Spicy Meatball Recipe

Rating 5.0
| 4
| Last Updated on June 12, 2024
This Korean-inspired spicy meatball features a spicy, crimson-hued gochujang (a Korean red chili paste) glaze. These juicy and umami-packed meatballs are great served with rice or noodles.
Utensils Appetizer
Globe Korean
19
ingredients
8
steps
40
minutes
Chef Melissa uses cooking to bring food enthusiasts together, and to celebrate cultures and curiosities. After spending her youth in her home country of Taiwan, she worked as a food writer and spent dozens of years in Boston honing her craft alongside renowned chefs. Part story-teller, part educator, and part food and wine lover, Chef Melissa blends her Asian roots, her world travels and her love of food and culture to bring joy and inspiration to people everywhere.

Ingredients

Servings:
4
For the Meatballs
1 lb
ground beef chuck, 20% fat blend
1/2 lb
ground pork shoulder, see notes 1
2 tbsp
gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
1 1/2
bunch of scallions, thinly sliced, divided
2
garlic cloves, grated
1
2-inch piece of ginger, grated
2 tbsp
Korean radish, grated large on a box grater, see notes 2
1
egg, lightly beaten
1 tbsp
dry milk powder
1/2 cup(s)
fine breadcrumbs
1 batch of gochujang glaze, see below
white sesame seeds, for garnish
For the Gochujang Glaze
1 cup(s)
beef stock
1 tbsp
gochujang chili paste, see notes 3
2 tbsp
cider vinegar
1/4 cup(s)
honey
1/4 cup(s)
dark soy sauce
2 tbsp
cornstarch
2 tbsp
toasted white sesame seeds
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Directions 8 steps | 40 Minutes

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Make the meatballs. Place the beef chuck and pork shoulder in a medium bowl.

Spicy Meatball Recipe: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 2

Add the gochujang, sliced scallions, grated garlic, grated ginger, grated Korean radish, beaten egg, dry milk powder and bread crumbs into the bowl.

Spicy Meatball Recipe: Add the gochujang, sliced scallions, grated garlic, grated ginger, grated Korean radish, beaten egg, dry milk powder and bread crumbs into the bowl.
Step 3

Mix thoroughly to combine. The mixture should be a little sticky but dry enough to hold its shape. Add more bread crumbs if needed.

Spicy Meatball Recipe: 
Mix thoroughly to combine.
Step 4

Shape the meat mixture into 1-inch diameter meatballs or your desired size. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the oven and keep warm.

Spicy Meatball Recipe: 
Shape the meat mixture into 1-inch diameter meatballs or your desired size.
Step 5

While the meatballs are baking, make the gochujang glaze. In a small pot over medium heat, add the beef stock, gochujang, cider vinegar and honey. Bring to a boil.

Spicy Meatball Recipe: 
While the meatballs are baking, make the gochujang glaze.
Step 6

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and the soy sauce and whisk together until combined. Add the cornstarch mixture into the beef stock mixture and whisk vigorously to combine. Bring the sauce back to a boil and then remove from the heat. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the meatballs.

Spicy Meatball Recipe: 
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and the soy sauce and whisk together until combined.
Step 7

Stir in the toasted sesame seeds.

Spicy Meatball Recipe: 
Stir in the toasted sesame seeds.
Step 8

Toss the cooked meatballs and the sauce in a bowl. Serve on plates with the sliced scallions on top and more sesame seeds.

Spicy Meatball Recipe: Toss the cooked meatballs and the sauce in a bowl.

Notes:

  1. Pork is added to the meatball for a softer texture. If ground pork is not available, then you can use 100% beef. 
  2. The Korean radish is added to the meatball for added moisture. This can also be substituted with other seasonal vegetables, like carrots or summer squash.
  3. Gochujang can be added or taken from the sauce to adjust the heat.  

Storage:

  • The meatballs freeze well. First, individually place the meatballs on a sheet pan in the freezer.  Once frozen, they can be stored in a plastic zip-top bag for a couple of months.
  • They are great for a quick appetizer. The meatballs should be thawed in the refrigerator before cooking. 
  • The meatballs can also be cooked then stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheated and tossed with the glaze.

Nutrition Per Serving
View All
CALORIES
529
FAT
21.1 g
PROTEIN
43.6 g
CARBS
43.2 g
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4 Comments
4 Comments
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Carmela G.

Carmela

Cozymeal Team Member

13 Jul 2022

You will definitely eat a lot with this recipe. Delicious. Not too spicy but there is a kick.

Reply to this comment
Sam N.

Sam

11 Jul 2022

Great recipe! Simple and delicious! And really nice video.

Reply to this comment
Jessica S.

Jessica

11 Jul 2022

I saw this recipe a while back and kept waiting for the right time to make it...made them this weekend and they were SOOO yummy! Kiddos and parents were both pleased with this one!!

Reply to this comment

Cozymeal Team

11 Jul 2022

Umami! Perfect with rice ?

Reply to this comment