Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake
A comforting oven-baked dinner with tender honey garlic meatballs, fluffy rice, and colorful vegetables soaked in a sweet-savory sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven-Baked
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, Comfort Food
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
450g ground beef or ground chicken
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Sauce:
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium recommended)
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons water
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 teaspoon water (optional, for slurry)
For the Bake:
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
1/2 cup diced bell peppers
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup green onions, chopped (optional garnish)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Form into 20–24 small meatballs.
Brown the meatballs: In a skillet over medium heat, sear meatballs for 2–3 minutes per side until browned (they do not need to be cooked through).
Make the sauce: In a saucepan, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, water, and garlic. Optional: Stir in cornstarch slurry and simmer until slightly thickened.
Assemble the bake:
Spread uncooked rice evenly in the bottom of the baking dish.
Add bell peppers and peas, drizzle with oil or butter.
Pour in the broth and stir lightly to combine.
Nestle meatballs into the rice mixture.
Pour sauce over the meatballs.
Bake covered with foil for 40 minutes.
Uncover and bake an additional 10–15 minutes, until rice is tender and meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Garnish with chopped green onions and serve warm.
Notes
Use low-sodium soy sauce to prevent the dish from becoming too salty.
Ground chicken gives a lighter texture; ground beef adds richness.
You can substitute frozen mixed veggies for variety.
If rice is still firm after baking, cover and bake an extra 5–10 minutes.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Find it online: http://elladishes.com/honey-garlic-meatball-rice-bake/
