Banh Mi Meatballs: a quick and easy meatball recipe that’s loaded with fun flavor. Serve over rice as a meal, or with toothpicks as an appetizer!
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Bánh Mì, that classic Vietnamese sandwich that has me hooked with its pork-meets-fresh-meets-pickled goodness, takes a turn down easy street with this recipe for Banh Mi Meatballs.
Enjoying these addictive flavors just doesn’t get any easier than this. Serve this easy meatball recipe over rice as a meal, or with toothpicks as an appetizer!
This banh mi meatballs recipe comes straight from the pages of Cast Iron Gourmet, written by my friend Megan of Country Cleaver.
If you follow Megan, then you already know that she loves, loves, loves her cast iron skillets and cookware. And she definitely knows her way around the kitchen, sharing fun recipes that are loaded with flavor and boast a beautiful presentation.
And.
She has a way with her recipes that especially speak to people who are looking for gourmet dishes and flavors, but with simpler time-saving techniques and ingredients. Cast Iron Gourmet is PACKED with deliciousness!
I like to use local Minnesota Simek’s mini pork meatballs when I make this recipe. A regular sized pork meatball would also be great.
In her cookbook, Megan suggests that if you can’t find pork meatballs, just go ahead and substitute beef meatballs.
The flavorful sauce comes together super quickly and tastes fantastic. I promise you, you’ll be dipping your spoon in the sauce repeatedly, waiting for the meatballs to finish cooking.
Completely addictive!
Banh Mi Meatballs are versatile:
- Serve them straight from the skillet with toothpicks, as an appetizer.
- Tuck them inside buns, similar to a classic bánh mì.
- Or serve them over rice, for a full-on meal.
My version of this dish includes my nearly famous pickled red onions, plus fresh mint and lime. I just have to have these items whenever I enjoy bánh mì.
I’m a total condiments girl.
But these extras are definitely not necessary.
Either way, I promise you’ll experience awesomeness.
Like this banh mi recipe? Pin it!
Banh Mi Meatballs
Ingredients
- 24 oz. mini or regular size pork meatballs frozen (beef meatballs would also work well)
- ½ c. sweet chili sauce purchased or homemade
- ¼ c. low-sodium teriyaki sauce
- 1 T. fish sauce
- 1 c. shredded carrot
- ¼ c. chopped cilantro
- ¼ c. thinly sliced jalapeño
optional condiments:
- ¼ c. chopped mint
- pickled red onions
- lime wedges for squeezing fresh juice over the top right before eating
Instructions
- Heat 12" cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, turning every minute or so.
- In a small bowl, combine sweet chili sauce, teriyaki sauce, and fish sauce. Pour sauce into skillet and toss meatballs to coat. Cover skillet and let meatballs cook for about 10 minutes, until thoroughly warmed and meatballs reach 165° F, stirring every few minutes. If you want to thicken the sauce a bit, uncover skillet and turn up heat to medium-high. Stir regularly until sauce is thickened to your liking.Remove skillet from heat and then scatter carrots, cilantro, and jalapeño over the top. If you like, also sprinkle with fresh mint and serve with pickled red onions and lime wedges.
Serving suggestions:
- over rice, as a main entree
- tucked inside a bun, like traditional bánh mì
- with toothpicks, as an appetizer
Notes
Nutrition Information:
You might also like:
- Bánh Mì Salad with Sriracha Vinaigrette
- Meatballs with Honey Oyster Ginger Sauce
- Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Beef
- Braised Caramel Pork Belly Bánh Mì from White on Rice Couple
- Bánh Mì Pizza from Cooking Light
- Bánh Mì Bowls with Lemongrass Meatballs from Pinch of Yum
This was delicious and easy to make. I added pickled red onions from the grocery store and squeezed lime juice in at the end. Served on top of rice.
I made these last night for a huge company dinner and it was the first dish that disappeared. They were scraping the sauce to put it on other dishes I made. This was so easy to make. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to taste it but I know it was well received. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing.
So HAPPY to hear this, Elle! Thank you for coming back to comment and rate! :)
Made it tonight for dinner! Served in lettuce leaves with all the condiments on top and a side of tropical rice. Thickened the sauce a little with cornstarch slurry and spooned it over the top. Really a delicious and simple dish. Thank you!
Super tasty and fun! turned out AMAZING.
Any suggestions on how to pickled the red onion.I know how to pickled onions but want to know if you have special ingredients that will make the recipe special. Thanks.
love meatballs, love jalapenos, love pickled red onions, and love these flavors, I’ve been looking for more recipes without bread, love banh mi but limiting my bread intake, so thank you for this recipe!
Ooooh, baby, I love Bánh Mì sandwiches! I can’t wait to try this meatball version, they look amazing!
Banh Mi’s are the BOMB! And in meatballs version? YEAS. I need that book!
hey girl- yummy!
Megan is the best!! I constantly cook from her cookbook and definitely need to make these!!
Brenda I am so pleased you liked these!! And with Super Bowl around the corner they are a GREAT appetizer!!! Ps your quick pickled onions are INSANE!! I use that recipe all the time!