These sweet and sticky hoisin meatballs make a great appetizer for a party. Or you can easily have them over rice or noodles as a main dish. The sweet, tangy combo is loved by one and all!
These hoisin meatballs are the kind of dish you make once and immediately add to your “why don’t I make this every week?” list. They’re tender, juicy, and coated in a glossy hoisin glaze that’s sweet, savory, and totally irresistible. Every time the sauce bubbles down and clings to the meatballs, it feels like kitchen magic.
To keep the texture soft and delicate, the meatballs are made with almond flour instead of breadcrumbs. It melts right into the mixture, giving the meatballs a subtle nuttiness and helping them hold together beautifully. The result is a tender bite that still has plenty of structure — no dry or crumbly meatballs here.
And the best part? They taste like you fussed over them, but they’re shockingly simple to make. Pile them over rice, tuck them into lettuce cups, or set out a platter with toothpicks for a crowd. However you serve them, they disappear fast — there’s just something about that sticky hoisin glaze that keeps everyone coming back for more.
What to serve with hoisin meatballs
Pull out your toothpicks and serve these as an appy, eat them as a protein-packed snack, or use them to compliment a perfect weeknight family meal – no matter what, you’ll have an instant hit on your hands!
Here are some ideas of what to serve with hoisin meatballs:
If serving as an appy :
- Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Bang Bang Cauliflower
- Edamame Hummus with chips, veggies or pita
If serving as part of a complete meal :
- Roasted Broccoli or steamed broccoli are nice on the side
- Ginger Rice or Coconut Rice
- Soy Ginger Noodles
What meat can I use for hoisin meatballs?
This hoisin sauce meatball recipe is quite versatile. The recipe calls for ground pork and ground beef, although you can do all ground beef, ground turkey, or make chicken meatballs.
What does hoisin sauce taste like?
Hoisin sauce is sweet, salty, and tangy. It’s made from fermented soybean paste and has a similar consistency to BBQ sauce.
How do I make hoisin meatballs ahead of time?
You can prepare and bake the meatballs ahead of time, as well as prepare the sauce. Store them separately until you’re ready to serve.
Hoisin Meatballs Recipe
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Ingredients
Meatballs
- ▢ 1 lb ground pork
- ▢ 1 lb ground beef
- ▢ 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- ▢ 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- ▢ 2 tablespoons ginger (finely minced)
- ▢ 6 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- ▢ 2 large eggs
- ▢ 1 cup almond flour (can sub quick oats or breadcrumbs)
The Sauce
- ▢ 1 cup hoisin sauce (gluten-free if needed )
- ▢ ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons ginger
- ▢ 3 cloves garlic
- ▢ 1 tablespoon soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ▢ Sesame seeds and green onions (to serve)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl and mix them together well. 1 lb ground pork, 1 lb ground beef, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons ginger, 6 cloves garlic, 2 large eggs, 1 cup almond flour
- Use a large cookie scoop to portion out the meatballs then roll them into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs in the oven for 18-24 minutes, or until they have browned and are cooked through. If you have an instant-read meat thermometer, it should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare the sauce. Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium-sized pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. 1 cup hoisin sauce, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons ginger, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- When the meatballs are cooked, remove them from the oven, put them into a large mixing bowl, and pour the sauce over top. Gently stir them around until they are coated.
- Serve the meatballs topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and some sliced green onions. Sesame seeds and green onions
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Hoisin Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce , gluten-free if needed
- 2 tablespoons ginger , finely minced
- 6 cloves garlic , finely minced
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup almond flour , can sub quick oats or breadcrumbs
The Sauce
- 1 cup hoisin sauce , gluten-free if needed
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons ginger
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce , gluten-free if needed
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- Sesame seeds and green onions , to serve
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl and mix them together well. 1 lb ground pork, 1 lb ground beef, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons ginger, 6 cloves garlic, 2 large eggs, 1 cup almond flour
- Use a large cookie scoop to portion out the meatballs then roll them into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs in the oven for 18-24 minutes, or until they have browned and are cooked through. If you have an instant-read meat thermometer, it should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare the sauce. Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium-sized pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. 1 cup hoisin sauce, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons ginger, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- When the meatballs are cooked, remove them from the oven, put them into a large mixing bowl, and pour the sauce over top. Gently stir them around until they are coated.
- Serve the meatballs topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and some sliced green onions. Sesame seeds and green onions
