roasted vegetables, or even tucked into lettuce wraps for something lighter. You could also serve them with stir fried vegetables or a simple cucumber salad on the side.
Other Recipes You'll Enjoy
If you enjoy easy takeout-inspired dinners like these honey garlic chicken meatballs, you might also like my honey garlic chicken thighs or Thai green curry chicken for another flavorful dinner idea.
You can also browse the Asian-inspired meals and dinner recipes sections on the site for more easy weeknight meals and budget-friendly family recipes.
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Meatballs
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: ~24 meatballs (serves 4–6)
Description
Juicy baked ground chicken meatballs tossed in a sticky honey garlic sauce and served over rice with steamed broccoli. These easy honey garlic chicken meatballs are packed with sweet, savory flavor and make a perfect weeknight dinner or meal prep recipe.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 2 lbs lean ground chicken
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp onion powder
For the honey garlic sauce:
- ¾ cup honey
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 4–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1½ tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp water
For serving:
- Cooked rice
- Steamed broccoli
- Green onions or sesame seeds (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic, salt, pepper, soy sauce, and onion powder. Mix just until combined—avoid overmixing.
- Roll the mixture into meatballs about 1 to 1½ inches in size and place them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked and lightly golden.
- While the meatballs bake, add the honey, soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar to a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir the slurry into the sauce.
- Continue simmering the sauce for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened and glossy.
- Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce and gently toss until fully coated.
- Serve the meatballs over rice with steamed broccoli and extra sauce spooned over top.
Notes
Don’t overmix the meatball mixture or the meatballs can become dense.
Use 6 cloves of garlic in the sauce for a stronger garlic flavor.
If the sauce thickens too much, stir in a splash of water to loosen it.
These meatballs reheat well and are great for meal prep lunches.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked + Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
