Description
Bold, saucy, and ready in about 30 minutes, these Easy Korean BBQ Meatballs are the ultimate weeknight hero and crowd-pleasing party appetizer. Juicy meatballs get glazed in a glossy Korean BBQ sauce with a touch of gochujang heat, then finished with a cool, creamy drizzle. Perfect for rice bowls, lettuce wraps, or toothpick bites. Keywords: easy dinner, weeknight dinner, Korean BBQ meatballs, quick recipe, meal prep, party appetizer, rice bowl ideas, lettuce wraps, healthy snack, easy recipe, dinner ideas, food ideas
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half pork)
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions, finely chopped (plus extra for garnish)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup Korean BBQ sauce
1 tbsp gochujang
1 tbsp honey or brown sugar
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame seeds
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp gochujang
1 tsp lime juice or rice vinegar
1 pinch sugar
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, gently combine ground beef, panko, egg, garlic, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, black pepper, and salt until just mixed.
2. Scoop into 1–1.5 inch balls and roll gently to smooth.
3. Chill formed meatballs for 15 minutes to help them set.
4. Heat a skillet over medium with a little oil; cook meatballs in batches, turning, until browned and cooked through (8–10 minutes). Or bake at 400°F/200°C for 15–18 minutes.
5. In a small saucepan, whisk Korean BBQ sauce, gochujang, honey, and rice vinegar; simmer 2–3 minutes to thicken slightly.
6. Toss cooked meatballs in the warm sauce until well coated.
7. Stir together mayonnaise, gochujang, lime juice, and sugar for the creamy drizzle.
8. Plate meatballs, drizzle with the creamy sauce, and sprinkle with sesame seeds and extra green onions. Serve hot.
Notes
Fold the mixture gently—overmixing leads to dense meatballs.
Chill the shaped meatballs so they keep their shape while cooking.
Add more or less gochujang to control spiciness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs (about 150 g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 21
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 80
Keywords: easy dinner, weeknight dinner, Korean BBQ meatballs, quick recipe, meal prep, party appetizer, rice bowl ideas, lettuce wraps, healthy snack, easy recipe, dinner ideas, food ideas