Honey Garlic Meatball Rice

Create a complete one-bowl meal with this satisfying honey garlic meatball rice that combines tender, juicy meatballs with fluffy rice in a sweet and savory glaze. This family-friendly dish features perfectly seasoned meatballs nestled over steamed rice and coated in a glossy honey garlic sauce that brings everything together. Ready in under 45 minutes, this honey garlic meatball rice delivers restaurant-quality flavors with simple pantry ingredients.

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Servings: 4-6 people
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Rice:

• 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice
• 2 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Meatballs:

• 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil for frying

For the Honey Garlic Sauce:

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon butter

For Garnish:

• 3 green onions, sliced thin
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
• Fresh cilantro leaves
• Lime wedges for serving

Instructions

1. Start the rice: Rinse jasmine rice in cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, chicken broth, butter, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
2. Prepare meatball mixture: In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs with milk and let soak for 5 minutes until softened. In a large mixing bowl, gently combine ground beef, ground pork, soaked breadcrumbs, beaten egg, minced garlic, diced onion, salt, pepper, and ground ginger until just mixed. Avoid overmixing to maintain tender meatballs.
3. Form the meatballs: Using damp hands, roll the mixture into 20-24 meatballs, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. Place formed meatballs on a plate and set aside while preparing the sauce.
4. Make honey garlic sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes until well combined. In a separate small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water until smooth, then add to the honey mixture.
5. Brown the meatballs: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, brown meatballs on all sides, about 6-8 minutes total. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate and set aside.
6. Cook the sauce: In the same skillet, pour the honey garlic sauce mixture and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
7. Combine meatballs and sauce: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet with the thickened sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8-10 minutes, turning meatballs occasionally, until they’re cooked through (internal temperature of 160°F) and well-coated with sauce.
8. Finish the sauce: Remove from heat and stir in the tablespoon of butter for extra richness and shine. The honey garlic sauce should coat the meatballs beautifully and have a glossy appearance.
9. Assemble the dish: Divide the fluffy rice among serving bowls. Top each portion with 4-5 honey garlic meatballs and generous spoonfuls of the remaining sauce from the pan.
10. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle each bowl with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for added brightness.

Tips for Success

Perfect meatball texture: The combination of beef and pork creates the ideal balance of flavor and tenderness in your honey garlic meatball rice. Don’t skip the milk-soaked breadcrumbs – they keep meatballs moist and prevent them from becoming dense.

Browning technique: Proper browning creates a flavorful crust that helps meatballs hold their shape during simmering. Resist the urge to move them too early – let each side develop a golden-brown color before turning.

Sauce consistency: The honey garlic sauce should coat the back of a spoon when properly thickened. If too thin, simmer an additional minute. If too thick, add a tablespoon of chicken broth or water.

Rice timing: Start the rice first since it needs the full cooking time. This timing ensures everything finishes simultaneously for the freshest honey garlic meatball rice experience.

Recipe Variations

Asian Fusion Style: Add 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce to the honey garlic mixture and serve over fried rice instead of steamed rice for an elevated twist on this honey garlic meatball rice.

Spicy Version: Increase red pepper flakes to 1 teaspoon and add 1 tablespoon of sriracha to the sauce for those who prefer more heat in their meal.

Vegetable Addition: Include diced bell peppers, snap peas, or broccoli florets during the final 5 minutes of meatball cooking for added nutrition and color.

Turkey Meatball Option: Substitute ground turkey for the beef and pork combination, adding an extra tablespoon of olive oil to prevent dryness in the leaner meat.

Pineapple Twist: Add 1/2 cup of diced fresh pineapple to the sauce during the last 3 minutes of cooking for a sweet and tangy Hawaiian-inspired variation.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerator storage: Store leftover honey garlic meatball rice in separate containers – meatballs with sauce in one container, rice in another – for up to 4 days. This prevents the rice from absorbing too much sauce and becoming mushy.

Freezing guidelines: Freeze cooked meatballs and sauce for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers. Cook fresh rice when ready to serve, as rice doesn’t freeze well in this dish.

Reheating methods: Reheat meatballs and sauce in a covered skillet over medium-low heat, adding 2-3 tablespoons of water if needed. Microwave rice separately with a damp paper towel covering for 1-2 minutes until heated through.

Nutritional Highlights

This honey garlic meatball rice provides a balanced meal with approximately 480 calories per serving. The combination of ground beef and pork delivers high-quality protein and essential B vitamins, while jasmine rice provides energy-sustaining carbohydrates.

The honey garlic sauce adds natural sweetness without refined sugars, and the inclusion of ginger and garlic provides anti-inflammatory compounds. Each serving contains roughly 28 grams of protein, making it a satisfying meal that keeps you full for hours.

Make-Ahead and Meal Prep Tips

This honey garlic meatball rice is perfect for meal prep since the flavors improve after a day in the refrigerator. Form meatballs up to one day ahead and store covered in the refrigerator until ready to cook. The sauce can also be prepared in advance and stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

For busy weeknight dinners, brown the meatballs and prepare the sauce on Sunday, then simply combine and simmer when ready to eat. Cook fresh rice each time for the best texture and flavor in your honey garlic meatball rice.

Serving Suggestions

This complete meal needs little accompaniment, but consider serving with steamed vegetables like bok choy or green beans for added nutrition. A simple cucumber salad with rice vinegar dressing provides a refreshing contrast to the rich honey garlic flavors.

For entertaining, present the honey garlic meatball rice in individual bowls with chopsticks alongside forks for an authentic Asian dining experience. The dish pairs wonderfully with jasmine tea or a light beer to balance the sweet and savory elements.

Cooking Technique Tips

Meatball uniformity: Use a small ice cream scoop or cookie scoop to ensure evenly sized meatballs that cook at the same rate. This professional technique guarantees consistent results in your honey garlic meatball rice.

Sauce development: Allow the sauce to come to a proper simmer before adding the meatballs back. This ensures the cornstarch activates fully and creates that signature glossy coating that makes this dish so appealing.

Temperature control: Keep heat at medium-low during the final simmering stage to prevent the honey from burning while ensuring meatballs cook through completely.

This honey garlic meatball rice recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal that satisfies both adults and children. The perfect balance of sweet honey, savory garlic, and tender meatballs over fluffy rice creates a comforting dish that’s destined to become a family favorite.