Description
This Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake is a comforting, one-pan family dinner featuring juicy homemade meatballs, fluffy rice, and a sticky-sweet honey garlic sauce. It’s easy to prepare, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or pork (or turkey/chicken for a lighter version)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (regular or panko)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 cup long grain white rice, uncooked
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup shredded carrot
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional)
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger (optional)
- 1/4 cup water
- 2–3 green onions, thinly sliced (optional, for topping)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional, for topping)
- Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup chopped onion, salt, pepper, and milk. Mix gently until just combined.
- Shape mixture into 20-24 small meatballs (about 1.5 tablespoons each).
- In the prepared baking dish, add uncooked rice, chicken broth, diced bell pepper, peas, shredded carrot, and 1/2 small diced onion. Stir to combine and spread evenly.
- Arrange the meatballs evenly over the rice mixture, gently pressing them so the bottoms touch the liquid.
- In a small bowl or saucepan, whisk together honey, soy sauce, 4 minced garlic cloves, ketchup, sesame oil, ginger, and water.
- Drizzle the honey garlic sauce evenly over the meatballs and rice.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until meatballs are browned, sauce is bubbly, and rice is tender. Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end for more color, if desired.
- Let the bake rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
For gluten-free, use GF breadcrumbs and tamari. For dairy-free, omit Parmesan or use a plant-based version. You can use store-bought meatballs (thawed) for a shortcut. Brown rice or other grains can be substituted with adjustments to liquid and bake time. Let the bake rest before serving for best texture. Leftovers keep well and freeze beautifully.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/6 of the pan
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 24
Keywords: honey garlic meatball rice bake, easy family dinner, one-pan meal, casserole, comfort food, meal prep, Asian-inspired, weeknight dinner