THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY
ALDI, who I’m thrilled to partner & share with you all throughout 2021. With pantry staples & fresh produce that are both high-quality & affordable, ALDI is my go-to one-stop-shop for weeknight cooking! All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Easy Weeknight Goodness!!!
When it comes to easy & satisfying weeknight meals, humble meatballs are forever my fave! I love them because they’re so versatile. By using different proteins & different aromatics, it’s easy to create crave-worthy meals beyond a typical ‘spaghetti ‘n meatballs’ dinner. That’s exactly what we have on deck for you today – seriously easy & delicious meatballs infused with the flavors of my childhood, Easy Soy-Glazed Ginger Meatballs!
Made with a base of ground turkey, these meatballs are loaded with flavor-forward ingredients like garlic, ginger, & scallions & they are so easy to prepare – it’s a one-bowl, one-skillet operation that’s very weeknight friendly. The best part, though, is finishing them off in a sticky-sweet glaze made of soy & brown sugar. It caramelizes on the meatballs, creating the most perfect salty-sweet coating. It’s ‘lick-your-bowl-clean’ good!
Ginger Meatballs Recipe Highlights
You’ll love these ginger meatballs because they’re…
- …seriously weeknight-friendly! A one-bowl, one-skillet operation that takes less than 35 minutes to throw together.
- …seriously flavorful! Despite being made with turkey, the meatballs are juicy, tender, & flavorful thanks to simple aromatics like ginger, garlic, scallions, & the most perfect salty-sweet brown sugar glaze.
- …seriously convenient, everything you need to make this recipe can be found at ALDI!
My obsession is well-documented here on PWWB, but I love ALDI so much because I can always count on getting everything I need for my weekly menus (& then some!) – from amazing fresh produce to seriously high-quality protein to all of my favorite pantry staples – & it’s all extremely affordable. That’s exactly why you’ll love these ginger turkey meatballs so much. You can grab everything you need to make them – the ground turkey, fresh ginger, panko breadcrumbs, beautiful cage-free eggs…everything! – at ALDI.
Weeknight dinner magic! ♡ Read on to learn more about these Ginger Turkey Meatballs, or jump straight to the recipe & get cooking – we can’t wait to see your creations!
First, a Sticky-Sweet Ginger-Soy Glaze.
The first bit of prep that goes into making these ginger turkey meatballs is mixing up a simple ginger-soy glaze. Made with ginger, garlic, & brown sugar, this soy glaze gives the ginger meatballs the best sticky-sweet & mega-flavorful coating. Plus, it’s super simple to throw together!
Full Recipe Directions, including measurements & step-by-step photos, provided in the Recipe Card, below.
Inspired by one of my favorite sauces of all time (Mom’s teriyaki!), this ginger-soy glaze is made with 5 simple pantry staples: soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ginger, & garlic. The combination of soy & brown sugar is one of my favorites – it’s richly savory-sweet, & so, so good! A splash of apple cider vinegar & water helps balance out the sauce, while loads of ginger & garlic provide a big pop of aromatic flavor.
To make, simply combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan & let it simmer until it reduces by half. Easy as that! The reduction has an amazingly glossy quality, allowing it to cling to the ginger turkey meatballs beautifully for the perfect sticky-sweet finish.
Meal Prep Tip! ⇢ Measure out all the ginger-soy glaze ingredients into a small jar or airtight container, shake to combine, & store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. At dinnertime you can skip most of the active prep work involved in this recipe – simply pour the mixture into a saucepan & fire up the stove. Easy! Check the Recipe Notes, below, for more meal prep guidance.
How to Make Ginger Meatballs
While the glaze simmers, tackle ginger turkey meatball prep. It’s a one-bowl, one-pan operation – really simple!
Full Recipe Directions, including measurements & step-by-step photos, provided in the Recipe Card, below.
Here’s what you’ll do…
- First, mix & form the turkey meatballs. The flavor of these meatballs comes from ground turkey & loads of aromatics like scallions, ginger, & garlic, while an egg & panko breadcrumbs help bind it all together. Meatball Forming Tip ⇢ For tender meatballs, you must avoid over-mixing! Use your hands to combine the ingredients, then use a large spring-loaded scoop to portion it out into uniform turkey meatballs.
- Next, brown the ginger turkey meatballs. Add the meatballs to an oven-safe skillet & cook a few minutes per side, until they’re really nicely browned. Why? ⇢ The beautifully browned crust that forms on the surface of the meatballs translates to big flavor, thanks to the Maillard reaction. It’s a simple step that results in much deeper, richer flavor than simply baking the meatballs.
