Description
Sticky Korean BBQ Meatballs with Gochujang Glaze are a bold and flavorful dinner idea that blends spicy, sweet, and umami all in one bite. Tender meatballs are glazed in a Korean-style sauce made with gochujang, honey, and soy sauce, then topped with green onions and sesame seeds. Perfect over rice, in lettuce wraps, or served as appetizers.
Ingredients
1 pound ground pork or beef
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 green onions, finely chopped (plus extra for garnish)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 egg
3 tablespoons gochujang
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for searing)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
2 tablespoons water (to thin the glaze)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix together ground pork or beef, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, green onions, panko, and egg. Combine just until everything comes together.
2. Roll into 1.5-inch balls. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear meatballs in batches until browned and mostly cooked through (6–8 minutes). Set aside.
3. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and water. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Return meatballs to the pan and toss in glaze. Simmer for 3–5 minutes until fully cooked and well-coated.
5. Top with more green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot with rice, lettuce wraps, or as an appetizer.
Notes
For less spice, reduce gochujang to 1–2 tablespoons and increase honey.
To bake instead of fry, cook meatballs at 400°F for 15–18 minutes.
Glaze can be prepped up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Korean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: gochujang meatballs, sticky Korean meatballs, Asian dinner, party appetizer