Description
Delicious and easy Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs, baked to perfection and coated in a sweet and tangy homemade teriyaki sauce with fresh pineapple chunks. Perfect served over rice and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions for a flavorful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- Salt and pepper to taste
Teriyaki Sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce
- â…“ cup honey or brown sugar
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry)
- 1 cup diced pineapple (fresh or canned, drained)
To Serve
- Cooked rice
- Sesame seeds for garnish
- Chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, chopped green onions, soy sauce, ground ginger, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs and Bake: Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and arrange them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18–20 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Make Teriyaki Sauce: While the meatballs bake, combine soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- Thicken the Sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water) into the sauce and cook, stirring frequently, until it thickens to a glaze consistency.
- Coat Meatballs: Add the baked meatballs and diced pineapple to the simmering sauce. Toss gently to coat all meatballs with the teriyaki glaze and warmed pineapple chunks.
- Serve: Serve the pineapple teriyaki chicken meatballs over cooked rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and additional chopped green onions for extra flavor and color.
Notes
- You can use fresh or canned pineapple; just make sure to drain canned pineapple well before using.
- For gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce and breadcrumbs.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of honey or brown sugar in the sauce.
- Ensure meatballs are cooked through; internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
- Leftover meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
