Spicy Sriracha Beef Meatballs with Rice (Printable)
Bold Sriracha-spiced beef meatballs served over fluffy jasmine rice with fresh cilantro and sesame seeds.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Meatballs
01 - 1.1 lb ground beef
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
06 - 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
08 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
→ For the Sauce
12 - 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
13 - 2 tablespoons honey
14 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
15 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
16 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
→ For the Rice
17 - 1 1/4 cups jasmine or long-grain white rice
18 - 2 cups water
19 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ For Garnish
20 - 2 spring onions, sliced
21 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
22 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground beef, garlic, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, pepper, and cilantro. Mix until just combined without overmixing.
03 - Shape the mixture into 20 to 24 small meatballs, approximately 1 tablespoon each. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until meatballs are browned and cooked through.
05 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
06 - In a small saucepan, whisk together sriracha, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
07 - Once meatballs are cooked, transfer to a bowl and toss with the sriracha sauce until well coated.
08 - Serve meatballs over fluffy rice. Garnish with spring onions, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro.
# Tips from dashanddishes:
01 -
- The meatballs stay incredibly tender while developing a gorgeous caramelized exterior that makes you want to sneak one before serving.
- The sauce strikes that perfect balance between sweet and spicy where you keep going back for just one more bite until suddenly your plate is clean.
02 -
- Overmixing the meatball mixture will make them tough and dense - I learned this the hard way after serving what felt like spicy rubber balls at my first attempt.
- Letting the meatballs rest for 5 minutes after baking before tossing in sauce helps them hold their shape instead of falling apart.
03 -
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan until golden before using them as garnish - this simple step amplifies their nutty flavor and adds a satisfying crunch to each bite.
- Reserve about a tablespoon of the sauce to drizzle over the plated dish just before serving for that restaurant-quality presentation that makes everyone reach for their phones first.