Honey Garlic Turkey Meatball Bowls (Print)

Juicy turkey meatballs in sweet honey-garlic sauce over rice with tender broccoli

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 green onions, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
09 - 1 tbsp sesame oil

→ For the Honey Garlic Glaze

10 - 1/3 cup honey
11 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
12 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
14 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
15 - 1/4 cup water

→ For the Bowls

16 - 2 cups cooked jasmine or basmati rice
17 - 3 cups broccoli florets
18 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds, optional for garnish
19 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Prepare jasmine or basmati rice according to package instructions and set aside.
02 - Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add broccoli florets and blanch for 2-3 minutes until just tender. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, mix ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, green onions, garlic, soy sauce, salt, and pepper until just combined.
04 - Shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, creating approximately 18-20 pieces.
05 - Heat sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs in batches and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through, approximately 8-10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
06 - In the same skillet, combine honey, soy sauce, garlic, and rice vinegar. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
07 - In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir into the skillet and cook until the sauce thickens, approximately 1-2 minutes.
08 - Return the meatballs to the skillet and toss to coat them evenly in the glaze.
09 - Create a base of rice in each serving bowl, add broccoli, and top with glazed meatballs. Drizzle any extra glaze over the top and garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Turkey keeps things light but the honey-garlic glaze makes it feel genuinely indulgent, not like you're sacrificing flavor for a weeknight meal.
  • The whole bowl comes together in under an hour, which means you can make it on a Tuesday without losing your mind.
  • It's naturally dairy-free if you care about that, and honestly impressive enough to serve when people are coming over.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cornstarch slurry or your glaze will be too thin and will just run off the meatballs instead of clinging to them like it should.
  • Batch browning the meatballs takes slightly longer but actually gives you that beautiful golden crust, which is where so much of the flavor lives.
03 -
  • Make the meatballs the night before and refrigerate them so they hold their shape better when you brown them, and your actual cooking night becomes faster and less stressful.
  • The glaze is best when the meatballs are still warm, so don't let them cool completely or everything becomes less cohesive.
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