Asian-Inspired Whole30 Chicken Meatballs

These Whole30 Chicken Meatballs are a fusion of Asian-inspired flavors, combining ground chicken with aromatic ingredients like ginger, garlic, and scallions. Seasoned with coconut aminos, these meatballs are baked or air-fried to perfection. Serve them with the delicious dipping sauce that is inspired by my favorite dumpling dipping sauce and over a bed of cauliflower rice.

With a few tweaks, these delicious Whole30 Chicken Meatballs can be made into tons of other dishes with curry, sweet and sour sauce, or even into everyone's favorite, orange chicken.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Easy to make: The beauty of gluten-free chicken meatballs is there is no need for messy flours. All you need are a few simple ingredients and about 25 minutes to make this recipe.

Better than takeout: I love this recipe because it fills my takeout cravings, but doesn't leave me feeling horrible like a lot of restaurant food does.

Make ahead: This is a great make-ahead meal that can be frozen or saved all week for leftovers. Making an easy meal that every home cook lives for.

Ingredients You'll Need

Ground Chicken: I like to ensure my chicken is organic and doesn't have antibiotics. Ground chicken is a great source of lean protein.

Jalapenos: are not only spicy in flavor but also in health benefits, offering a kick loaded with vitamins A and C, known for their antioxidant properties that support a healthy immune system and vibrant skin.

Green Onion: These onions are very small, but are packed full of nutrients! They are an excellent source of Vitamin K which is essential for blood clotting, heart health, and longevity.

Cilantro: Cilantro is a fresh herb that helps fight inflammation, and heart disease and can even help fight infections! It is fragrant in flavor.

Lime: This adds a nice tartness to the dipping sauce.

Egg: This helps bind the meatballs and holds them together. Eggs are a high-quality protein, with essential vitamins like B12 and riboflavin, as well as crucial minerals like selenium and phosphorus, promoting muscle strength, and brain health, and aiding in energy production.

Coconut aminos: A much healthier alternative to soy sauce. It is made by fermenting coconut sap with salt. It is completely soy-free and is slightly sweeter than soy sauce. There are many different kinds you can buy, but Big Tree is my favorite brand.

Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar is known for its mild, slightly sweet flavor and mild acidity.

Garlic Powder: is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It helps fight many diseases like the common cold, heart disease, and others.

Ground Ginger: This is a spice that is known for being anti-inflammatory and really good for our guts. It can help ease numerous gut issues such as nausea, and diarrhea, and also helps decrease inflammation all throughout the body. The warm spice is a favorite of mine to use in Asian-inspired dishes.

Red Pepper Flakes: Red pepper flakes are a concentrated source of heat due to the presence of capsaicin, the compound responsible for the spicy sensation. They also provide a modest amount of vitamin A, which is essential for eye health and immune function. Additionally, the capsaicin in red pepper flakes has been associated with various health benefits, including potential pain relief and metabolism-boosting effects.

Salt and Pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Combine all meatball ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Gently mix until all the ingredients are combined. Do not overmix.

Use a small scoop, melon baller, or meat baller to make meatballs into 1-inch diameter.

Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes or until the center of the meatballs have reached 165°F. If you are air frying these, cook them at 375°F for about 12-15 minutes.

Combine all the ingredients for the dipping sauce in a bowl and whisk until combined.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Serving: I like to serve these Asian-inspired chicken meatballs with cauliflower fried rice or stir-fried veggies.

Troubleshooting: Be sure your sheet pan is sprayed well with non-stick spray. Don't over-mix the meat or it can dry it out. You can also use parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Scaling tips: this recipe is really easy to double so you can freeze some for later, which I highly recommend doing. These gluten-free meatballs can be transformed into multiple other recipes.

Recipe Variations

Meat: You can use ground pork or ground turkey for these chicken meatballs and it will turn out great!

Coconut Aminos: are a great substitute for soy sauce for people who are soy-free, but soy sauce can be used instead if you are not doing a Whole30 and can tolerate soy.

Breadcrumbs: Many people like to use breadcrumbs in their meatballs. Since these are gluten-free chicken meatballs, I don't use breadcrumbs. I also don't use flour, however, some almond flour can always be used if that is what you prefer.

Storage Tips

Refrigerator: Store these in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer: You can also freeze the fully cooked meatballs. They are perfect for a night when you don't feel like cooking. I store them in a large ziplock bag in the freezer.

FAQs about Whole30 Chicken Meatballs

Why are my chicken meatballs so dense?

They tend to get more dense if you over-mix them. It is important to mix the meat gently and the least amount possible while still combining all the meatball ingredients.

What can you use instead of breadcrumbs in meatballs?

I don't typically use breadcrumbs in my meatballs, instead, I use an egg to help hold them together. If you do want to use something, you can use almond flour or tapioca starch.

How do you keep meatballs from falling apart?

An egg will help to keep the meatballs from falling apart, however, you want to be careful not to add too much egg. I typically do 1 egg per pound of meat.

If you like these meatballs, check out my other chicken meatball recipe: French Onion Meatballs!