Pineapple Chicken or Turkey Meatballs (Print version)
Tender chicken or turkey meatballs in a sweet and tangy pineapple sauce, ready in under an hour.
# What you'll need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 1 lb ground chicken or turkey
02 - 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 green onions, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
07 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Pineapple Sauce
10 - 1 cup pineapple juice
11 - 1/2 cup water
12 - 1/3 cup brown sugar
13 - 1/3 cup soy sauce
14 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
15 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
16 - 1 can pineapple chunks (8 oz), drained
17 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
18 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
19 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray.
02 - Combine ground chicken or turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Mix gently until just combined, avoiding overworking the meat.
03 - Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and arrange on the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly for consistent cooking.
04 - Bake for 15-18 minutes until cooked through and lightly golden on the exterior. An instant-read thermometer should register 165°F when inserted into the center.
05 - Whisk together pineapple juice, water, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch in a small bowl until completely smooth and dissolved.
06 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté red bell pepper for 2 minutes, then add pineapple chunks and cook for an additional 2 minutes until slightly softened.
07 - Pour the pineapple sauce mixture into the skillet. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, approximately 3-4 minutes.
08 - Add baked meatballs to the thickened sauce and toss gently to coat evenly. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until heated through. Serve immediately over steamed rice, garnished with additional green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
# Expert suggestions:
01 -
- The sauce strikes that perfect balance between sweet pineapple and savory soy that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
- Baking the meatballs first means they stay juicy while getting that gorgeous golden crust
02 -
- Overmixing the meatball mixture makes them tough so mix until ingredients just come together
- The sauce continues thickening off the heat so do not overreduce it in the pan
03 -
- Reserving the juice from your pineapple can gives you the most authentic pineapple flavor
- Let meatballs rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after baking so they hold together better when tossed in sauce