Asian Pork Meatballs made with tender pork, fresh ginger, garlic, cilantro, sesame seeds and serrano peppers and a soy garlic dipping sauce. They make a great party appetizer or main dish!
Meatballs are always a big hit. Whether you’re serving the classic Spaghetti and Meatballs, Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs for your Christmas celebrations or decadent Meatballs in Mushroom Cream Sauce, they are always a crowd pleaser.
Maybe because it’s because they are bite sized. Or because they are so easy to make. Or maybe, just maybe it is because meatballs are so freaking delicious.
These Asian Pork Meatballs are no different. My family loved these babies! They are great to serve at parties, as a main dish or make them ahead of time and keep them in the freezer for a quick weeknight dinner.
What ingredients do you need for Asian Pork Meatballs:
- GROUND PORK: Make sure you buy plain ground pork and not ground pork sausage.
- SERRANO PEPPER: This will add some heat. To reduce the heat, remove the seeds from the pepper or use half of the pepper.
- ONION/GARLIC: My favorite aromatics to add to any meatballs that I make. The key is to mince them small so that you don’t get big bites of them in the meatballs.
- GINGER: You can use fresh or ground in this recipe. Whichever you have on hand.
- CILANTRO: It does at a nice flavor to the meatballs, but if you’re one of those people who just can’t do cilantro the meatballs are still good without it!
- SESAME SEEDS: Add flavor and texture.
- EGG/BREADCRUMBS: The combination of these two together is what helps the meatballs stay together.
- FISH SAUCE: It adds a depth of flavor to these meatballs.
What ingredients do you need for Asian Meatball Dipping Sauce?
Unlike most meatballs that are coated in a sauce, these meatballs are dipped in sauce. It is really easy to make with just a small handful of ingredients.
- SOY SAUCE: The base of the sauce.
- RICE VINEGAR: This adds acidity to the sauce.
- GRANULATED GARLIC: You can substitute garlic powder but because of the salt in the soy sauce, don’t use garlic salt.
Step by Step Instructions and Photos:
Combine ingredients in a bowl. 
Roll into meatballs. Whisk together sauce ingredients.
STEP #1: Combine all of the meatball ingredients, except oil, together in a bowl. You want it mixed well but try not to overmix or the meatballs will be on the tougher side. Roll into about 20 meatballs.
STEP #2: Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Drizzle with oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes or until cooked through.
STEP #3: Meanwhile, why the meatballs are cooking whisk together the sauce ingredients.
If you are looking for side dishes to serve with these Asian Pork Meatballs, I served these as an entree with Air Fryer Broccoli and garlic rice.
FAQ
When I first made these meatballs I fried and they were great! Simply put enough oil in in a skillet to lightly coat the bottom. Then fry the meatballs, in batches if necessary, until they are golden brown and cooked through. About 8 – 10 minutes total.
If you don’t have rice vinegar, sherry vinegar is a great substitute.
Yes! Cook the meatballs first and then place them on a cooking sheet in a single layer and freeze until firm. Once they are frozen put them in an air tight container and use them within 1 – 2 months
Note: This post was originally written in 2009. It was updated in 2022 with new photos, tips and nutrition information.
Servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground pork
- 1/2 cup finely minced onion
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 serrano peppers (minced)
- 1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1/4 cup oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
Instructions
- Preheat oven to warm setting.
- In a bowl combine all ingredients except oil and dipping sauce. Mix well. Roll into 20 meatballs.
Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Drizzle with oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 30 minutes or until cooked through.
- Combine all ingredients for soy garlic dipping sauce together in a bowl. Serve with meatballs.
I LOVE these meatballs. They are my first choice whenever I am asked to bring a dish to a potluck. So easy and delish!
I bake them in the oven at 350 for 20-25 minutes and then stir them into a glaze/sauce made of sweet chili sauce, plum sauce, soy sauce, granulated garlic, and topped with a sprinkling of chopped green onion, chopped cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. A+ every time.
You’re welcome! Glad it was a success :)
I made these for my music jam last night. Yum. Everyone liked them. I thought that frying would take too much time (& I wanted to join the musicians), so I baked them. Be careful…don’t place them too close to each other. What happened was they ended up cooking in their own juices (as if in a covered pot) and I almost have a liquid spilling over the cookie sheet in the oven. But, they were very good and all the guests loved them. Made the garlic rice too. Yum again! Thank you.
Shannon!!! What delicious garlic rice? Actually, that’s what I’m going to accompany the meatballs with. But, I didn’t know there was a garlic rice recipe here. ???
I’m hosting a bluegrass jam at the end of August. Going to try these with the recommended stir fried veggies and rice. I think I’ll both brown on the stovestop the day before, and then bake them the day of. Yum!!!
I’ve made these several times and they’re delicious! I brown them on the stove and then bake them in the oven to finish them off. I’m making them again tonight with your delicious garlic rice. Thanks for all the great recipes!
[…] pork and udon noodles on hand, and the rest of the meal fell into place. As usual, I perused online recipes to get some ideas. I began by combining ground pork with softened onion, jalapeno, 3 cloves of […]
I love the irony of kosher salt with pork . . . but these look delicious!!
WindsorTenor- Thank you! I am happy to hear that you liked them :)
Made these for dinner tonight. FABULOUS! They were a hit and will back in the lineup for New Year’s Eve this year!
Made these for dinner tonight. FABULOUS!
Thank you Jessica! I am glad that you loved these meatballs so much and I am happy to hear that you will be back! :)
I LOVED these meatballs!!!! delish! And what a great blog! As a singer who’s just getting into cooking, I’ll be back here again!
You’re welcome Jenn! I haven’t tried them baked yet, I just might have to now. :)
This is such a great recipe! I’ve made these both baked and fried. They’re delicious each way. Thanks so much =)
Wow what a terrific idea. I stumbled upon you from photograzing. Glad I found your site. I’ll be adding you to my blog list and checking back often! Gonna try these meatballs for sure.
These have all my favorite flavors, and the recipe is so simple! Your photo is beautiful and creatively done with the chopsticks.
You’re welcome Carolyn! Thank you for letting me know that you enjoyed them :)
Des, I made these yesterday, and they were fabulous. Thanks!
These look delicious, will try them out!
Thanks for sharing :-)
I am going to try that exact recipe but with turkey for a burger. And will use the sauce as a glaze. Love all those flavors.
This is very similar to the mixture I put in my dumplings! What a brilliant idea.
these sound wonderful! I love every flavor in the seasonings you used…I will be saving and making one day!
Those look great! I’ve been looking for meatball variations recently, and these are full of some of my favorite ingredients. Cute photo, too!
What a fun pic! I’d have shared this asap too. :) Sounds delicious.