Vietnamese-Style Meatballs with Chili Sauce
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
My husband calls these Vietnamese-style meatballs “flavor bombs.” Serve them over rice for a quick weeknight dinner.
My husband calls these Vietnamese-style meatballs with a deliciously bright and pungent sauce “flavor bombs” (which, by the way, is a good thing). They are flavored with fish sauce and soy sauce—two umami-rich condiments commonly used in Vietnamese cooking—along with ginger, lime, spicy Sambal Oelek (not a traditional Vietnamese ingredient, but the spicy, garlicky flavor works so well here), and fresh herbs. They practically explode with flavor. I love them over rice, but they are also delicious wrapped in lettuce cups or served over rice noodles. Be judicious with the chili sauce—a little goes a long way.
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need To Make Vietnamese-Style Meatballs
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, scallions, lime zest, cilantro, and mint.
Whisk to combine.
Add the beef, pork, and panko.
Using your hands, mix until evenly combined.
Roll the mixture into golf ball-sized balls and arrange on an unlined baking sheet. The mixture will be a bit sticky; dampen your hands every so often while rolling the meatballs if necessary.
Bake for 25 minutes, flipping once with a metal spatula halfway through the cooking time, until the meatballs are browned and cooked through.
Meanwhile, make the sauce by whisking all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Be sure the sugar is completely dissolved and not stuck to the bottom of the bowl.
Serve the meatballs drizzled with the sauce and sprinkled with scallions, cilantro, mint, and peanuts.
You May Also Like
Vietnamese-Style Meatballs with Chili Sauce
My husband calls these Vietnamese-style meatballs “flavor bombs.” Serve them over rice for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger (see note)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 scallions, finely chopped (about ¼ cup), plus a few more for serving
- 2 teaspoons lime zest, from 2 limes
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, plus more for serving
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus more for serving
- ¾ lb 85% lean ground beef
- ¾ lb ground pork
- 1 cup panko
- ½ cup chopped unsalted peanuts, for serving
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Asian chili sauce, such as Sambal Oelek, or Asian chili garlic sauce (available in Asian aisle of most supermarkets)
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- ¼ cup lime juice, from 2 to 3 limes
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, scallions, lime zest, cilantro, and mint. Whisk to combine. Add the beef, pork, and panko. Using your hands, mix until evenly combined. Roll the mixture into golf ball-sized balls and arrange on an unlined baking sheet. The mixture will be a bit sticky; dampen your hands every so often while rolling the meatballs if necessary. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping once with a metal spatula halfway through the cooking time, until the meatballs are browned and cooked through. (If the meatballs stick a bit to the pan, simply slide the metal spatula underneath them and they should release.)
- Meanwhile make the sauce by whisking all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Be sure the sugar is completely dissolved and not stuck to the bottom of the bowl. Taste and add more chili sauce if desired.
- Serve the meatballs drizzled with the sauce and sprinkled with scallions, cilantro, mint, and peanuts. (Be judicious with the sauce; it's very strong in flavor.)
- Note: Check out easy guidance on how to peel, grate, and chop fresh ginger here.
- Make Ahead: The meatballs can be made completely ahead of time and refrigerated in a tightly sealed container for 2 to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve them, reheat them in the microwave.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
Powered by 
- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 488
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated fat: 9 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Sugar: 11 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Sodium: 2046 mg
- Cholesterol: 141 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
See more recipes:
Comments
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Hi Jenn–Can I make and cook the meatballs the night before–then before serving, brush them with the sauce and reheat, serving sauce on the side? Also, I love your pairing suggestions but wonder–would this taste good with your Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe?
Yes and Yes! Enjoy!
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to make both for company soon. Truly appreciate your expertise and guidance as well as your masterful recipes. Every single one I’ve tried has become a go-to favorite for entertaining.
Happy to help! 🙂
Thank you Jenn, for this wonderfully flavored and delicious recipe. I love any kind of Vietnamese food, but these meatballs were the bomb. I made a lot of them and froze them. This way they are available anytime.
P.S. Also really food on the grill
Oh my goodness. I’ve had this recipe bookmarked for a couple of weeks now and after having made it, I cannot believe I put off making these succulent meatballs for as long as I did. I paired these meatballs with the jasmine rice (as recommended under the “pair with” tab) and roasted carrot (medallions) sprinkled with coriander. I am not the best rice maker, but I, surprisingly, did very well! There wasn’t much chit-chat tonight at dinner, I’ll tell you that! Too many missed bites otherwise! This recipe is a keeper!!! I’m looking forward to the next potluck and making these bite-sized bits of yummy to share with everyone I know! Thank you, Jenn!
HI… So what are the recipe ingredients for the sauce? I’m confused… Thanks
Hi Valerie, If you scroll down to the full recipe, the first section has the ingredients for the meatballs and the section immediately below it has the ingredients for the sauce. Hope that clarifies and that you enjoy the meatballs!
Wow! Totally amazing and delicious…. If you want to impress your family and friends and are short on time this is the recipe for you;-) Thank you Jen. You are so talented! Congratulation on your beautiful book.
❤️
Hi
I want to try this recipe. But I don’t eat pork for religious reasons. Should I substitute it with more beef or do you suggest another type of meat?
Sure, Uz – all beef will work. Enjoy!
This just didn’t do anything for me. I wish I had a different reaction as I have loved every other recipe I have tried. Can’t put my finger on what didn’t work.
Am sad.
Flavor bombs indeed!!! ABSOLUTELY DIVINE….and delicious too! I’m going to serve them for dinner with friends in 6 days. Since it took me a heck of a lot longer than 20 minutes to prepare these, I’m going to spend tomorrow making up a batch. Would I be better off freezing the meatballs UNCOOKED or cooked, then reheated? p.s. LOVE your new book, Jen. Congratulations!
Sorry to hear they took longer than you anticipated to prepare, but glad you enjoyed them! Yes, you can freeze them (I’d suggest cooking before freezing them, but you can go either way.)
Thanks Jen, I think my long prep time was due to an old dull box cheese (etc.) shredder. I just ordered a microplane to help speed up the lime zest and ground ginger operation!
You will love it!
Hi. My question had nothing to do with this recipe, but 1) I’d like to thank you for the step by step pictures you provide. 2) Will you someday do a picture tutorial on buying, peeling (if necessary ), and slicing a shallot? Also, what is the difference between the shallot, the green onion and the purple / red onion and can they be used interchangeably?
Thank you!
Hi Jeannette, Glad you find the pictures helpful. I will add purchasing/slicing a shallot to my list of potential “how-tos.” Thanks for the suggestion! This piece outlines a variety of onions and the best ways to use them.
These are soooooo good. Making them for my book club this weekend…with lamb!