Description
These Asian Meatballs with Yakisoba combine flavorful, tender beef meatballs baked to perfection with a vibrant honey sesame stir-fried yakisoba noodle dish. The recipe features aromatic ginger, garlic, and a savory-sweet homemade sauce that ties everything together for a delicious and satisfying meal perfect for weeknights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 egg
- 12 Ritz or Saltine cracker crumbs (or scant ½ cup panko breadcrumbs)
- 4 green onions, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or ½ teaspoon garlic powder)
- ½ tablespoon freshly grated ginger (or ½ teaspoon ground ginger)
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound lean ground beef
Noodles and Vegetables
- 1 (17.76 oz) package Fortune Yakisoba Noodles
- 1 tablespoon neutral, high smoke point oil (peanut, canola, vegetable)
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
- 1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks
- 2 green onions, chopped ¼-inch, white and green parts separated
- 1 cup snap peas
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced (or ¾ teaspoon garlic powder)
Honey Sesame Sauce
- 1 seasoning packet from Fortune Yakisoba Noodles
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 ½ tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons rice wine
- 2 teaspoons Asian chili sauce, more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Garnish
- Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Make Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients except the ground beef—egg, cracker crumbs, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. Whisk thoroughly to combine.
Then add the ground beef and gently mix with your hands until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat. - Form and Bake Meatballs: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, place a baking rack on top, and spray lightly with cooking spray.
Using a small cookie scoop (about 1½ tablespoon capacity), form the meat mixture into even meatballs and arrange them on the rack, ensuring they don’t touch.
Bake for 18-22 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) and they are fully cooked. - Cook Yakisoba Noodles: While the meatballs bake, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Once boiling, turn off the heat and add the yakisoba noodles.
Using chopsticks or tongs, gently stir for up to 1 minute to loosen and separate noodles without overcooking.
Drain the noodles in a colander and rinse with cold water.
Drain thoroughly and toss with toasted sesame oil to prevent sticking. Set aside. - Prepare Honey Sesame Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the seasoning packet from the yakisoba noodles, honey, low sodium soy sauce, ketchup, oyster sauce, rice wine, Asian chili sauce, toasted sesame oil, and cornstarch until smooth.
Set aside for later use. - Stir-Fry Vegetables: Heat 1 tablespoon of high smoke point oil in a large cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the red bell pepper strips, carrot matchsticks, and white parts of the green onions.
Stir-fry for 2 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp.
Add the snap peas, minced garlic, and grated ginger and stir-fry for an additional 1 minute.
If the pan looks dry, add a splash of extra oil to prevent sticking. - Add Sauce and Noodles: Pour the prepared honey sesame sauce into the skillet with the vegetables.
Stir well to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer for about 1 minute.
Add the prepared noodles and toss thoroughly to coat evenly and warm the noodles through for about 1 minute.
Remove the skillet from heat. - Combine Meatballs and Garnish: Add the baked meatballs and the green parts of the chopped green onions to the skillet.
Toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
Optional: garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- Do not overcook the yakisoba noodles during boiling; turning off the heat before adding noodles prevents them from becoming mushy.
- Using a baking rack allows the meatballs to cook evenly and retain their texture.
- Adjust the amount of Asian chili sauce according to your preferred spice level.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free soy sauce and substitute crackers or breadcrumbs accordingly.
- Ensure meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F for safe consumption.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian
