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Easy Bento Box Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs Recipe

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These easy bento box chicken teriyaki meatballs are tender, sticky, and perfect for meal prep. Made with ground chicken and a homemade teriyaki sauce, they come together in about 30 minutes and are delicious warm or cold.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground chicken (93% lean)
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (low-sodium)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅓ cup soy sauce (low-sodium)
  • ¼ cup mirin
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. If using foil, give it a quick spray of cooking oil so the meatballs don’t stick.
  2. Make the teriyaki sauce first. In a small saucepan, combine ⅓ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup mirin, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, and 1 minced garlic clove. Whisk everything together and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Let it bubble gently for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should reduce slightly and start to look glossy.
  3. Thicken the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth. Pour this slurry into the simmering sauce while whisking constantly. You’ll see it thicken almost immediately — it should coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and set aside. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
  4. Reserve some sauce for glazing. Spoon out about 3 tablespoons of the finished sauce into a small bowl — this is what you’ll brush onto the meatballs after they bake. Don’t skip this step.
  5. Mix the meatball ingredients. In a large bowl, combine 1 pound ground chicken, ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 beaten egg, 2 chopped green onions, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of the teriyaki sauce (from the saucepan, not the reserved portion) directly into the meat mixture.
  6. Mix gently. Use your hands or a spatula to combine everything. Don’t overmix — you want to incorporate the ingredients without making the meat tough. Stop as soon as everything looks evenly distributed. The mixture will be quite soft and slightly sticky.
  7. Form the meatballs. Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop or your hands, roll the mixture into small balls — about 1 inch in diameter. You should get roughly 24-26 meatballs. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
  8. Bake the meatballs. Pop the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 12-14 minutes. At the 8-minute mark, check on them — if they’re releasing a lot of liquid, carefully tilt the pan and drain it off. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and are golden brown on the outside.
  9. Glaze the meatballs. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Using a basting brush or a spoon, coat each meatball with the reserved teriyaki sauce. Return them to the oven for 2 more minutes — this sets the glaze and gives them that beautiful, sticky finish.
  10. Finish and serve. Transfer the glazed meatballs to a serving dish. Drizzle with any remaining sauce from the saucepan (warm it up first if it’s thickened too much). Sprinkle with sesame seeds and extra chopped green onions if desired. Let them rest for 5 minutes before packing into bento boxes.

Notes

Don’t skip the panade (panko and egg) — it keeps the meatballs tender. Use a light hand when mixing to avoid tough meatballs. For bento boxes, smaller 1-inch meatballs are best. Double the sauce if you want extra for dipping. Toast sesame seeds for garnish for better flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken teriyaki meatballs, bento box lunch, meal prep, easy meatballs, teriyaki meatballs, ground chicken recipe

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/easy-bento-box-chicken-teriyaki-meatballs-recipe/