Honey Garlic Pork Meatballs Recipe

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Diana Rattray
Updated 12/20/20
Honey garlic pork meatballs in a bowl with a serving spoon

The Spruce
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
138 Calories
6g Fat
11g Carbs
11g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 138
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 82mg 27%
Sodium 355mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Protein 11g
Calcium 37mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Honey and garlic team up to make a sweet and tasty sauce for these homemade pork meatballs. These pork meatballs are perfect for any occasion—or no special occasion at all—and they can be kept warm and served from a slow cooker. Pork tends to make for a slightly drier meatball than those made with beef, but the egg and breadcrumbs bind the meatballs together and help add moisture and tenderness.

They're not cooked in the slow cooker or fried, but instead, the meatballs are baked and then coated with the flavorful sauce. The recipe is easily scaled up and doubled; you can freeze half of them, without the sauce, and make the sauce before serving. Serve these ground pork meatballs nestled into small lettuce leaves such as butter lettuce.

Featured Video

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground pork (lean)
  • 1 large egg (beaten)
  • 1/4 cup fine dry breadcrumbs (plain)
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons cilantro (finely chopped)
  • 2 green onions (finely chopped)
  • 4 cloves garlic (pressed, divided)
  • 1 scant teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons butter
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • Sriracha sauce or Tabasco (to taste)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for honey garlic pork meatballs
    The Spruce

  2. Heat the oven to 400 F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet, such as a jelly roll pan or half sheet pan, with foil. Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

    Baking sheet lined with aluminum foil
    The Spruce

  3. Combine the pork with the beaten egg, breadcrumbs, cilantro (if using), green onions, 1 of the cloves of pressed garlic, and the salt and pepper. Using your hands, combine the pork mixture until all ingredients are well blended.

    Ground pork and eggs combined in a bowl with bread crumbs, garlic, and cilantro
    The Spruce

  4. Shape the pork into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter, roughly 5/8 ounce each. Using a small cookie scoop to shape them helps. Arrange the meatballs on the baking sheet.

  5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and no longer pink.

    Pork shaped into meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet
    The Spruce

  6. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. When the butter is foamy, add the remaining 3 cloves of pressed garlic and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute.

    Foaming butter and garlic in a saucepan
    The Spruce

  7. Add the ketchup, honey, soy sauce, and hot sauce, if using. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for about 1 minute.

    Honey barbecue sauce
    The Spruce

  8. Combine the sauce in a serving dish with the meatballs and serve immediately as an appetizer, or serve with rice and a side vegetable for a meal. Enjoy.

    Combine sauce with meat
    The Spruce

How Can You Tell If Pork Meatballs Are Cooked?

Pork meatballs, when cooked, should reach 160 F on an instant-read thermometer and won't be pink.

Tip

  • If you want to keep these meatballs warm for a long period of time, combine the sauce and cooked meatballs in the slow cooker. Cover and keep on the low setting.
  • When you're bringing together the meatballs, use your hands if at all possible. This gives you a feel for when the ingredients are combined, and it tends to prevent overmixing, which can make your meatballs tough.