Honey-Sriracha Turkey Meatballs Recipe
These Honey-Sriracha Meatballs are a flavorful American appetizer or main course featuring tender ground turkey meatballs glazed with a spicy and sweet honey-sriracha sauce. They are browned on the stovetop then baked to perfection, offering a mild to medium heat level that’s easily adjustable to suit your spice preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 16 meatballs
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasonings
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon spicy chili flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 pound ground turkey (can substitute beef or chicken)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, or more as needed
- Fresh chopped herbs and spicy chili flakes for garnish
Honey-Sriracha Glaze
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2-3 tablespoons sriracha
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add chopped celery, onion, and jalapeno pepper and cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the chopped garlic and cook for another minute, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: Remove the pan from heat and transfer the sautéed mixture to a mixing bowl. Allow to cool slightly before adding Cajun seasonings, parsley, chili flakes, beaten egg, ground turkey, and panko breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Gently mix by hand to combine without overworking the meat.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, making approximately 16 meatballs.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the same pan over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them evenly on all sides for 3-4 minutes.
- Bake Meatballs: Transfer the pan with browned meatballs to the preheated oven. Bake for 10 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F/74°C).
- Prepare Glaze: While the meatballs bake, combine tomato sauce, sriracha, honey, garlic powder, chili flakes, salt, and pepper in a small pot. Heat gently, stirring until the sauce is well combined and warm.
- Glaze and Serve: Pour or brush the honey-sriracha glaze over cooked meatballs. Garnish with additional chili flakes and fresh chopped parsley. Serve warm.
Notes
- Heat Factor: Mild to medium depending on amount and brand of sriracha. Adjust by adding more sriracha or spicy chilies for a hotter version.
- For fully baked turkey meatballs without browning, place meatballs on an oiled or parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
- Check internal temperature to ensure safety: turkey meatballs should reach 165°F.
