Baked Pork Meatballs

Easy Pork Meatballs make a simple and delicious appetizer for a party, game day meeting, or every time you want to feed a crowd. This healthy meatball recipe is a great way to bring ground pork into your diet.

Baked Pork Meatball Recipe

This Pork Meatball recipe is so satisfying and delicious and it creates a quick and easy meal or appetizer.

These Pork Meatballs are made with lean ground pork, a handful of breadcrumbs, juicy apple, and some simple ingredients with seasonings to give the meatballs a touch of Asian flavor.

Lean pork is actually slightly dry meat itself, but the apple and breadcrumbs here make for juicier meatballs. Apple and pork pair perfectly together in this recipe, so the meatballs come out really good with a little sweet taste and a vibrant flavor.

The meatballs are baked and then can be coated with any sauce to your preference or served warm without any sauce. You’ll find both ways tasty. Baking, instead of frying, saves your time and more importantly, is also healthier.

Why these Pork Meatballs are Good for You?

• these meatballs are a great high protein food;
• they are baked in the oven and healthier;
• these meatballs are made with lean ground pork;
• they are low calorie Asian style pork meatballs;
• they are perfect for appetizer, snack, or dinner;
• this meatball recipe is perfect for meal prep and a macro counting meal plan.

How to Serve Pork Meatballs?

To add more Asian flavor to these meatballs, I drenched a part of them with light Teriyaki sauce that’s super quick to make. Then I served them over rice with veggies for our weeknight dinner.

You could also have them with rice and zucchini noodles or this Healthy Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Asparagus. I usually serve them with a green salad (Caesar Salad is the best choice), or this quick and easy Zucchini and Tomato Casserole.

Meatballs are so good in soups or meatball sandwiches. These meatballs can easily freeze (either raw or baked), and then be added to soups if you want to make a quick and filling dinner.

Is Pork Good for Your Diet?

Pork, like other animal meat, is a good source of protein and rich in many vitamins and minerals.

Today’s American market develops leaner, higher quality pork cuts than it was decades ago. Comparing to other protein sources, pork turns better in regard to cholesterol, fat, and calories. Pork tenderloin, for example, is ranked as ‘extra lean’ and has the same amount of fat as skinless chicken breast (based on USDA):

Lean pork can be a really good addition to a healthy diet. Try always to go with the leanest pork cuts/ground pork you can find. Pork tenderloin, pork loin, trimmed pork chops are my choice. Most of the time I make my own ground meat using a meat grinder. It’s easy and doesn’t take much time, plus I can control the fattiness of my ground meat.

After all, pork provides a high level of protein, nutrients, nine essential amino acids that are necessary for your body’s growth and maintenance. Eating lean pork in moderation can help lower insulin levels, assist in weight loss, and promote muscle growth.

More Healthy Meatball Recipes to try:

Healthy Eggplant and Meatball Casserole

Tomato Lentil Soup with Meatballs

Meatballs in Eggplant and Bell Pepper Sauce

Chicken Meatballs

Ingredients for Pork Meatballs

For the Meatballs:

• 2 lb. (900g) lean ground pork, 90% lean
• 1 medium (135g) apple, shredded
• 1 medium (75g) yellow onion, shredded or finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup (40g) panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger or 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 or 2 tsp. sesame oil
• salt and pepper, to taste

For the Teriyaki Sauce:

• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger or 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup water
• 1 tsp. (6g) sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp. (15g) honey
• 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar or lemon/lime juice
• 1 Tbsp. (8g) cornstarch

How to Make Pork Meatballs

For the Meatballs:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix the meatball ingredients together using your hands or stand mixer until well-combined.
3. Shape into meatballs and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake the meatballs for 12-15 minutes, or until golden browned and cooked through. Serve immediately or make the sauce.

For the Sauce:

5. In a small saucepan, mix the sauce ingredients together, and simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened.
6. Place the warm meatballs in a mixing bowl, coat with the sauce, and toss to combine.
7. Garnish with sliced green onion and sesame seeds, if desired. Enjoy!

How Many Calories in Pork Meatballs

Baked Pork Meatballs

Easy Pork Meatballs make a simple and delicious appetizer for a party, game day meeting, or every time you want to feed a crowd. This healthy meatball recipe is a great way to bring ground pork into your diet.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Snack

Calories 288 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the Meatballs:

• 2 lb. 900g lean ground pork, 90% lean
• 1 medium 135g apple, shredded
• 1 medium 75g yellow onion, shredded or finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup 40g panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger or 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 or 2 tsp. sesame oil
• salt and pepper to taste

For the Teriyaki Sauce:

• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger or 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup water
• 1 tsp. 6g sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp. 15g honey
• 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar or lemon/lime juice
• 1 Tbsp. 8g cornstarch

Instructions

 

For the Meatballs:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, mix the meatball ingredients together using your hands or stand mixer until well-combined.
• Shape into meatballs and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake the meatballs for 12-15 minutes, or until golden browned and cooked through. Serve immediately or make the sauce.

For the Sauce:

• In a small saucepan, mix the sauce ingredients together, and simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened.
• Place the warm meatballs in a mixing bowl, coat with the sauce, and toss to combine.
• Garnish with sliced green onion and sesame seeds, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

How Many Calories in Pork Meatballs

Calories for meatballs only (1 serve, 125 g): 288 cal	Calories for meatballs + sauce (per 1 serve, 170 g): 313 cal
Fat: 14.9 g	Fat: 15.9 g
Carbohydrates: 7.8 g	Carbohydrates: 11.2 g
Protein: 27.9 g	Protein: 29.0 g