Asian Pork Meatballs with Soy Garlic Dipping Sauce

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: 

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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

Note: This post was originally written in 2009. It was updated in 2022 with new photos, tips and nutrition information.