These glazed asian turkey meatballs are incredibly versatile and can be served with Asian noodles, rice, veggies, salads and more. The 5-ingredient hoisin glaze is sweet, salty, and full of umami!

side angle of glazed turkey meatballs in an oval baking dish topped with panko and sesame seeds

Why I Love this Recipe for Asian Turkey Meatballs

These Asian turkey meatballs are always a hit. They’re quick to make, absolutely delicious and savory, and can be paired with a variety of veggies to make a full meal. Because of that, I’ve made them countless times for holiday parties, appetizer date nights and weeknight dinners.

Watch How to Make This Recipe

Ingredients for this Recipe

  • lean ground turkey (I prefer 93%)
  • Panko breadcrumbs (preferably whole-wheat, gluten-free if needed)
  • garlic, fresh garlic is best
  • scallions (aka green onions)
  • egg
  • fresh ginger (dried will work too)
  • toasted sesame oil, make sure it’s “toasted”
  • kosher salt & black pepper 
  • hoisin sauce
  • fresh lime juice (rice vinegar would also work)
  • low-sodium soy sauce
  • toasted sesame oil
  • sesame seeds, cilantro and scallions for serving, optional

Step-By-Step Instructions for Making Hoisin Meatballs

1: mix the ground turkey, Panko breadcrumbs, garlic, scallions, egg, ginger, toasted sesame oil, salt and pepper together.

2: form mixture into meatballs and arrange on a baking sheet.

3: bake meatballs until browned and cooked through (165ºF).

4: meanwhile, for the glaze whisk together hoisin, lime juice, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and ginger in a large bowl.

5: add the warm meatballs to the large bowl with glaze and toss to coat.

Asian Turkey Meatball Appetizer 

Decrease the size of these hoisin-glazed meatballs by a tablespoon (and decrease the baking time to about 10 minutes). Arrange glazed meatballs on a serving platter and sprinkle with desired toppings.

Want to make more of a statement? Serve the mini meatballs on a platter with a pile of bibb lettuce leaves and bowls of various toppings. This makes a great interactive appetizer and allows guests to make their own lettuce wraps.

Make these Asian Meatballs a Meal! 

glazed meatballs set over saucy rice noodles

FAQ & Test Kitchen Tips

How do I make these gluten-free?

Use gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs and be sure to use certified gluten-free hoisin and soy sauce.

How long do leftovers last?

Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, these meatballs will last up to 4 days.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes, you can make these ahead of time. I recommend cooking the meatballs as directed then letting them cool completely before transfering to a clean sheet pan with parchment. Freeze the meatballs until solid then transfer to a resealable zipper-lock bag and store in the freezer.

When you’re ready to serve, transfer the frozen meatballs to a baking sheet and reheat in a 300ºF (149ºC) oven until warmed through. While they are reheating make the glaze.

Can I make these with a different ground meat?

Sure! Ground chicken, ground beef or ground pork will all work.

How do I keep these warm at a party?

I would recommend keeping them warm in a slow cooker on low heat. You can also keep them warm on the stove top in a medium pot, covered, over low heat. Just make sure to give them a stir from time to time to avoid burning.

Overhead image of glazed turkey meatballs piled into an oval baking dish set on a stripped napkin.

More Meatball Recipes You May Like…

Glazed Asian Turkey Meatballs

5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Yield 20 meatballs (5 servings)
Category Lunch/Dinner
Cuisine Asian
Author Lauren

Description

Baked tender turkey meatballs get tossed in a delicious sweet, salty and umami hoisin glaze! Ready in just over 30 minutes, these Asian meatballs make the perfect weeknight meal or go-to appetizer.

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1 ½ pounds lean ground turkey (93% lean)*
  • ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (2 teaspoons)
  • cup chopped scallions
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger, or 1 ½ teaspoons dried ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Glaze

  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, or ¾ teaspoon dried ground ginger
  • 2 tablespoons Panko breadcrumbs, gluten-free if needed, for serving (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds for serving (optional)
  • Chopped cilantro and scallions for serving, optional

Instructions

Meatballs

  • Heat oven to 425°F (218ºC); coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray. 
  • Mix turkey, ½ cup Panko, garlic, scallions, egg, 2 teaspoons ginger, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, salt, and pepper together using hands. Using 2 heaping tablespoons at a time, roll turkey mixture into 20 meatballs (1½ ounces each); arrange on prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake meatballs until browned and an instant read thermometer inserted in the centers reached 165ºF (74ºC), 15–20 minutes. 

Glaze

  • Meanwhile, whisk together hoisin, lime juice, soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon ginger in a large bowl. 
  • Add warm meatballs to sauce and gently toss to coat; transfer to a serving dish.
  • Combine panko and sesame seeds. Sprinkle Panko mixture, cilantro and scallions over meatballs.

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Notes

* Ground turkey: depending on your store, ground turkey can be sold by 1 pound, 1.2 pounds, or 1.5 pounds. I find 1.5 pounds of 93% lean ground turkey works best, but you can also use 1 pound or 1.2 pounds. 85% lean ground turkey works well (a bit more decadent), but avoid 97% or 99% lean ground turkey. 
Make these gluten-free: use gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs and make sure to use certified gluten-free hoisin and soy sauce.
Mix up the meat: these meatballs can also be made with lean ground chicken, pork or beef.

Nutrition

Serving: 4meatballsCalories: 268kcalCarbohydrates: 6.5gProtein: 29gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 1006mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 3g
Like this? Leave a comment below!I love hearing from you and I want to hear how it went with this recipe! Leave a comment and rating below, then share on social media @zestfulkitchen and #zestfulkitchen!
Overhead image of glazed turkey meatballs piled into an oval baking dish set on a stripped napkin.

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This recipe and article were originally published on November 6, 2019.

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About The Author

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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5 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These went together in a flash and are so full of flavor – I served them with your gochujang noodles – Thanks Lauren!