Sweet Chili Meatballs

5 from 2 votes

These sweet chili meatballs are crispy, juicy, and packed with bold flavors! Try this easy meatball recipe for a delicious meal or appetizer.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack, Dinner, Holiday

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: Chicken, sweet and spicy sauce, meatballs, sheet pan chicken, spicy meatballs, sweet chili meatballs

Servings:

Calories: 463kcal

Author: Renae Gerhardstein

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

1 pound ground chicken (can substitute with ground turkey)
1 large egg
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon grated garlic
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon sesame oil

For the Sauce

½ cup sweet chili sauce
1 piece lime juiced
1-2 tablespoons water as needed to thin the sauce
Sliced green onion cilantro, and/or sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions

For the Meatballs

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Add the ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, minced cilantro, grated garlic, and grated ginger to a large bowl. Gently mix until well combined.
Drizzle the sesame oil over a large sheet pan and rub it over the pan with your hands (coating your hands with oil will prevent the chicken from sticking).
Portion the chicken into golf ball sized portions (about 1.5 tablespoons) and roll them into smooth balls. Place the meatballs at least 1” apart on the oiled baking sheet.
Bake the meatballs for 15-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature registers 165°F.

For the Sauce

Add the sweet chili sauce, lime juice, and 1 tablespoon of water to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
If the sauce is not thin and pourable, add another tablespoon of water.
Add the hot chicken meatballs to the sauce and toss to combine.
Enjoy garnished with green onion, cilantro, or sesame seeds.
To make this a meal, serve it over rice with your favorite vegetables on the side.

Notes

For the best sweet chili meatballs, let them simmer in the sweet chili sauce for a few extra minutes after cooking, this helps them soak up all that bold, sweet, and spicy flavor!

Want an even crispier texture? Bake them on a wire rack over a baking sheet for better airflow and even browning.

For the best results, do not use extra lean ground turkey.

Recipe Variations

To make these sweet and sour meatballs with chili sauce gluten-free, swap out the panko breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs and use a gluten-free soy sauce.
For extra heat, add a teaspoon (or more) of sriracha sauce or chili flakes to the sweet chili sauce mixture.
You can also dip chicken tenders or strips and Bisquick baked chicken strips into this sweet chili sauce.

Storing Instructions

The meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Then the sweet chili sauce will last in the fridge for up to one week.

Nutrition