These Korean Turkey Gochujang Meatballs are the ultimate weeknight dinner when paired with broccolini and edamame. All cooked on one sheet pan, it couldn’t be easier to prep, cook or clean up. And don’t forget the bell of the ball—a simple yet spectacular sweet and tangy gochujang drizzle sauce. You’ll love it one these meatballs and want to drizzle it on just about everything.
Table of contents
Why I Love This Recipe
This recipe for gochujang meatballs is one of my favorite weeknight meals I’ve ever developed. First off, you know we love anything Korean-inspired around here. We’ve got loads of bulgogi recipes including beef, ground beef, chicken and pork.
This recipe is inspired by my Korean Beef Meatballs. I turned it into a sheet pan dinner and made it lighter with ground turkey and loads of veggies.
The best part? The gochujang drizzle sauce is an absolute game-changer. It’s sweet, tangy and spicy and absolutely heavenly with these meatballs or simply drizzled over rice.
Ingredients Needed:
- Broccolini: the thin tender stems make broccolini ideal for this sheet pan dinner. If you can’t find broccolini or would rather use broccoli that works too! If using broccoli, trim the tough ends off the stalks then peel the stalks using a vegetable peeler. Slice the broccoli into long thin stalks to they cool quickly.
- Frozen in-shell edamame: grab either a 10-ounce or 14-ounce bag, either work.
Meatball Ingredients:
- Olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper are pantry items we use often around here!
- Scallions are used for flavoring the meatballs and as a garnish for the finished dish. Look for scallions (also called green onions) that are crisp and vibrant in color.
- Large egg is used as binder in meatballs and add moisture. If you skip the egg, skip the Panko too.
- Panko: I prefer to use whole-wheat Panko, but regular works just fine as well. Panko is used to soak up excess liquid and firm up the meatballs.
- Gochujang is a Korean chili paste. It can be found in any Asian market or near the Asian sauces in most grocery stores. Gochujang is used to flavor both the meatballs and add spice to the sweet and tangy drizzle sauce.
- Fresh Ginger is a must in these meatballs, it adds so much flavor! Ginger is often sold next to the garlic and shallots or in the refrigerated produce area next to the peppers.
- Fresh garlic adds a punch of flavor to the meatballs. For easy prep, this recipe calls for grating the garlic (same with the ginger).
- Cayenne adds a punch of heat to the meatballs without adding additional moisture in the form of gochujang. If you prefer things more mild, skip the cayenne.
- Ground turkey: I find 93% lean ground turkey is best for meatballs and burgers. 99% lean turkey is just too lean. If you use 99% lean, I recommend adding a few teaspoons olive oil to the meat mixture.
Drizzle sauce (aka glaze) ingredients:
- Honey is the base of this sweet and tangy drizzle sauce.
- Toasted sesame oil adds a lovely toasty, nutty flavor.
- White vinegar or rice vinegar adds the tang..
FAQs & Test Kitchen Tips
You can use snap peas or snow peas in place of the edamame. I recommend adding them when you add the meatballs. And keep an eye on the meatballs, since you’re using fresh produce instead of frozen, the meatballs will likely cook quicker.
Rice noodles tossed with some sesame oil and salt would be a delicious alternative to rice. You could skip the starch altogether and serve with sesame cauliflower rice or shredded romaine for some crisp, crunch.
You can easily make the meatballs gluten-free by using gluten-free Panko in place of the whole-wheat Panko. Make sure you’re using gluten-free gochujang as well.
You can definitely do a double batch. I would use two sheets and cook them on the upper-middle and lower-middle racks in the oven. It’s important to rotate the sheets around and top to bottom to encourage even cooking.
Did you make these Korean Meatballs? Leave a comment with a star rating below!
Korean Turkey Gochujang Meatballs + Sweet & Tangy Sauce
Description
Ingredients
- 2 bunches broccolini, about 1 pound, tough ends trimmed
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- Kosher salt
- 1 bunch scallions, chopped
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup Panko, preferably whole-wheat
- 3 tablespoons gochujang, divided
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons grated fresh garlic
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 (10- to 14-ounce) bag frozen in-shell edamame
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons white or rice vinegar
- for serving, optional: cooked rice, cilantro, toasted sesame seeds and black pepper
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425ºF (218ºC).
- Toss broccolini with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt. Arrange in an even layer on baking sheet and roast 5 minutes.
- Set aside 2 tablespoons chopped scallions.
- In a large bowl, beat egg. Add remaining scallions, Panko, 1 tablespoon gochujang, ginger, garlic, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and cayenne; mix to combine. Add turkey and mix just until combined.
- Using a #24 scoop (about 2 ½ tablespoons each or 1.5 ounces), portion meat mixture into 1 ½ inch meatballs.
- Arrange meatballs on sheet around broccolini (moving broccolini to make space as needed). Roast 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add remaining teaspoon oil and ½ teaspoon salt to bag of frozen edamame; toss to coat. Pour edamame on sheet over broccolini and around meatballs. Continue roasting until meatballs are cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted in centers register 165ºF, 10–15 minutes more.
- Meanwhile for the drizzle sauce, whisk together honey, remaining 2 tablespoons gochujang, sesame oil, and vinegar.
- Serve meatballs, broccolini, and edamame with cooked long grain rice (if desired) and top with gochujang drizzle sauce and black pepper.
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Notes
Nutrition
These meatballs were addicting. The texture and seasoning were spot on. I love the amount of flavor that comes from such a relatively quick and straightforward recipe. Super satisfying.
Hi Abby! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe!!