Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs are the perfect mix of sweet, savory, and just a little sticky. They’re air fried until golden, then tossed in a garlicky honey-soy glaze that clings to every bite. These meatballs are crowd-pleasers and easy to pull off, which makes them a solid go-to for game day spreads, casual get-togethers, or quick weeknight dinners.
The honey garlic glaze is sticky enough to coat without making a mess, and you can garnish them with sesame seeds and green onions to make them look as good as they taste.
Helpful Tips
- Keep them the same size: This helps them cook evenly. A tablespoon or cookie scoop works great for portioning.
- Air fryer spacing matters: Don’t crowd the basket. Give each meatball a little space so they cook and brown properly.
- Sauce control: Let the sauce simmer just until thickened, then coat the meatballs right before serving to keep everything glossy and fresh.
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Honey Garlic Meatballs
Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs are the perfect mix of sweet, savory, and just a little sticky.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the sauce:
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce less sodium
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + water
- Sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, green onion, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Mix gently just just combined. Don’t overmix, or the meatballs can turn tough.
- Roll into 1-inch meatballs and place them in the air fryer basket. Make sure they aren’t touching. Cook them at 380° F for 8 minutes or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Shake the basket half way.
- In a skillet, combine honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar and sesame oil. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer until glossy and slightly thickened.
- Add the cooked meatballs to the skillet and toss until fully coated in the sticky sauce.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onion for garnish.
Notes
- Oven directions: Bake at 400°F for 18-20 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 179kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 10gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 169mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 48IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
When not mixing up delicious cocktails to enjoy on the patio with friends, Angela is busy writing about food and drinks for three popular food websites, and exchanging creative ideas on social media.