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Easy Lemongrass Beef Meatballs

These juicy Lemongrass Beef Meatballs are packed with fresh garlic, green onions, fish sauce, and fragrant lemongrass, then finished with a bright, savory lime garlic sauce. They are simple enough for a weeknight dinner but flavorful enough to feel like takeout at home. Serve over jasmine rice with sriracha mayo and sesame seeds for an easy meal everyone will love.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatballs
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemongrass very finely minced
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
Sauce
  • 1 green onion thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 2 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
Optional for Serving
  • Cooked jasmine rice
  • Sriracha mayo
  • Sesame seeds
  • Green onion tops
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Lime wedges

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish or sheet pan.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, green onions, garlic, lemongrass, fish sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
  3. Roll into approximately 2-inch meatballs.
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of avocado oil. Sear the meatballs for 2–3 minutes per side.
  5. While the meatballs cook, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
  6. Transfer the meatballs to the prepared baking dish. Pour the sauce evenly over the meatballs.
  7. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the meatballs reach 160°F internally.
  8. Spoon the sauce over the meatballs before serving.
  9. Serve over jasmine rice and garnish with sriracha mayo, sesame seeds, green onions, cilantro, and an extra squeeze of lime if desired.

Notes

Tips
Fresh lemongrass gives the best flavor. Mince it very finely so it blends into the meatballs.
Don't overmix the beef or the meatballs can become dense.
Searing before baking creates a flavorful crust while keeping the inside juicy.
These meal prep well and reheat beautifully for lunches.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.