- Last, glaze & bake. By the time the ginger turkey meatballs have nice color, the ginger-soy sauce will have reached the perfect glaze-y consistency. Pour half of the glaze over the meatballs, reserving the rest for serving, then give the skillet a good shake to coat the meatballs in the glaze. Transfer the skillet to the oven & bake until the meatballs are cooked through. Easy!
Meal Prep Tip! ⇢ Most of the active prep time involved in this ginger turkey meatballs recipe comes from prepping the meatballs. Prep the meatball mixture up to 3 days in advance – you can either roll it out into meatballs right away or save the rolling for dinnertime…whatever works best for you! Check the Recipe Notes, below, for more meal prep guidance.
Easy Recipe Swaps – Alternate Proteins:
- Alternate animal proteins. ⇢ Ground turkey can easily be swapped 1:1 to make ginger pork meatballs or ginger chicken meatballs. Remember, when it comes to poultry meatballs, it’s incredibly important to use at least 93% lean ground meat to ensure the meatballs are juicy & moist.
- An easy plant-based option! ⇢ One of my favorite discoveries of the year are the Earth Grown Classic Meatless Meatballs in the freezer section at ALDI. They’re soy-based meatballs, so they’re completely vegan & absolutely delicious! Prep them according to package directions, & glaze them in the sauce for an amazing & seriously easy plant-based dinner!
Ginger Turkey Meatballs Serving Suggestions + Recipe Tips & Tricks
Once they’re baked to perfection, all that’s left to do is serve your ginger turkey meatballs & dig in. Easy!
Ginger Meatballs Serving Suggestions:
- Grains. ⇢ These glaze-y meatballs beg to be served on a bed of grains, which soaks up all of the salty-sweet ginger-soy sauce! I’m partial to short-grain rice or something light & fluffy, like jasmine or basmati. Brown rice or quinoa are both great options, too. If you prefer something low-carb, cauliflower rice is where it’s at – save yourself the work & grab a bag from the freezer section at ALDI!
- An easy add-on. ⇢ Because the oven is already preheated for the meatballs, roasted veggies are such an easy side dish to whip up for your ginger turkey meatball dinner. I love prepping some simple roasted broccoli or cauliflower – toss the florets on a sheet pan, season with oil & salt, & toss them into the oven before you begin prepping the glaze & meatballs. By the time the meatballs finish baking, your veggies will be perfectly roasted. Easy!
- Garnishes. ⇢ Finish your plates with a quick sprinkling of thinly sliced green onion &, whatever you do, don’t forget to drizzle the reserved ginger-soy sauce over top.
I can’t wait for you to try these Ginger Turkey Meatballs! They make for such a fast, fun, & flavorful meal, & it really doesn’t get better than that! If you do give them a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations!
Love easy weeknight recipes? You’re in the right spot! 🙌🏼 Try these Easy Shawarma Hummus Bowls, this Sheet Pan Chicken Carnitas, or this Seared Scallop Pesto Pasta next. Happy cooking! ♡
Print
Soy-Glazed Ginger Turkey Meatballs
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Skillet Recipes, Stovetop, Baked
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Description
Tender & juicy turkey meatballs laced with ginger, garlic, & scallions & finished with a sticky ginger-soy glaze for the perfect touch of salty-sweet. Brown them on the stovetop, finish them in the oven, & serve them over rice alongside roasted broccoli – an easy, mega-flavorful weeknight favorite!
Ingredients
for the meatballs:
- 1 pound Kirkwood 93% Lean Fresh Ground Turkey
- 1 Goldhen Cage Free Large Egg
- 1/2 cup Chef’s Cupboard Panko Breadcrumbs
- 3 green onions, finely sliced
- 1 (one) 2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped or grated (about 2 tablespoons grated)
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, for seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Simply Nature Non-GMO Grapeseed Oil
- for serving, as desired: sticky ginger-soy glaze (below), roasted broccoli, rice or cauliflower rice, sliced green onions, etc.
for the sticky ginger-soy glaze:
- 1/4 – 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup Fusia All-Purpose Soy Sauce
- 1/3 cup water
- 3 tablespoons Simply Nature Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 (one) 1-inch piece ginger, finely chopped or grated (about 1 tablespoon grated)
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Gather & prep all ingredients according to Ingredients List, above.
- Prep the sticky ginger-soy glaze: Combine all listed glaze ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until reduced by half. The resulting reduction will be a pretty thick & glossy glaze. Remove from the heat & set aside.
