Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake (Print Version)
Saucy meatballs meet fragrant rice with sweet garlic sauce. Comforting, savory, and easy for any night.
# Ingredients:
→ Meatballs
01 -
1 pound ground beef or ground chicken
02 -
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
03 -
1 large egg
04 -
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
05 -
2 cloves garlic, minced
06 -
1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 -
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
08 -
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 -
1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Honey Garlic Sauce
10 -
1/3 cup honey
11 -
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
12 -
3 tablespoons ketchup
13 -
2 tablespoons water
14 -
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
15 -
1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional)
→ Rice Bake
16 -
1 cup uncooked long grain or jasmine white rice
17 -
2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
18 -
1 tablespoon olive oil or unsalted butter
19 -
1/2 cup diced bell peppers
20 -
1/2 cup frozen peas
21 -
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (optional)
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish using cooking spray or a thin coating of oil.
02 -
In a large bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, ground black pepper, and salt until just combined.
03 -
Shape the mixture into small 1 to 1.5 inch meatballs, forming approximately 20 to 24 pieces. In a skillet over medium heat with a little oil, brown the meatballs on each side for 2 to 3 minutes without fully cooking.
04 -
In a small saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, ketchup, water, and minced garlic. Simmer over medium heat until gently bubbling. For a thicker sauce, dissolve cornstarch in a tablespoon of water, stir it in, and cook for one additional minute. Remove from heat.
05 -
Spread uncooked rice across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Evenly distribute diced bell peppers and frozen peas, then drizzle with olive oil or melted butter.
06 -
Pour chicken (or vegetable) broth over the rice and vegetables. Gently stir to distribute ingredients. Nestle browned meatballs into the mixture, pressing so they are partly submerged.
07 -
Drizzle honey garlic sauce evenly over the meatballs and rice. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil, then bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until rice is tender and the top is lightly golden.
08 -
Let the dish stand for at least 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped green onions if desired.
# Notes:
01 -
For best results, allow the bake to rest before serving to finish absorbing excess moisture. Substitute ground turkey if preferred.