Baked Mongolian Beef Meatballs - The Defined Dish Recipes (2024)

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One of the most popular recipes from my blog is this Whole30 Mongolian Beef. It’s been around forever, and you guys just can’t get enough of it. Another thing that *everyone* loves is MEATBALLS. So when I had some ground beef the other night in my fridge but was craving Mongolian Beef I thought, let’s make Mongolian Beef Meatballs. Great decision.

Baked Mongolian Beef Meatballs - The Defined Dish Recipes (1)

With this recipe, everything is done right in your oven to help make for an easier clean up and less brain work. The end result is a delightful new savory meatball recipe that will scratch the itch for your take-out chinese cravings in a fun, new Whole30 way. I love that these meatballs can be served for dinner (alongside some rice, cauliflower rice, sauteed veggies, or roasted veggies) OR they could make for a super fun appetizer at a party! I’ll leave that up to you.

I get my grass-fed, grass-finished beef products from ButcherBox, which you an learn more about here. Right now, ButcherBox is proud to offer the Defined Dish community ground beef for life + $20 off your first order! All new members will receive 2 pounds of pasture-raised, 100% grass-fed and grass-finished ground beef in every box for the lifetime of their subscription. Ground beef is always great to have on-hand in your freezer for last-minute meals, so take advantage of this great offer. Ground Beef for life ends on 3/29/2020, but you can always click the link for the most up-to-date offer.

Baked Mongolian Beef Meatballs - The Defined Dish Recipes (2)

Baked Mongolian Beef Meatballs - The Defined Dish Recipes (3)

4.86 from 21 votes

Baked Mongolian Beef Meatballs

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Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 2 lbs. ground beef 85% lean
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp coconut aminos I like Big Tree Farms Brand
  • 2 tbsp arrowroot flour
  • 1/2 tsp finely and freshly grated ginger about 1/2 inch knob of ginger, peeled
  • 2 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper black pepper is okay, too
  • 1/3 cup chopped green onion white and light green parts only

For the Sauce:

  • 1.5 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 3 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp red boat fish sauce
  • 2 tsp arrowroot flour
  • 1/4 cup beef broth
  • 1 tbsp ketchup I use Primal Kitchen unsweetened
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper [or more if you like it hot] optional, for spicy

For Serving:

  • 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 1/4 thinly sliced green onions green part only

Instructions

Make the Meatballs:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and drizzle oil in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.

  • In a large bowl, place the ground beef, egg, coconut aminos, arrowroot, ginger, garlic, salt, pepper and green onion. Using your hands, mix until the meat is just combined (try not to overwork the meat and over mix here).

  • Roll into 1.5 inch round meatballs and place in the prepared baking dish. Bake in the oven until cooked through and lightly browned on the edges, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sauce:

Finish the Meatballs:

  • When the meatballs are browned and cooked through, remove them from the oven (but keep the oven on). Using tongs, carefully transfer the cooked meatballs to a paper towel lined plate. Discard the excess fat in the bottom of the baking dish and using a paper towel, gently wipe down the inside of the dish.

  • Place the cooked meatballs back into the dish and pour sauce over the meatballs. Transfer back into the oven and cook until the sauce has thickened, about 8 minutes.

  • Remove from oven and transfer meatballs to a serving plate. Spoon sauce over the meatballs and then garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Alex Snodgrass

Servings: 4 people

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Appetizers Appetizers Dinner Dinner Football Foods Gluten-Free Paleo Recipes Whole30

Welcome! I’m Alex.

I’m a food lover sharing healthy, simple, delicious, recipes from my kitchen to yours. Here you’ll find lots of Whole30, lots of healthy, and a little indulgence here and there because…it’s all about balance y’all!

Get to know Alex

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Baked Mongolian Beef Meatballs - The Defined Dish Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to bake or simmer meatballs? ›

Baking them gives the meatballs a little more flavor without additional oil since you are searing the outside under the broiler in your oven. Just make sure you bake them on a really heavy-duty baking sheet like this one.

Why do you put baking soda in meatballs? ›

Baking Soda is an Easy Meat Tenderizer

Baking soda helps prevent ground beef from drying out, allowing those burger patties to keep their moisture and brown quicker for the most flavorful cookout.

How do you ensure meatballs are cooked through? ›

Cook until they are no longer pink in the middle and any juices run clear. You'll need to turn them regularly to make sure they cook evenly and retain their round shape.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, these meatballs should be fully cooked through and evenly browned in about 30 minutes.

Should I bake meatballs on foil or parchment paper? ›

If you lightly coat your hands with olive oil or cooking spray before rolling the meatballs, they will form better and crack less. Bake meatballs on parchment paper. It makes for even cooking and easy cleanup, not to mention juicy meatballs!

Do you need to flip meatballs in the oven? ›

Add meatballs and cook, turning occasionally until brown on all sides and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

How do you know when baked meatballs are done? ›

Place the sheet pan with the meatballs into the 350 degree f oven for 25-30 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Check the meatballs with a meat thermometer to make sure they are 165 degrees in the middle.

How do you know when meatballs are done in the oven? ›

A good rule of thumb is to bake meatballs for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees fahrenheit. Every oven is different so the cooking time will not be the same for everyone. You will know the meatballs are ready when the internal temperature of the meatballs is 165 degrees.

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

Milk: Milk adds moisture, ensuring the meatballs don't dry out during the cooking process. Onion: An onion lends bold flavor. Meat: You'll need a pound of ground beef and a pound of ground pork. Egg: An egg adds moisture and helps bind the meatballs together.

Why add milk when making meatballs? ›

When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

Why do my meatballs fall apart when I cook them? ›

Don't add much apart from meat

Don't add too many non-meat ingredients to your meatballs. Herbs and spices are fine, but once you start adding loads of chopped vegetables you'll be creating all sorts of difficulty when it comes to getting it all to stick together.

Can meatballs be a little pink inside? ›

To be sure all harmful bacteria are destroyed, cook all ground beef products to an internal temperature of 160 °F throughout. Ground beef can be pink inside after it is safely cooked. The pink color can be due to a reaction between the oven heat and myoglobin, which causes a red or pink color.

Should you pan sear meatballs before baking? ›

And of course, browning them adds a lot of wonderful complex flavor to the meatballs, so you definitely don't want to skip this step.

How long to cook meatballs in sauce without browning? ›

I usually start it out on medium-high heat and add my raw meatballs to the pan. When the sauce comes to a boil, I lower the stove to medium-low heat and let the meatballs cook slowly. The meatballs will be completely cooked in about 30 minutes, but the cooking time can be longer.

Can I put raw meatballs in sauce to cook? ›

Cooking raw meatballs in sauce not only allows you to control the ingredients, but it also creates a homemade flavor that is hard to beat. Impress your loved ones at your next gathering with this classic dish that will have them asking for your recipe.

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