I don’t know about you, but I crave Sesame Chicken (or some variation of it) like once a week. It’s one of my ultimate comfort foods (so much so that I’ve already made a healthier version of it). Frankly, that love of Sesame Chicken coupled with accidentally buying ground chicken instead lead me to create these Sesame Chicken Meatballs. Talk about a happy accident – because these are GOOD. They’re made with a few simple ingredients, cooked in the air fryer, and tossed in a sweet, spicy sesame sauce. I serve them with broccoli and rice for a perfect weeknight meal.
![Sesame Chicken Meatballs](https://foodbythegram.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/DABC3602-6398-467D-997E-1D3189FB64C7-44565-00000D010CE650C2-1024x683.jpg)
Making Sesame Chicken Meatballs
These meatballs are perfect for weeknight meal prep because they’re truly a cinch to make. Mix em up, pop em in the air fryer, toss them in the sauce and enjoy.
For the meatballs, you’ll need:
- Lean ground chicken
- 1 egg to hold it all together
- Breadcrumbs, which will make these moist since the chicken is so lean
- Chopped scallions and fresh ginger for flavor and salt and pepper to taste
![](https://foodbythegram.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/502CF373-B04A-49F6-AD7F-5A52C1585A9E-44565-00000CFDEEDA75A4-1024x683.jpg)
You’ll combine everything in a bowl, and then using wet hands, shape your meatballs (roughly 1.5 inches across, should make 12). Spray your air fryer tray well and air fry at 370 for 14-16 minutes, until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165F (I always use a meat thermometer to check).
A lighter sesame sauce
For the sauce, you’ll combine:
- Sweet Thai chili sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- Sriracha
- Fresh ginger, grated finely
- Garlic (fresh!)
- Cornstarch to thicken it
- Honey to sweeten it
- A bit of water to thin it out
Mix everything except for the corn star and water in a small saucepan and put over medium heat. Mix cornstarch into water until fully dissolved and add into sauce. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until thick and bubbling.
![Sesame Chicken Meatballs](https://foodbythegram.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/FC6D18F2-3688-49E1-9DF3-3378803772D3-44565-00000D0186E3A781-1024x683.jpg)
Toss your meatballs in the sauce and serve with rice and vegetables for a delicious, filling meal. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. I prefer to store the meatballs and sauce separately and reheat as I go!
![Sesame Chicken Meatballs](https://foodbythegram.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/977F4D16-4F49-4BE6-AADB-555F4C78853D-44565-00000D0207DDC556-500x500.jpg)
Sesame Chicken Meatballs
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Small Saucepan
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground chicken
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs plain
- 2 tbsp scallions chopped
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce
- 2.5 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 tsp sriracha
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tsp sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 370F if needed. Combine meatball ingredients in a bowl and mix together well. Using wet hands, form into 12 even meatballs. Spray air fryer tray well, spray top of meatballs, and air fry at 370 for 14-16 minutes, until the internal temperature of the meatballs reached 165F.
- While meatballs cook, combine all sauce ingredients except for cornstarch and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Mix cornstarch and water until cornstarch is dissolved and add mixture to sauce. Stir together and stir sauce over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, until thick and bubbling.
- Once meatballs are cooked, toss in sauce to coat and top with extra sesame seeds and chopped scallions for garnish. Serve with steamed broccoli and rice for a delicious meal!
8 thoughts on “Sesame Chicken Meatballs”
So good!
One of my faves, too!
Made these as an appetizer, so instead of 12 meatballs, I made around 22 smaller ones and kept an eye on the cook time since they were smaller and cooked more quickly. These were definitely a hit! The sauce had a nice little kick to it that everyone enjoyed. Would definitely make again.
Love the idea of mini meatballs as an appetizer – glad to hear they were popular! 🙂
So delish! Quick and easy recipe!! Can’t wait to make again.
So glad you liked them! 🙂
A+ from the adults and kid/toddler approved (sauce on the side)!
So glad to hear this was a hit!