Healthy Sweet Chili Meatballs
Juicy turkey or chicken meatballs baked and glazed with a tangy, sticky sweet chili sauce. Perfect for Super Bowl snacks, potlucks, or healthy weeknight dinners—these meatballs are easy, crowd-pleasing, and packed with bold flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4-5 servings (about 18-20 meatballs) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground turkey or chicken
- 1/2 cup rolled oats, finely ground
- 1 large egg
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated (or 1 tsp ground ginger)
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp water
- Pinch of chili flakes (optional)
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Extra green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey or chicken, oats, egg, garlic, ginger, green onions, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Portion mixture into 18-20 balls using a cookie scoop or tablespoon. Roll gently and place on baking sheet, spaced 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Rotate tray halfway for even cooking.
- While meatballs bake, combine sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, honey or maple syrup, soy sauce, and chili flakes in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat.
- Stir in cornstarch slurry and simmer until glaze is thickened and glossy, about 2-3 minutes. Add a splash of water if too thick.
- Remove meatballs from oven. Brush generously with glaze, then broil on high for 2-3 minutes until glaze bubbles and caramelizes. Watch closely.
- Transfer meatballs to serving platter. Garnish with cilantro, green onions, and sesame seeds. Serve hot with extra glaze for dipping.
Notes
For gluten-free, use tamari and certified gluten-free oats or almond flour. For vegetarian, use plant-based ground and flaxseed meal instead of egg. Watch the broil step closely to avoid burning the glaze. Let meatballs rest 2 minutes before serving for best texture. Leftovers keep 4 days in the fridge or 2 months frozen.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 meatballs
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 15
Keywords: sweet chili meatballs, healthy meatballs, Super Bowl snacks, turkey meatballs, chicken meatballs, gluten-free, dairy-free, appetizer, party food, easy recipe