My son goes to an amazing school, Creative Children’s Center. It’s a co-op, so the parents are very involved, and I get to be the parent helper a couple times a month. There is a kitchen in the classroom so lunch is brought in and prepared by a different parent each day. The kids get to help out and they are more willing to try new things when they’ve had a hand in making and they can see their friends enjoying it. When I think of things to bring to make with the kids I think of how easy it’s going to be and what they can help with. The other day I brought in prepared Pineapple & Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs to have in a rice bowl. They were so delicious that I wanted to be able to make them myself at home from scratch, so they morphed into these Pineapple Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs.
With Easter coming up I’m thinking about holiday foods and that shifts my focus to appetizers, side dishes and desserts! These Pineapple Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs could easily be an easy dinner or made into a delicious appetizer! We had them in a rice bowl with stir fried bell pepper, onion and pineapple chunks and topped with teriyaki sauce, and the kids really enjoyed them. When I made them into an appetizer at home I was inspired by my Glazed Kielbasa Bites. I made the meatballs and then once they were cooked I topped them with a pineapple chunk and glazed them with the dipping sauce. They were out of this world. If you are making them for a party you could cook the meatballs the day before and then reheat in the oven with the pineapple and sauce. If you’re making them for a party you may want to make a double batch because they go fast!!
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup canned crushed pineapple drained (reserve liquid for glaze)
- 2 green onions chopped, both green and whites
- 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 large egg beaten
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Glaze
- ¼ cup pineapple juice (from crushed pineapple can)
- 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- Green onion sliced, for garnish
- Fresh pineapple chunks for skewers (see note)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- To a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, panko, crushed pineapple, green onions, teriyaki sauce, milk, say sauce, egg, and garlic. Mix well until evenly combined.
- Roll 1 1/2 tablespoons of the turkey mixture into a ball and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the turkey mixture.
- Bake for 8 minutes. Flip the meatballs over and bake for another 6-8 minutes. (The meatball's internal temperature should be 165 degrees F when checked with an instant-read thermometer.)
- While the meatballs are baking, make the glaze. Add the pineapple juice, sweet chili sauce, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil to a medium saucepan.
- Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes, whisking frequently to prevent burning, until the sauce has thickened.
- When the meatballs are done, transfer them to a large bowl. Pour the glaze over the top and gently stir to coat.
Serving Options
- Transfer the meatballs and any excess glaze to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and add some pineapple chunks for color.
- Place a pineapple chunk on top of one meatball. Use a toothpick to skewer them together. Repeat with the remaining meatballs. Arrange on a serving platter and sprinkle with sliced green onions.
Teresa says
I obviously did something wrong! These were horrible! The meat mixture was way too loose and even with the addition of panko crumbs, the texture was mushy and would not hold together.
Julie @Real Housemoms says
Hi Teresa! I’m sorry you had trouble with the recipe. Depending on the pineapple brand there may be more liquid in the can. The addition of panko was a great fix idea, I’m not sure why it was still mushy. You could also add extra turkey to help balance the moisture level out. I hope you’ll give them another try.
Christine from Cook the Story says
These look SO good!