These firecracker meatballs are our version of the Hello Fresh recipe and are absolutely delicious. The homemade baked meatballs are loaded with Asian flavors then served with a spicy, sweet, creamy, and savory firecracker sauce. Serve them for dinner or as an appetizer!
Complete the meal with a side of basmati rice and some roasted broccoli. And if you love meatballs, also try our hoisin meatballs!
Hello Fresh firecracker meatballs
We love Hello Fresh firecracker meatballs that are smothered in a creamy, sweet, and spicy sauce. They're pretty irresistible. But after making them a few times, we found that they're even better with a few minor changes.
- We use a mix of pork and beef for even juicier meatballs.
- Instead of breadcrumbs, we use almond flour, which makes the meatballs even more tender.
- We use more aromatics (ginger, onion, and garlic) for more flavorful meatballs.
Ingredient notes
Ground beef and pork – We use a mixture of these two to make the meatballs juicy. You could use ground chicken to turn them into firecracker chicken meatballs.
Almond flour – We've found that almond flour works the best to help the meatballs retain moisture. Quick oats are another great substitute. If you don't have either of those on hand, you can use breadcrumbs.
Sriracha – This is our hot sauce of choice for this recipe as it has lots of flavor but isn't crazy spicy. If you choose another brand, you may want to add more or less depending on how spicy it is.
Soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and green onions – These four give the meatballs so much flavor.
The firecracker sauce
- Mayonnaise and sour cream – Both can be light to reduce calories. For a dairy-free version, use all mayonnaise.
- Honey – Make sure to use liquid honey so it blends well into the sauce.
- Sriracha – The flavor of sriracha works well in the sauce. Add more if you want it spicier.
- Rice vinegar – You can also use apple cider vinegar.
Ingredients
MEATBALLS
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- ½ cup almond flour
- 2 tablespoons sriracha
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- 2 tablespoons grated ginger
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 green onions (chopped (whites for the meatballs and greens to serve))
- Sesame seeds (to serve)
FIRECRACKER SAUCE
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (can be light)
- 2 tablespoons sour cream (can be light)
- 2 tablespoons liquid honey
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar (can sub apple cider vinegar)
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Form into 1 ½ inch meatballs – a medium-sized cookie scoop works great for this! Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.1 lb ground beef, 1 lb ground pork, ½ cup almond flour, 2 tablespoons sriracha, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons grated ginger, 4 cloves garlic, 4 green onions
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While the meatballs are in the oven, mix the firecracker sauce in a medium-sized bowl then set it aside.2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 2 tablespoons liquid honey, 1 tablespoon sriracha, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- When the meatballs are fully cooked, remove them from the oven, plate them, then drizzle them with the firecracker sauce and sprinkle the green onions and some sesame seeds over the top.
