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Change up your appetizers with my new favorite Cocktail Meatballs Recipe! With a savory twist from hoisin sauce, these Asian-inspired cocktail meatballs are simple and easy and are the first to go on a party platter every time! Or whip up some sides, and make it a delicious and filling meal.
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Party Meatballs
There's nothing quite as satisfying on a party platter as a big plate of sticky glazed meatballs! I've tried my fair share of cocktail meatballs in my time, but it's only when I started branching out into making hoisin meatballs that I realized I could put the two together.
The end result: savory cocktail meatballs that are flavor-packed with an incredible Hoisin twist! By using chopped up water chestnuts and panko, these hoisin glazed meatballs are ultra tender and have the perfect chew. And the inclusion of hoisin sauce in the meat itself means they're loaded with flavor!
Not planning a party? They make an amazing entree too! Serve them up with extra hoisin sauce over rice and your favorite steamed vegetables, and freeze what you don't need for easy meals at the drop of a hat.
Asian Meatballs Recipe Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Water chestnuts
- Green onions
- Parsley
- Hoisin sauce
- Egg
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
What is hoisin sauce?
Hoisin is a thick, fragrant sauce using fermented soybean paste mixed with spices and other add-ins, with a sweet and salty flavor and a complex finish. It originates with Cantonese cuisine, and is a popular sauce in Chinese or Chinese-inspired dishes for heavy, rich flavors like pork and beef.
Cocktail Meatballs Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F, then line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. While the oven preheats, add all the ingredients to a large bowl aside from the oil and 1 tablespoon of green onions.
- Mix the meatball mixture with a spoon or clean hands until fully integrated.
- Using a Tablespoon measure, spoon out 2 Tablespoons of meatball mixture at a time and roll into a ball. If they don't roll well, add more panko. Place the meatballs on the baking sheet.
- Brush the tops of the raw meatballs with olive oil using a pastry brush.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven, and bake for 25-30 minutes until browned and the interior reaches 160°F.
- Remove from the oven, brush with more sauce, and serve! Mix Hoisin sauce with a little water for a tasty dip, if desired.
Party Meatballs FAQs
Asian meatballs are typically made of a beef and pork blend, with panko and chopped water chestnuts as the filler ingredients. By using panko and water chestnuts, the meat stays extra fluffy and light even after being cooked!
When you're serving meatballs as a party appetizer, the serving size is 4 meatballs per person. This recipe makes 16 meatballs, so enough for a family of 4. Expect to make a double batch for larger gatherings, or be on the safe side and triple it. Trust me, these meatballs go fast!
Panko breadcrumbs can be found in gluten free varieties at most grocery stores. However, these Hoisin meatballs use Hoisin sauce, which includes soy sauce and flour- both sources of gluten. To make this recipe gluten free, you will need gluten-free hoisin sauce.
Asian Meatballs Recipe Tips
- If you're making these meatballs as a party appetizer, make them half-size with only one Tablespoon of mix per meatball.
- These meatballs are make-ahead friendly! Just roll them out and freeze them on a baking sheet for 3-4 hours, then transfer them to a bag or sealed container. They will last 2-3 months and can be cooked from frozen- just check the interior temperature carefully and add more time!
- Make sure you use panko breadcrumbs! They look similar to regular, but are fluffier and lighter in texture, making for a less dense meatball.
- To make this appetizer into an incredible dinner, just serve it up with extra sauce, white rice, and your favorite vegetables! I love adding stir fried onions, peppers, mushrooms and broccoli.
Best Meatball Recipes
- Instant Pot Meatballs
- Swedish Meatballs Recipe
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Honey Sriracha Meatballs
- Italian Meatballs
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📋 Recipe
Cocktail Meatballs
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- ½ lb. Ground beef
- ½ lb. Ground pork sausage
- 1¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup Water chestnuts drained and chopped
- ½ cup Green onions thinly sliced, leave aside 1 Tablespoon garnish
- ¼ cup Parsley chopped
- ¼ cup Hoisin sauce
- 1 Egg
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons Ginger grated
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F, then line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. While the oven preheats, add all the ingredients to a large bowl aside from the oil and 1 tablespoon of green onions.½ lb. Ground beef, ½ lb. Ground pork sausage, 1¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup Water chestnuts, ½ cup Green onions, ¼ cup Parsley, ¼ cup Hoisin sauce, 1 Egg, 3 cloves Garlic, 2 Tablespoons Ginger, ¼ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- Mix the meatball mixture with a spoon or clean hands until fully integrated.
- Using a Tablespoon measure, spoon our 2 Tablespoons of meatball mixture at a time and roll into a ball. If they don't roll well, add more panko. Place the meatballs on the baking sheet.
- Brush the tops of the raw meatballs with olive oil using a pastry brush.1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- Place the baking sheet in the oven, and bake for 25-30 minutes until browned and the interior reaches 160°F.
- Remove from the oven, brush with more sauce, and serve! Mix ¼ cup Hoisin sauce with 3 Tablespoons water for a tasty dip, if desired.
Notes
- If you're making these meatballs as a party appetizer, make them half-size with only one Tablespoon of mix per meatball.
- These meatballs are make-ahead friendly! Just roll them out and freeze them on a baking sheet for 3-4 hours, then transfer them to a bag or sealed container. They will last 2-3 months and can be cooked from frozen- just check the interior temperature carefully and add more time!
- Make sure you use panko breadcrumbs! They look similar to regular, but are fluffier and lighter in texture, making for a less dense meatball.
- To make this appetizer into an incredible dinner, just serve it up with extra sauce, white rice, and your favorite vegetables! I love adding stir fried onions, peppers, mushrooms and broccoli.
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