Description
Sweet & Spicy Sesame Chicken Meatball Bowls feature tender chicken meatballs glazed with a flavorful sweet and spicy ginger sesame sauce, paired with crispy sautéed broccoli and served over your choice of rice. This protein-packed, comforting dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and can be customized with your favorite garnishes like scallions, cilantro, and chopped peanuts.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet and Spicy Ginger Sesame Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon red chili paste (such as sambal oelek)
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 1 teaspoon arrowroot starch (or cornstarch)
For the Meatballs
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 pound lean ground chicken (or substitute ground turkey)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup panko or gluten free breadcrumbs
- 2 green onions, finely diced (about ¼ cup green onion)
- ½ cup finely diced cilantro
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Broccoli
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 3-4 cups broccoli florets
For Serving
- Coconut rice or brown rice
- Scallions
- Cilantro
- Chopped roasted peanuts
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, water, sesame oil, sesame seeds, red chili paste, fresh grated ginger, minced garlic, brown sugar, and arrowroot (or cornstarch) until fully combined and set aside.
- Make the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, finely diced green onions, cilantro, minced garlic, fresh grated ginger, cayenne pepper, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly using clean hands until well combined, then form into 16 golf ball-sized meatballs.
- Cook the Meatballs: Heat a large deep skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil. Add the meatballs in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding. Brown the meatballs on all sides and cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), about 10-12 minutes total. Transfer cooked meatballs to a plate and set aside, keeping the skillet heat on.
- Cook the Broccoli: Wipe the skillet clean and add 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil. Add broccoli florets and cook, stirring frequently, for 6-8 minutes until broccoli is slightly tender but still crisp with some golden charred spots.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Return the cooked meatballs to the skillet with the broccoli. Pour the prepared sauce over them and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2-5 minutes, stirring occasionally to coat everything evenly.
- Serve: Spoon the meatball and broccoli mixture over coconut or brown rice and garnish with chopped scallions, cilantro, and chopped roasted peanuts as desired. Enjoy your flavorful sesame chicken meatball bowl!
Notes
- These sesame chicken meatballs are protein-packed and perfect for a quick, satisfying weeknight dinner.
- You can customize the bowls with your favorite sides such as quinoa or cauliflower rice for different dietary needs.
- For gluten-free options, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.
- Adjust the spiciness by varying the amount of red chili paste or using a milder chili sauce.
- Leftover meatballs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (meatballs & broccoli)
- Calories: 309 kcal
- Sugar: 6.6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 14.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18.3 g
- Fiber: 2.4 g
- Protein: 28.1 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
