If you want bold, delicious flavor without spending much time cooking, I have a recipe for you. I make these five-spice p ork meatballs on busy weeknights—or when I just want flavor that hits! I’ll share my best tips to make sure they’re tender inside with a delicate, golden crust.
This is one of those recipes you’ll want to keep up your sleeve – and for good reason. First off, it’s so easy. It’s what I make when I don’t have time to think about dinner, let alone cook it. Second, it delivers big, bold flavor that totally satisfies. They’re versatile: you can serve them up in many different meals. Plus, as a bonus, it’s totally kid-approved. Because meatballs are fun – whether you’re feeding little ones, or just big kids at heart!
This dish is so easy yet flavorful thanks to Chinese 5-spice. Easily bought from the spice section of the supermarket, it’s perfectly balanced and tasty, so it does all the heavy lifting for you when it comes to flavor. It’s warm, aromatic, and melds into the pork so deliciously!
I make these meatballs with ingredients I often have in my kitchen, so they are easy to whip up without running to the grocery store.
Key ingredients
Filled with kitchen staples, it’s likely you can grab some pork mince on your way home then whip these up for dinner! Here are some notes on key ingredients:
- Chinese 5 spice: Guess how many spices are used in this blend? Okay, we all know its five, but what are they? Star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel seeds. You’ll find this in the spice section of most supermarkets.
- Ground pork: Naturally juicy and full of flavor, pork is ideal for these meatballs! However, I’ve also made it with ground beef and it’s also a winner.
Fun fact ⇢ The name ‘Chinese 5 spice’ doesn’t refer to the amount of spices blended in. Some mixes even have a variation on the spices! It actually refers to the five flavors: sweet, pungent, sour, salty, and bitter.
How to make five spice pork meatballs
Step 1: Preheat your oven broiler, then mix all of the meatball ingredients together.
Step 2: Gently roll them into balls, placing them on a baking sheet.
Tip ⇢ Be mindful not to overwork the mixture when making the balls. You want everything to be just combined, then loosely form them. If you pack them too tightly, they’ll be denser. Forming them gently helps keep things tender.
Step 3: Broil them until the tops darken.
Step 4: Move the baking sheet to the lower oven rack, then lower the oven temperature. Bake until fully cooked.
Tip ⇢ So why do we broil before baking them? This step might seem unnecessary, but you don’t want to skip it. The intense, direct heat helps form a golden-brown crust while the inside stays tender. It’s almost like searing meat in a skillet. Then, the baking afterwards helps ensure they’re cooked through.
Step 5: It’s time to enjoy them! I like serving them over rice with broccoli, kimchi mayo, and sliced green onions and sesame seeds to garnish.
Serving suggestions ⇢ There are many ways to enjoy these five-spice meatballs. Serve them over rice noodles with a cabbage and carrot slaw mixed in, in a salad, tuck them into lettuce wraps, or make a meatball banh-mi-inspired sandwich for a delicious fusion dish. Or, serve them as an appetizer with toothpicks and the kimchi mayo on the side.
These 5 spice meatballs take just 10 minutes of prep time, then the oven does the rest of the work for you.
I love how the broil creates a delicate crust while keeping the inside juicy. It’s so satisfying to bite into!
How to store, freeze, and reheat
Store: Wait for them to cool to room temperature, then transfer them to a covered container. You can keep them in the fridge for up to four days. Freeze: These freeze really well! Simply freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-proof bag or a sealed container, freezing them for around 3 months. Thaw them out by popping them in the refrigerator a day before you intend to reheat them. Reheat : Simply pop them back in the oven until warmed through.
Five Spice Pork Meatballs with Rice and Kimchi Mayo
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Ingredients
The Meatballs
- ▢ 1 ½ lb ground pork
- ▢ ½ cup fine breadcrumbs
- ▢ ½ cup finely minced cilantro
- ▢ 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger
- ▢ 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- ▢ 2 teaspoons five spice
- ▢ 2 green onions (finely minced)
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- ▢ 1 large egg
For serving
- ▢ Steamed or sauteed broccoli
- ▢ White rice
- ▢ Kimchi mayo
- ▢ Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Place one oven rack 4 inches from the heat source and one in the top third of your oven. Then, preheat your oven to broil. In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients. 1 ½ lb ground pork, ½ cup fine breadcrumbs, ½ cup finely minced cilantro, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger, 2 teaspoons five spice, 2 green onions, 2 cloves garlic, 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- Roll into golf ball-sized balls and place them on a baking sheet. See notes.
- Broil the meatballs for 8-10 minutes, until the tops have turned beautifully dark brown.
- Move the baking sheet to the lower oven rack and lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue to bake the meatballs for another 10-12 minutes, until they are fully cooked.
- Serve the meatballs over rice with broccoli on the side, a little kimchi mayo, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. Steamed or sauteed broccoli, White rice, Kimchi mayo, Toasted sesame seeds
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
Did you make this?
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My favorite way to enjoy them is with rice and broccoli, but you can add them to noodles, subs, or salads.
A drizzle of kimchi mayo is a beautiful way to finish off the dish.
More meatball recipes to try
Firecracker Meatballs (Just Like Hello Fresh!)
Honey Garlic Meatballs
Sweet Hoisin Meatballs
Lemongrass Vietnamese Meatballs
Five Spice Pork Meatballs with Rice and Kimchi Mayo
Ingredients
The Meatballs
- 1 ½ lb ground pork
- ½ cup fine breadcrumbs
- ½ cup finely minced cilantro
- 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons five spice
- 2 green onions , finely minced
- 2 cloves garlic , finely minced
- 1 large egg
For serving
- Steamed or sauteed broccoli
- White rice
- Kimchi mayo
- Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Place one oven rack 4 inches from the heat source and one in the top third of your oven. Then, preheat your oven to broil. In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients. 1 ½ lb ground pork, ½ cup fine breadcrumbs, ½ cup finely minced cilantro, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger, 2 teaspoons five spice, 2 green onions, 2 cloves garlic, 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- Roll into golf ball-sized balls and place them on a baking sheet. See notes.
- Broil the meatballs for 8-10 minutes, until the tops have turned beautifully dark brown.
- Move the baking sheet to the lower oven rack and lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue to bake the meatballs for another 10-12 minutes, until they are fully cooked.
- Serve the meatballs over rice with broccoli on the side, a little kimchi mayo, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. Steamed or sauteed broccoli, White rice, Kimchi mayo, Toasted sesame seeds
