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Plate of Korean BBQ Meatballs served with spicy mayo dip for a flavorful appetizer.

Korean BBQ Meatballs

These quick and flavorful Korean BBQ meatballs are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner, appetizer, or party snack, featuring a sticky glaze and creamy spicy mayo.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Korean
Calories: 200

Ingredients
  

Meatball Base
  • 1 lb ground beef or ground chicken See substitutions below
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs Use gluten-free panko to keep it GF
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 inch piece fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce Use low-sodium if preferred
  • 1 tbsp gochujang Adjust to taste
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 2 green onions finely chopped
Glaze
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp gochujang
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ginger, minced
  • 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water To thicken
Spicy Mayo Dip
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp gochujang
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp honey
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
Garnish
  • to taste sesame seeds For garnish
  • to taste chopped green onions For garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) if baking, or preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). For skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground meat, panko, egg, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, gochujang, brown sugar, sesame oil, salt, pepper, and chopped green onions.
  3. Mix ingredients gently to combine without compacting the mixture.
  4. Shape mixture into 1–1.5 inch meatballs.
Cooking
  1. For skillet, brown meatballs on all sides over medium heat for 6–8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) for beef or 165°F (74°C) for chicken.
  2. For oven, place meatballs on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 15–18 minutes, turning halfway.
  3. For air fryer, arrange meatballs in a single layer and air fry for 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.
Glazing
  1. In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, gochujang, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and ginger. Bring to a simmer.
  2. Add cornstarch slurry and cook for 1–2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
  3. Toss cooked meatballs in glaze until coated.
Serving
  1. Whisk together mayonnaise, gochujang, lime juice, honey, and garlic powder to make spicy mayo.
  2. Serve glazed meatballs garnished with sesame seeds and green onions, with spicy mayo on the side for dipping.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Freeze unglazed meatballs for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in oven or skillet.