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Tender Orange Chicken Meatballs Recipe Easy Homemade Sticky Sweet Glaze

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Tender orange chicken meatballs coated in a sticky sweet glaze made from orange marmalade, soy sauce, and ginger. This quick and easy recipe delivers juicy, flavorful meatballs perfect for weeknights or parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground chicken (preferably lean but with a bit of fat for moisture)
  • ½ cup small-curd cottage cheese (120 g)
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (50 g)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • ½ cup orange marmalade (160 g)
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Optional: ½ tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, cottage cheese, panko breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, salt, black pepper, and chopped green onions. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
  3. Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons (20 g) of mixture and roll into balls. You should get roughly 20 meatballs. Place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
  4. Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through to brown both sides. They should be lightly golden and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F or 74°C). Optionally, brown them in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side before baking for extra crust.
  5. While meatballs bake, whisk together orange marmalade, soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, grated ginger, minced garlic, and optional red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring frequently, and simmer gently for 5 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy.
  6. Once baked, transfer meatballs to a large bowl. Pour the hot sticky sweet glaze over them and toss gently to coat evenly.
  7. Serve immediately, garnished with additional chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds if desired. Pair with steamed rice or your favorite greens.

Notes

Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender. Browning the meatballs before baking adds a caramelized crust and depth of flavor but is optional. Coat meatballs with glaze while hot for best adhesion. If glaze thickens too much, add a splash of water to loosen. Panko breadcrumbs can be swapped for almond flour for gluten-free. Cottage cheese can be substituted with Greek yogurt but texture will differ. Ground turkey can be used instead of chicken with adjustments for moisture.

Nutrition

Keywords: orange chicken meatballs, sticky sweet glaze, easy chicken recipe, quick dinner, homemade meatballs, weeknight meal, party appetizer

Find it online: https://larameals.com/tender-orange-chicken-meatballs-recipe-easy-homemade-sticky-sweet-glaze/