Pineapple Chicken Turkey Meatballs (Printer-friendly)
Tender meatballs in sweet pineapple sauce. Perfect appetizer or main dish over rice for an easy meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 1 lb ground chicken or turkey
02 - 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 green onions, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
07 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Pineapple Sauce
10 - 1 cup pineapple juice
11 - 1/2 cup water
12 - 1/3 cup brown sugar
13 - 1/3 cup soy sauce
14 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
15 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
16 - 1 can (8 oz) pineapple chunks, drained
17 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
18 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
19 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Combine ground chicken or turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix until just combined.
03 - Roll mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place on prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 15-18 minutes until cooked through and lightly golden.
05 - Whisk together pineapple juice, water, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch until smooth.
06 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté red bell pepper for 2 minutes. Add pineapple chunks and cook 2 more minutes.
07 - Pour pineapple sauce mixture into skillet. Bring to simmer, stirring constantly until thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
08 - Add baked meatballs to sauce and toss gently to coat. Simmer 2-3 minutes to heat through. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce thickens into this gorgeous glossy coating that clings to every single meatball
- They reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if they even last that long
02 -
- Letting the meatballs rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before saucing keeps them from falling apart
- The sauce continues thickening off heat, so dont let it get too thick in the pan
03 -
- Use wet hands when shaping meatballs to prevent sticking
- The sauce is ready when it coats the back of a spoon and leaves a clear trail