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Sweet Chili Sauce Turkey Meatballs Recipe

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3.9 from 12 reviews

These juicy turkey meatballs are infused with vibrant Thai flavors including garlic, fresh ginger, cilantro, and chives. They are seared to perfection and then simmered or baked in a deliciously tangy and slightly spicy sweet chili sauce, creating a perfect appetizer or main course that’s both gluten-free and bursting with flavor.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings (about 30-36 meatballs)

Ingredients

Turkey Meatballs:

  • 2 lbs ground turkey (93/7% lean)
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 6 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 2 tsp fresh grated ginger
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 oz sliced bread (about 1-2 slices depending on bread type)
  • 2 tbsp milk to soak the bread
  • 1 tsp coarse salt (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tbsp cilantro, minced
  • 1/2 cup chives, diced

Sweet Chili Sauce:

  • 12 oz sweet chili sauce
  • 1 lime, juice only
  • 1 tbsp cilantro, minced
  • 2 tbsp chives, diced
  • 1/2-1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Sweet Chili Sauce: Whisk together the sweet chili sauce, lime juice, minced cilantro, diced chives, and crushed red pepper flakes in a bowl and set aside for later use.
  2. Prepare the Bread: Soak the sliced bread in milk, then squeeze out all excess milk and discard it. Crumble the soaked bread into the meatball mixture to help keep them moist.
  3. Make the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, minced onion, pressed garlic, grated ginger, eggs, crumbled bread, coarse salt, crushed red pepper flakes, minced cilantro, and diced chives. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute all ingredients.
  4. Shape the Meatballs: Use a #40 cookie scoop or similar to portion the meat mixture evenly. Grease your hands lightly with oil to prevent sticking and roll the mixture into uniform meatballs. Place them on a parchment paper-lined tray. Shape all meatballs before cooking.
  5. Sear the Meatballs: Heat a large oven-safe pan over medium heat and add a bit of oil. Add the meatballs and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, allowing them to develop a nice golden-brown sear.
  6. Add the Sweet Chili Sauce: Pour the prepared sweet chili sauce over the seared meatballs and gently shake the pan to coat the meatballs evenly with the sauce.
  7. Finish Cooking in the Oven (Optional): Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the oven-safe pan with meatballs and sauce into the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until cooked through.
  8. Finish Cooking on the Stovetop (Alternative): Lower the heat to medium-low and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer the meatballs gently in the sauce for about 15 minutes, ensuring the sauce barely simmers to avoid overcooking.

Notes

  • Using a #40 cookie scoop helps achieve uniform meatballs that cook evenly.
  • If you don’t have an oven-safe pan, transfer meatballs and sauce to a baking dish before placing in the oven.
  • Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to taste to control the spice level.
  • For best texture, make sure to squeeze all excess milk from the soaked bread before mixing.
  • This recipe is naturally gluten-free if using gluten-free bread.
  • Ground turkey 93/7% lean helps keep meatballs juicy without excess fat.
  • Author: Daisy
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Find it online: https://dishiary.com/sweet-chili-sauce-turkey-meatballs-recipe/