Orange Chicken Meatballs

These easy Orange Chicken Meatballs are a fun twist on orange chicken! There’s a sweet and tangy orange sauce that covers tender chicken meatballs and it’s just SO GOOD. This recipe is flavor packed, easy to make, and the perfect weeknight dinner option.

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What I Love About These Orange Chicken Meatballs 

1. Quick – These meatballs don’t take a ton of time to make which is why I love to make them for a quick weeknight dinner. The meatballs themselves cook quickly and the sauce comes together in a few minutes.
2. Easy to Make – quick recipes have to be easy recipes and these meatballs really couldn’t be easier to make. The hardest part is just gathering your ingredients!
3. Great for Meal Prep – I like to make a batch of these meatballs ahead of time, and then store them in the freezer on those nights when I really need something FAST!

More Reader Favorite Chicken Recipes

• Ground Chicken Tacos
• The Best Chicken Burgers
• Baked Chicken Parmesan
• Easy Shredded Buffalo Chicken 
• Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
• Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Recipe Ingredients

Egg: you’ll need one large egg for this recipe.

Ground Chicken: you can use either ground chicken thighs or chicken breast. Both will work!

Garlic & Ginger: fresh garlic and fresh ginger are must-haves to give the meatballs some really great flavor.

Coconut Aminos: coconut aminos are a common soy-free substitute for soy sauce that can be used in several recipes. They are similar to soy sauce but taste just slightly sweeter. You can find this in the Asian aisle of your local grocery, usually near the soy sauce.

Sesame Oil: we’re using a little bit of sesame oil both in the chicken marinade and sauce.

Arrowroot Starch: this is used to thicken the orange sauce a bit so that it evenly coats each meatball.

Rice Vinegar: Helps to add a little tang and subtle sweetness to the sauce.

Honey: this gives the sauce that classic sweetness.

Orange Juice and Zest: the base of the orange sauce is orange juice. I also like to add a bit of orange zest to really drive home that fresh orange flavor.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Egg – if you have an egg allergy, you can swap the egg for one tablespoon of almond or coconut milk.
• Ground chicken – don’t have ground chicken? swap it for ground turkey or pork instead!
• Honey – you can easily swap the honey in this recipe for maple syrup instead.
• Coconut aminos – I highly recommend using coconut aminos in this recipe and not soy sauce or liquid aminos. Replacing the coconut aminos 1:1 with soy sauce will make the dish too salty. 

How to Make Orange Chicken Meatballs

Step One: Add the meatball ingredients to a small mixing bowl, and use your hands to mix until well combined. Next, use a cookie dough scoop or tablespoon to scoop out the chicken mixture, and use your hands to shape it into meatballs.

Step Two: Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and add a tablespoon of oil. Next, add the meatballs to the hot skillet, and cook for roughly 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until browned. 

Step Three: While the meatballs are cooking, add all of the sauce ingredients to a mixing bowl or large measuring cup. Then, whisk until well combined.

Step Four: Once all of the meatballs have been cooked and removed from the skillet, rinse and wipe out your skillet. Then, return it to the stove over medium heat.

Step Five: Next, add the sauce to the skillet. Bring the sauce to a boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1 to 3 minutes or until it has thickened and coats the back of a spoon.

Step Six: Return the meatballs to the skillet, and simmer for another 1 to 2 minutes while stirring to ensure they are well coated in the sauce.

Step Seven: Serve the meatballs and sauce over white rice. Garnish with cilantro, green onion, and sesame seeds, and enjoy warm! 

Tips and Tricks 

• When mixing the ingredients for the chicken meatballs, be careful not to overmix the mixture. Overmixing can result in tough and dry meatballs. Mix the ingredients just until everything is combined but not mushy.
• Before rolling the meatballs lightly wet your hands with cold water to prevent the mixture from sticking to them. Trust me on this! It makes the process so much easier!
• When forming the meatballs try using a cookie dough scoop to portion the meatball mixture. Then, roll the balls in between your hands. This makes things so much easier and ensures you have equal-sized meatballs which also means they’ll cook evenly!
• Work in batches, leaving space in between each meatball. It’s important not to overcrowd the skillet. Otherwise, the meatballs won’t cook evenly or brown well.
• For perfectly cooked meatballs, every single time, use a meat thermometer to ensure that each meatball reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
• Want to make your life even easier in the future? Try making a double batch of the meatball mixture. Combine all the ingredients. Then, transfer the mixture to a freezer-safe storage container, and freeze for later. There’s more on freezing and reheating a little later in this post!

Serving Suggestions

There are a few different ways you can serve these meatballs, and they are all absolutely delicious. I encourage you to get creative but, I’ll share some of my favorite ways to eat these yummy meatballs to get you started! 

• Rice or Noodles: My favorite way to serve the orange chicken meatballs is over rice or brown rice noodles and with steamed or roasted broccoli or green beans! The rice or noodles will soak up the delicious orange sauce, adding texture and flavor to the dish. Plus, adding a side of rice or noodles will make the meal feel more complete.
• Stir-Fried Vegetables: Pair the meatballs with a side of stir-fried vegetables such as broccoli, red onions, carrots, and snap peas. The vibrant colors and crisp textures will contrast nicely with the tender meatballs. This is a great option to also pair with a bit of rice!

How to Store and Reheat

• Store the leftovers in an airtight storage container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
• To reheat, warm the meatballs and sauce in 30-second intervals in the microwave. 

Can I Freeze The Meatballs? 

Yes! Freeze these meatballs either baked or unbaked. They’re great for meal prep! 

• To freeze unbaked meatballs:  Prepare the meatball mixture according to the recipe instructions. Then, instead of shaping it into balls, transfer it to a freezer-safe storage container or sealable bag. Freeze for up to 2 to 3 months.
• To freeze baked meatballs: Prepare and cook the meatballs according to the package instructions. Then, allow them to cool completely before transferring them to a sealable bag. Freeze for 2 to 3 months. 
• To serve: Thaw the raw meatball mixture in the fridge overnight. Then, shape, and bake them as normal. Or, thaw the baked meatballs, and reheat in the oven or microwave. 

More Delicious Meatball Recipes

• Greek Chicken Meatballs
• Chicken Pesto Meatballs
• Sweet and Sour Meatballs
• Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
• Pesto Turkey Meatballs
• Red Curry Meatballs

Find all our favorite meatball recipes! 

I hope you give these Orange Chicken Meatballs a try! They are so easy to make and delicious! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know!

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Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: THE MINDFUL HAPA