Firecracker Meatballs are tender baked chicken meatballs coated in a sweet, spicy, and tangy homemade firecracker sauce. The sauce combines hot sauce, honey, sriracha, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger for plenty of bold flavor in every bite.
These meatballs are perfect when I want something with a little more heat than traditional meatballs. I can serve them with toothpicks for an easy party appetizer or spoon them over rice to turn them into dinner.
Why I Love Firecracker Meatballs
About the Ingredients ⭐
- Ground Chicken: Makes tender, juicy meatballs.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Help hold the meatballs together.Eggs: Bind the meatball mixture.
- Garlic & Green Onions: Add fresh savory flavor.
- Seasonings: Onion powder, salt, and pepper season the meatballs.
- Hot Sauce & Sriracha: Give the sauce its spicy kick.
- Honey & Brown Sugar: Balance the heat with sweetness.
- Soy Sauce & Rice Vinegar: Add salty, tangy flavor.
- Ginger & Red Pepper Flakes: Add extra flavor and heat.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Firecracker Meatballs
Make the Meatballs: Combine the ground chicken, garlic, green onions, panko, eggs, and seasonings. Mix just until combined, then form into 1½-inch meatballs.
Bake: Place on a lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, until the meatballs reach 165°F.
Make the Firecracker Sauce: Combine the hot sauce, honey, sriracha, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes in a saucepan. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, until slightly thickened.
Coat the Meatballs: Toss the baked meatballs with the warm firecracker sauce until evenly coated.
Serve: Garnish with chopped green onions and serve warm.
Tips I Found Helpful 💙
- Don’t overmix: This keeps the meatballs tender.
- Keep them even: A cookie scoop makes evenly sized meatballs.
- Adjust the heat: Add more honey for sweeter meatballs or more sriracha for extra heat.
- Make ahead: Prepare the meatballs and sauce separately, then combine before serving.
Questions Readers Ask Most
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Firecracker Meatballs
Tender chicken meatballs coated in a sweet and spicy homemade firecracker sauce. 🔥
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 2 lbs ground chicken
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 green onions, finely chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the firecracker sauce:
- ½ cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp sriracha
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
Instructions
For the meatballs:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, minced garlic, green onions, panko breadcrumbs, eggs, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Do not overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
- Form the mixture into 1½-inch meatballs (about golf ball-sized) and place them on the prepared baking sheet. You should end up with approximately 30-35 meatballs.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F).
For the firecracker sauce:
- While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the hot sauce, honey, sriracha, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, minced garlic, ground ginger, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the sauce thickens slightly (about 5-7 minutes).
- Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or heat level to your preference by adding more honey or sriracha.
Assemble/Serve:
- Once the meatballs are done baking, carefully transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the prepared firecracker sauce over the meatballs and gently toss until all the meatballs are evenly coated in the sauce.
- Transfer the coated meatballs to a serving platter. Sprinkle with extra chopped green onions for garnish, insert a toothpick into each Firecracker Meatball, and serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
Don’t overmix the meatball mixture or the meatballs can become dense. Lightly wet your hands if the ground chicken is sticky when rolling. Make the meatballs similar in size so they cook evenly. Cook chicken meatballs to an internal temperature of 165°F. Toss the hot meatballs with the warm firecracker sauce just before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
3Amount Per Serving: Calories: 994Total Fat: 38gSaturated Fat: 10gUnsaturated Fat: 27gCholesterol: 408mgSodium: 3323mgCarbohydrates: 86gFiber: 5gSugar: 30gProtein: 80g
