Chinese glazed chicken meatballs in the airfryer
Juicy chicken meatballs brushed with a sweet-spicy Chinese glaze and cooked crispy in the airfryer. Ready in under half an hour and perfect with rice, salad, or as a tapas-style dinner.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Brush
- 1 Bagepapir (til airfryer)
Ingredients
Chicken meatballs
- 500 g ground chicken
- 1 pcs. egg
- 3 tbsp panko breadcrumbs
- 2 cloves garlic Finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger Finely grated
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp salt- 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pcs. spring onion Finely chopped
Sweet-spicy glaze
- 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sambal oelek Or sriracha
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic Finely chopped
Topping
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds Light or mixed
- 1 pcs. spring onion Cut into thin rings
- 1 pcs. red chili In thin rings, optional
Instructions
Preparation
- Add 500 g ground chicken to a mixing bowl along with 1 pcs. egg, 3 tbsp panko breadcrumbs, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp fresh ginger, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp salt, 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper and 2 pcs. spring onion. Knead the mixture briefly with wet hands until it holds together well and smoothly.
- Shape the mixture into 16 uniform meatballs of about 35 grams each. Place them on a plate and refrigerate while you mix the glaze.
- Whisk 3 tbsp hoisin sauce, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp sambal oelek, 1 tsp sesame oil and 1 clove garlic together in a small bowl until the glaze is uniform and glossy.
Cooking in the airfryer
- Preheat the airfryer to 180 °C convection for 3 minutes.
- Place a sheet of airfryer parchment paper in the basket and arrange the meatballs with plenty of space so they get crispy all the way around. Cook for 10 minutes at 180 °C, turning them gently halfway through.
- Brush the meatballs generously with glaze and cook for another 4-5 minutes at 180 °C, until the glaze is caramelized and glossy. Feel free to brush one extra time after 2 minutes for deeper flavor and shine. Check that the core temperature is at least 75 °C.
Serving
- Place the meatballs on a serving plate and sprinkle with 1 tbsp sesame seeds, 1 pcs. spring onion and 1 pcs. red chili. Serve immediately with steamed rice and crunchy Asian salad.
Notes
Tips for perfect results:
Knead the mixture briefly and let it rest in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before shaping the meatballs — they hold their shape better and stay juicier. Brush on the glaze only toward the end of cooking, as the sugar in hoisin and honey quickly burns under direct heat. Variation:
Swap sambal oelek for sriracha for a milder, more tangy profile. Add a pinch of five-spice to the mixture for an even more pronounced Chinese character, or stir in a little grated lime zest for freshness. Serving:
Serve with jasmine rice and a quick cucumber salad with rice vinegar and sesame, or serve the meatballs as a tapas-style starter with small lettuce leaves and a soft dipping sauce. Portion size:
If your airfryer is smaller, you can cook the meatballs in two batches — keep the first batch warm under foil while the second cooks.
Knead the mixture briefly and let it rest in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before shaping the meatballs — they hold their shape better and stay juicier. Brush on the glaze only toward the end of cooking, as the sugar in hoisin and honey quickly burns under direct heat. Variation:
Swap sambal oelek for sriracha for a milder, more tangy profile. Add a pinch of five-spice to the mixture for an even more pronounced Chinese character, or stir in a little grated lime zest for freshness. Serving:
Serve with jasmine rice and a quick cucumber salad with rice vinegar and sesame, or serve the meatballs as a tapas-style starter with small lettuce leaves and a soft dipping sauce. Portion size:
If your airfryer is smaller, you can cook the meatballs in two batches — keep the first batch warm under foil while the second cooks.
Nutrition
Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 32gFat: 12gSaturated fat: 3gPolyunsaturated fat: 3gMonounsaturated fat: 4gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 1250mgPotassium: 450mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mgNet carbohydrates: 17g
