Flavorful 20 minute Chinese pork meatballs are fresh, fast take on dinner. This savory Asian inspired pork meatball recipe is the perfect combination of salty, a little sweet, and mildly spicy. It’s sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. With satisfying notes of ginger and garlic balanced out by a hint of sweetness, these Asian meatballs make a delightful dinner entree or an appealing appetizer option for entertaining.
I wish we could have takeout so much more often than we do. Because mom life has me burning the candle at both ends and sometimes I just run out of ideas for feeding my bunch. Well, ideas and sometimes time and motivation to come up with easy dinners everyone will eat.
The nights I’m really at my wit’s end, I don’t mind ordering in. But takeout for a family with four growing, hungry boys gets expensive fast. So I prefer to do it only in emergency mom burnout situations.
For every other time? I look for takeout inspired meals that I know my kids will love and I can get on the table in less than 30 minutes like these 20 minute Chinese pork meatballs.
These ground pork meatballs are so fast and easy. They are on the table before takeout is ready. And you can control exactly what goes into it so you don’t have to worry about the meatballs being too spicy or salty.
You can adjust everything to suit your family’s tastes. If they aren’t huge on ginger, no big deal, cut down on the amount. They like things more garlicky? Great! Add extra. Not fans of spicy food? Add less chili oil.
Simple Sides To Pair With These Meatballs:
Also another big win for these 20 minute Chinese pork meatballs? They are easier to make than it is to put 4 kids in the car to go pick up takeout.
All you have to do, is add the meatball ingredients with the exception of peanut oil to a bowl and mix. Then you roll the mixture into balls and cook the meatballs in a skillet with peanut oil heated over medium heat.
And to make the sauce? It’s just as easy. You just add all the ingredients for the sweet, savory, spicy sauce to a bowl and stir it together until it thickens slightly.
Then toss the meatballs in the sauce and you are done. Serve over rice or with steamed veggies for a dinner everyone would love. Or bring these Chinese pork meatballs out as an easy appetizer the next time you entertain.
Other Asian Inspired Meals To Try:
- Crispy Shrimp with Candied Walnuts
- Copy Cat Panda Express Fried Rice
- Crispy Honey Chicken
- Singapore Rice Noodle
- Egg Roll Bowl
20 Minute Chinese Pork Meatballs
Ingredients
For The Meatballs
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 2 pinches ground pepper
- 1/4 cup peanut oil
For The Sauce
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili oil
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Green onions or chives for garnish
Instructions
To Make The Meatballs
- In a large bowl, combine the pork, cornstarch, ginger,garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, five-spice powder, and pepper, and mix well. Roll the pork mixture into tablespoon sized meatballs. In a skillet heat the peanut oil over medium heat. Cook the meatballs in batches for about 4-6 minutes, flipping every 2 minutes.
To Make The Sauce
- Combine all ingredients except garnish in a small mixing bowl and stir to mix well. Pour the mixture into the skillet with the meatballs, stirring until sauce slightly thickens. Remove from heat and garnish as desired.
Really it’s such a delicious meal, it’s not surprising that meatballs are enjoyed all over the world in a number of ways.
Delicious, followed recipe but too salty and I used low sodium soy sauce.
Great recipe! I always prefer to cook meatballs in the oven as they keep their shape and I don’t use any oil as I find the pork releases enough.
Way too salty…But flavor is great, agree with cooking meatballs in oven instead of frying. Actually made with turkey and were great. Low sodium soy sauce, fish sauce is super salty as well.