Firecracker Chicken Meatballs (Printable)
Juicy chicken meatballs in a sweet, spicy, tangy sauce. Perfect weeknight dinner or party appetizer.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Meatballs
01 - 1 lb ground chicken
02 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 green onions, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
07 - 1 tbsp sriracha
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
→ For the Firecracker Sauce
10 - 1/2 cup hot sauce (such as Franks RedHot)
11 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
12 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
13 - 2 tbsp honey
14 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
15 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
→ For Garnish
16 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds
17 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Combine ground chicken, panko, egg, green onions, garlic, soy sauce, sriracha, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - Using damp hands or a cookie scoop, form mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place on prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake meatballs for 18-20 minutes until golden and cooked through.
05 - Combine hot sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, honey, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and whisk in melted butter.
06 - Transfer cooked meatballs to a large bowl. Pour firecracker sauce over meatballs and toss gently to coat.
07 - Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce balances heat and sweetness in a way that makes everyone reach for seconds
- They come together in under 45 minutes but taste like they took all day
- Perfect for meal prep and actually better the next day
02 -
- Overmixing the meatball mixture makes them tough, so mix gently until just combined
- The sauce thickens quickly as it cools, so coat the meatballs immediately while it's still fluid
- Letting the meatballs rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after baking helps them set and keeps them juicy
03 -
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform meatballs that cook evenly
- Warm your sauce slightly if it has thickened too much before tossing
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes for extra nutty flavor