- Prep the ginger turkey meatballs: Meanwhile, as the ginger-soy glaze reduces, mix & form the turkey meatballs. Add the turkey, egg, panko, green onions, ginger, & garlic to a mixing bowl. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt & ground black pepper, as desired. Using your hands, mix just until combined – take care to avoid over-mixing. Use a large scoop to form 12 turkey meatballs, each roughly 2-3 inches in diameter. Using your hands, roll the meatballs just until smooth. Set aside.
- Brown the ginger meatballs: Add the grapeseed oil to large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot & the oil is shimmering, carefully add the meatballs to the skillet. Cook 2 minutes until bottom of meatball is browned & crusty, then flip & cook 2 minutes longer. Repeat once more, searing meatballs for 6 minutes total.
- Bake the ginger meatballs: Carefully pour half of the ginger-soy glaze into the skillet over the meatballs, shaking to coat. Transfer to the oven & bake for 5-7 minutes, shaking halfway through, until meatballs are cooked through with an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Serve immediately, as desired. We love plating these ginger soy meatballs over a bed of rice or cauliflower rice & garnishing with sliced green onions & a generous drizzle of the remaining sticky ginger-soy glaze. Enjoy!
Notes
- Alternate proteins: We most often prep these ginger meatballs, as written, using ground turkey. If desired, you can swap the turkey with an equal amount of ground pork or ground chicken (be sure to use at least 93% lean) with fantastic results. If you’re a plant-based eater, try the Earth Grown Classic Meatless Meatballs from ALDI (they’re in the freezer section) – they’re soy-based plant-based meatballs & they’re absolutely fantastic! Prep using the stovetop or oven directions detailed on the package, then toss them in the glaze once they’re warm.
- Storage & Reheating: These ginger meatballs store beautifully! Transfer leftover cooled ginger meatballs to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
- 20-Minute Meal Prep: The majority of the active prep time required for these ginger meatballs comes from measuring & prepping ingredients. If you’d like to prep in advance, here’s what I suggest:
- Prep the sticky ginger-soy glaze: Combine all listed glaze ingredients in a small jar or airtight container. Shake/whisk to combine, seal, & store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. At dinnertime, simply pour the mixture into a saucepan & reduce according to Step 2 of Recipe Directions – easy! (5 minutes active prep.)
- Prep the ginger turkey meatballs: Prepare the ginger turkey meatball mixture according to Step 3 of Recipe Directions, above. Either roll it out into meatballs or save the rolling for dinnertime; either way, the mixture will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (up to 15 minutes active prep.)
Recipe & Food Styling by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Rachel Cook, Half Acre House.
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Thanks for such a great recipe!!! I cannot wait to make this again, no substitutions or additions, this recipe is definitely a keeper. Roommate and I ate it over a bed of coconut ginger rice, yum!!!
Thanks Jeannine! Serving these meatballs over coconut ginger rice sounds fantastic & we’re so glad you enjoyed!
Wow, just simply wow. These meatballs were so flavorful! My 17 month old son devoured them and asked for more! The husband thoroughly enjoyed them too! Very easy, very delicious week night dinner.
Ohhh holy smokes. Writing this recipe as I devour some leftovers. I was trying to reduce dishes and had my air fryer out for something else so I threw my meatballs in there, about 10 minutes total and they were cooked perfectly. If it’s helpful to anyone else who cooks GF — I used GF panko breadcrumbs because my husband has Celiac Disease and woooowee, delightful all around. I will absolutely be making this one regularly!
A new weekly staple!!! This recipe is so flavorful, so delicious, and for a busy human, super meal prep friendly!
Delicious! Super easy!
Hi Mariela – so glad you enjoyed! We love how easy this recipe comes together too, it’s great for weeknights!
This was delicious – will definitely be added to our regular rotation. Very easy and weeknight-friendly!
Made this recipe tonight and the meatballs turned out delicious. I paired them with jasmine rice and sugar snap peas.
These meatballs were super tasty and easy to make! The leftovers were even better. The only issue I had was the meatballs falling apart when cooking them.
Such a fun (and delicious) weeknight dinner. We paired rice with chopped zucchini and mixed it all up in the leftover glaze to use every.last.drop. Definitely one to print and keep!
Made this tonight with some broccoli and green beans. It was amazing. Whole family loves it.
Just made, and enjoyed, this for an easy Friday night dinner. My family loved it and commented how good the meatballs were with the glaze! Yum!
Must love ginger to love this recipe, and I. Love. Ginger. My glaze started to burn a little in the oven, but did not effect the flavor of the meatballs in a negative way at all. These are the juiciest, most flavorful turkey meatballs I have ever made (or eaten!). Such a quick easy weeknight meal.