Description
A comforting one-dish meal with tender meatballs, a sweet-savory honey garlic sauce, and fluffy baked rice.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or ground chicken
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional but recommended)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 1 cup uncooked white rice (long grain or jasmine)
- 2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1/2 cup diced bell peppers (any color)
- 1/2 cup frozen peas (no need to thaw)
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13″ baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper, and salt. Mix gently, roll into 1–1½″ balls (20–24 total), then brown them in a skillet for 2–3 minutes per side.
- Whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, water, and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat until bubbling. For extra thickness, stir in cornstarch mixed with a little water and cook another minute.
- Layer the rice in the greased dish, scatter the peppers and peas, drizzle with olive oil or butter, then pour in the broth and stir lightly. Nestle the meatballs on top and drizzle everything with the honey garlic sauce.
- Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes, then uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until the rice is tender, liquid absorbed, and top slightly golden. Meatballs should reach 165°F (74°C).
- Let it rest for 5–10 minutes, then sprinkle with green onions before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use ground turkey or plant-based meatballs.
- Add grated ginger or a swirl of sriracha/chili flakes for extra flavor.
- Feel free to include extra veggies like carrots, corn, zucchini, or spinach.
- For a cheesy twist, sprinkle shredded mozzarella or cheddar in the last 10 minutes of baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
