Ditch Hello Fresh and make these easy and delicious Firecracker Chicken Meatballs yourself! They're perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep.
I love serving these with fluffy rice and crisp green beans. You get all the takeout-style flavour without the extra cost or heaviness, and it comes together in just 30 minutes!
Why you'll love this recipe
- Big flavour with minimal effort: The firecracker sauce adds a sweet and spicy kick that makes these meatballs taste like restaurant-quality, but they’re also super easy to make at home.
- Great for meal prep: These reheat like a dream and pair perfectly with rice and veggies for a balanced lunch or dinner all week long.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Sour cream – plain Greek yogurt for a higher-protein or lower-fat option.
- Mayonnaise – I prefer using light mayo but you can use full-fat if that's what you have on hand.
- Garlic (minced) – garlic powder works in a pinch.
- Yellow onion – swap with red onion or shallots if preferred.
- Sesame oil – use olive oil if you don’t have sesame, but the flavour will be milder.
- Sriracha chili sauce – use any hot sauce you like or reduce the amount for a milder version.
- Sweet chili sauce – mix honey with a splash of vinegar and chili flakes if you don’t have any.
- Green beans – use with broccoli, snap peas or your favourite veggie.
- Long grain white rice – brown rice, jasmine rice or quinoa are great substitutes.
- Lean ground chicken – ground turkey or ground pork works well too.
- Paprika – you can use smoked paprika or chili powder depending on your taste preference.
How to make firecracker meatballs
Step 1: Cook the rice.
Cook until the liquid is fully absorbed.
Step 2: Prepare the meatball mixture.
Mix ground chicken with onion, garlic, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, paprika, salt and pepper.
Step 3: Add green beans.
Wash and trim both ends of green beans.
Step 4: Form and bake the meatballs.
Roll the mixture into meatballs and line on baking sheet. Add green beans on the side, then bake.
Step 5: Make the firecracker sauce.
Stir mayo, sour cream, sweet chili sauce and sriracha to make the sauce.
Step 6: Assemble and serve.
Serve meatballs and green beans over cooked rice, then drizzle the firecracker sauce overtop. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Variations
Here are some tips to make sure your firecracker meatballs turn out perfectly every time! I also included some easy customizations.
- Mix gently: Avoid overmixing the meatball mixture. Just like cake batter, overworking it can make the meatballs tough instead of tender.
- Make even-sized meatballs: Use a kitchen scale or a cookie scoop to portion the meatballs evenly. Aim for about 2 ounces (45 grams) each so they cook evenly.
- Lightly oil your hands: To make rolling the meatballs easier and less sticky, lightly coat your hands with oil or water before you start.
- Switch up the protein: Ground turkey, beef or pork work just as well if you want to change things up.
- Adjust the heat: For a milder version, replace part of the sriracha with ketchup or barbecue sauce. You can always add extra spice later with hot sauce or red pepper flakes!
Frequently asked questions
Can I air fry the meatballs instead of baking?
Absolutely! Air fry at 400°F for about 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through.
How do I make these gluten-free?
Double-check your sweet chili sauce and sriracha for gluten. Otherwise, the recipe is naturally gluten-free.
Can I use store-bought frozen meatballs?
Yes, absolutely! Just cook them according to the package instructions, then toss with the homemade firecracker sauce. It’s a great shortcut when you’re short on time.
What to serve with this dish
These spicy-sweet meatballs pair well with a variety of sides if you’re looking to switch things up:
- Lettuce wraps: For a low-carb option, serve the meatballs wrapped in romaine or butter lettuce with a drizzle of firecracker sauce.
- Crispy roasted potatoes or sweet potato fries: A hearty option that balances the heat from the sauce.
- Asian-style slaw: Something crunchy and refreshing like a cabbage slaw with a sesame dressing works really well.
- Garlic noodles: Toss some cooked noodles in soy sauce, garlic and a splash of sesame oil for a quick side.
- Stir-fried veggies: Bell peppers, snap peas, broccoli or mushrooms make a great complement to the bold flavours.
- Cucumber salad: A tangy cucumber salad helps balance the spice and adds crunch.
How to store and reheat
Make ahead: Prepare the meatballs and sauce separately up to 2 days in advance and store in the fridge.
Store: Keep cooked meatballs and sauce in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Warm meatballs in the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat until heated through. Add sauce after reheating if needed.
Freeze and reheat from frozen: Freeze cooked meatballs (without sauce) for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat and toss with fresh sauce.
Meal prep tools
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls for your leftovers.
- A rice cooker is invaluable for saving time, and it cooks other grains, too!
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your meatballs are cooked through.
Firecracker Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken or ground beef
- 1 yellow onion grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 1 tsp sriracha
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
Rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 cup white rice
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 pinch salt
Green beans
- 1 lb green beans about 4 cups, ends trimmed
- 2 tsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Firecracker sauce
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 1 tsp sriracha
Instructions
- Add water, rice, sesame oil and salt to a rice cooker or pot on the stove and cook until liquid has absorbed.
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Mix ground chicken, grated onion, minced garlic, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, paprika and salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Roll into meatballs and add to one half of a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add green beans to the other half of the baking sheet, then drizzle with a bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake meatballs and green beans together for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix mayo, sour cream, sweet chili sauce and sriracha together to make the firecracker sauce.
- Top cooked meatballs and green beans over rice, then drizzle meatballs with firecracker sauce. Serve and enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
Tara says
These firecracker meatballs are amazeballs!
My 10 yo son actually loved it! 👍👍
Katie Didow says
I can’t get over how good these are!