This recipe for Firecracker Meatballs pairs tender, spicy meatballs with a sticky and sweet sriracha sauce for an unforgettable meal. Best of all, it’s done in just 30 minutes from start to finish, which means you can get dinner on the table lightning fast!
Meatballs: they’re not just for spaghetti. They’re actually one of my favorite easy weeknight dinners because they’re so versatile! From Garlic Butter Meatballs to French Onion Meatballs and Honey BBQ Meatballs, my family just can’t get enough meatball recipes. And these firecracker chicken meatballs are one of my absolute favorites.
They’re tender, moist, and delicious—they have a kick, but are balanced with sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. We love them served over rice for a weeknight dinner, but you can pop them on toothpicks for a game day appetizer too.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Quick and easy – Just 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking! Firecracker chicken meatballs are ideal for busy weeknights.
- Sweet and spicy – One of the best flavor combos! When something is just spicy, it can be a little one-note and not very enjoyable. This firecracker meatballs recipe is perfectly balanced, though, with layers of flavor.
- Versatile – These meatballs are great as a main dish, but they can also be served as appetizers for a party.
- Lighter option without sacrificing flavor – Ground chicken is an excellent lean protein, and when you pair it with finely minced onions and firecracker meatball sauce, your meatballs will stay moist and tender.
What Are Firecracker Meatballs?
Firecracker meatballs are a popular Asian-inspired dish that combines spicy, tangy, and sweet flavors. The original version was a Hello Fresh recipe! The meatballs are typically made with ground chicken or pork instead of ground beef and then coated in an irresistible sticky sauce. If you love the taste of Honey Sriracha Meatballs, you’ll enjoy this recipe too!
Recipe Notes
This firecracker meatball recipe is as simple as promised! Just 15 minutes of hands-on time for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make firecracker chicken meatballs to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
For the meatballs:
- Ground chicken – You can also substitute ground turkey in this recipe.
- Panko bread crumbs – Make your meatballs gluten-free by substituting gluten-free panko.
- Egg – To bind the meatballs together.
- Soy sauce – Substitute tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option, or low-sodium soy sauce to cut down on the salt.
- Onion – A yellow onion is perfect, but white also works.
- Fresh cilantro – Mince it so it incorporates easily into the meatball mixture.
- Jalapeño pepper – Be sure to use gloves when you’re handling it!
- Garlic – Push it through a garlic press or, if you don’t have one, grate it or mince it.
- Ginger – The ginger can also be grated or finely minced.
- Sesame oil – For cooking the chicken meatballs.
For the sauce:
- Light brown sugar – For a sticky-sweet firecracker meatball sauce.
- Orange juice – Orange juice adds citrus flavor and some more sweetness. You can use bottled or fresh-squeezed.
- Sriracha – AKA rooster sauce! While you could use another hot sauce, I think the flavors of sriracha are perfect in this recipe.
- Rice wine vinegar – Don’t use seasoned rice vinegar, which is sweetened. You can swap in apple cider vinegar if that’s what you have on hand.
- Crushed red pepper – Feel free to adjust the amount depending on your family’s heat level preferences.
Garnish (optional):
- Green onions – Thinly slice the onions for garnish. Sesame seeds or additional cilantro are also options for garnishing your meatballs.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Firecracker Turkey Meatballs – Swap out the ground chicken for ground turkey. Easy!
- Baked Firecracker Chicken Meatballs – Bake the meatballs in the oven until they’re cooked through. Cook the sauce on the stovetop until it thickens, then add the meatballs and toss to coat.
- Firecracker Meatball Sliders – Serve the meatballs on Hawaiian dinner rolls with coleslaw for a fun twist.
- Pork Firecracker Meatballs – Switch out the chicken for ground pork.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make firecracker meatballs.
- Step 1– Mix together all of the meatball ingredients in a large bowl.
- Step 2– Form the meatballs and cook them in a skillet until they’re nicely seared on all sides.
- Step 3– Mix all of the sauce ingredients in another bowl.
- Step 4– Simmer the sauce and meatballs together until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is thick, glossy, and sticky.
Recipe Tips
- Mince the jalapeño and onion as finely as possible – This will help distribute the flavors evenly throughout the meatballs and keep you from biting into any large pieces! It also helps keep the meatballs moist and tender. I use an electric chopper, but you can also finely mince them with a knife or grate them.
- Mix the ground chicken with your hands – Using your hands is the most effective way to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the meat mixture and that you don’t over-work the ground chicken, which results in tough meatballs.
- Prep everything before you start cooking – Once you begin to cook, things will move quickly so having everything prepped and ready to go will make the process much smoother.
- Use a cookie dough scoop – This will help you form evenly-sized meatballs that finish cooking at the same time. (They also look nicer if you’re serving them for a party!)
- Don’t overcrowd the pan – This can lead to uneven cooking and steaming rather than searing. Use the largest skillet you have!
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use store-bought meatballs – There’s a lot of flavor in the meatballs themselves, so I really recommend making them from scratch, but if you’re in a time crunch and you need dinner fast, this is a good shortcut to take.
- Make the meatballs ahead of time – If you have 10 minutes on Sunday, make a batch of these and keep them in your fridge until ready to cook them up for dinner. They’ll last up to 2 days in an airtight container.
- Prep the firecracker meatball sauce ahead of time – You can make the sauce up to 2-3 days ahead of time. Simply store it in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this firecracker meatball recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Shape meatballs and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze for 1-2 hours or until solid.
- Stir together the sauce ingredients.
- Freeze the sauce in a small zip-top bag. Place the frozen meatballs in a large bag and tuck the small bag inside to keep the two together.
- Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then start the recipe with Step 3.
How to Freeze Chicken Firecracker Meatballs After Cooking
- Transfer the meatballs and sauce to an airtight freezer-safe container or freezer bag.
- Thaw the meatballs in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat or microwave until heated through.
What to Serve with Firecracker Meatballs
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of Asian food, it will pair well with many of your favorite Asian-inspired side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Firecracker Meatball Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Firecracker Lettuce Wraps – Heat up the meatballs, then roughly chop them. Serve them in lettuce leaves with cilantro, crispy chow mein noodles, and any other desired toppings.
- Firecracker Fried Rice – Chop up leftover meatballs and add them to your favorite fried rice recipe, like this 15 Minute Chicken Fried Rice.
- Firecracker Meatball Subs – Toast some hoagie rolls, add the reheated meatballs, and top with shredded cabbage and spicy mayonnaise.
- Firecracker Meatball Bowls – Serve the meatballs with rice, stir-fried vegetables, grilled pineapple, toasted cashews, or whatever else you happen to have on hand. This is a great clean-out-the-fridge recipe!
Recipe FAQ’s
Does egg make meatballs hard?
Adding egg to meatballs serves as a binding agent and helps keep the meatballs from falling apart. However, adding too much egg can result in a harder texture. Don’t worry, though, the proportions in this recipe are perfect—no hard meatballs here!
Is it better to bake or fry meatballs?
It’s ultimately a matter of personal preference. Baking meatballs requires less oil, but frying meatballs will give them a crispy exterior and adds more flavor. I do recommend frying the meatballs for this recipe because it gives them more time to absorb the flavors of the sauce.
How spicy are firecracker meatballs?
These firecracker chicken meatballs are pretty spicy! If you’re not a fan of spicy food, try Hawaiian Meatballs instead. If you just like a small amount of spice, you can use less jalapeño in the meatballs and/or omit the red pepper flakes from the sauce.
More EASY Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy chicken recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
Firecracker Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 2 pounds ground chicken
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 cup onion , finely chopped or grated
- 3 tbsp fresh cilantro, minced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves , pressed
- 1 tbsp ginger , minced
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
For the sauce:
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoon sriracha
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Garnish (optional)
- 1/4 cup green onions , sliced
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the Firecracker Sauce. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, except the sesame oil, for the meatballs. Use your hands to work the mixture together until everything is mixed and evenly distributed throughout. Roll the meat into 1.5 inch balls.
- Heat a large pan, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs and cook 1-2 minutes per side to brown.
- Pour the firecracker sauce over the meatballs and bring to a simmer. Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for 8-12 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through (165˚F internal temp.)
- Toss meatballs in the sauce, and garnish with sliced green onions and serve warm.
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