Cocktail Meatball Recipe (Sticky & Sweet, 22 Min)

Name: Cocktail Meatball Recipe (22 Min)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 1 pound minced chicken, dark meat or white ((ground pork, beef or veal good too)); 2 slices bread, torn into tiny little pieces ((about 1/3 cup breadcrumbs)); 3 tablespoon milk; 1 tablespoon grated onion ((or 1 tsp. onion powder)); 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon Ketchup; 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley or basil ((or 2 teaspoons dried)); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; Garnish: chopped green onions, toasted sesame seeds; 1/3 cup soy sauce ((light or low sodium is fine)); 1/5 cup water; 1/4 cup apple sauce ((or apple juice or cider)); 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1 tablespoon Bourbon (optional); 1/4 tablespoon chili flakes ((for mildly spicy, add more to taste)); 1 teaspoon minced garlic - or 1 clove or frozen cube ((or 1/4 tsp garlic powder)); 1 teaspoon minced/grated ginger or 1 frozen cube ( (or 1/4 tsp ginger powder)); 1 tablespoon cornstarch

ByCheryl AvrichUpdated on November 20, 2025

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5 from 12 votes

“Big hit even with a picky eater!” Natalie

This tender, sticky, sweet, spicy chicken cocktail meatball recipe is a perfect appetizer or easy weeknight meal over fluffy rice. Impressive, but so quick and easy.

Chicken meatballs with sticky sauce over white rice and bok choy on the side.

What to expect

This recipe is a fun twist on our Bourbon Chicken recipe, using chicken meatballs instead of chicken pieces – and the same sauce. I use ground chicken, but other ground meats are fine too.

The homemade meatballs are well-seasoned and have a nice, soft texture. Kids would love them. And, of course, they could be used in other dishes like our wedding soup, meatball stew or meatball subs.

They won’t be perfectly round as the mixture is on the wetter side. Adding a little extra breadcrumbs can help with that. Personally, I think the slightly odd shape gives them rustic charm and makes them look homemade, but hey, do what you have to do.

The sauce has bold flavors and can be made as spicy as you like or not at all. The bourbon is optional.

Ingredients – tailored to your taste

ground chicken, garlic, soy, bourbon, green onion, ginger, ketchup, apple sauce, garlic salt, pepper — **Ingredients**: Ground chicken, garlic, soy, bourbon, green onion, ginger, ketchup, apple sauce, garlic salt, pepper

Ground chicken: white or dark is fine. Dark meat is more flavorful.
Sauce: soy sauce, apple sauce, maple syrup (or brown sugar), apple cider vinegar, ketchup, ginger, garlic, cornstarch and optional bourbon.
Garnish: sesame seeds and green onions

Substitutions and Variations

Chicken: Feel free to use beef, pork or veal (or a combination) for the meatballs. Or use you own favorite meatball recipe.
Vary the herbs in the meatballs. I used basil – parsley would be good too.

Step by step instructions

meatball mixture — Combine ground chicken, seasonings and herbs.

meatballs formed on cutting board — Form lightly into roundish meatballs.

baked meatballs on lined baking pan. — Bake, turning halfway through.

ChiCken meatballs in a sauce in skillet. — Make sauce in a large skillet and add meatballs.

chicken meatballs with sticky sauce over white rice. — Serve over fluffy white rice or as an appetizer with toothpicks

Shortcuts

Use frozen store-bought meatballs.
Substitute fresh garlic and ginger with frozen cubes or the powder version.
Make half as many meatballs by making them larger. Bake for an extra 8-12 minutes.

What to serve with the meatballs

As a main course:
Serve over rice, rice noodles, or cauliflower rice for a lighter option. I like it with plain basmati rice and curried rice with raisins. for a pop of flavor or over cauliflower rice if I’m going lower calorie.

As an appetizer (cocktail meatballs):
Serve straight from the pan, in a shallow serving bowl, or individually on small spoons or mini plates for easy, bite-size nibbles.