MeaningIn EveryMacro

Meal Prep

Korean Meatballs

Name: Korean Meatballs
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 2 lbs 93% lean ground beef; ½ cup breadcrumbs; 2 large eggs; 3 cloves garlic minced; 1 tbsp grated ginger fresh, grated; 1 tbsp soy sauce low sodium; 2 tbsp gochujang Korean chili paste; 1 tbsp sesame oil; ½ tsp black pepper; ½ tsp salt; 3 tbsp gochujang; ¼ cup honey; 3 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp sesame oil; 1 tsp grated ginger fresh, grated; 1 tsp garlic powder minced; 1 tsp red pepper flakes optional, for heat; 1 cup dry jasmine rice; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1.5 lbs Brussels sprouts halved; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp sesame oil; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp sesame seeds for garnish

Korean Meatballs are spicy, sticky, and unapologetically bold. Juicy beef meatballs get coated in a glossy gochujang-honey glaze that balances heat, sweetness, and deep umami, turning simple meal prep into something you actually look forward to. It’s big flavor without the fuss, built for lunches that don’t feel like leftovers.

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 30 min
Makes: 4 servings

917Calories

63.9gProtein

95.3gCarbs

32.6gFat

Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 55 mins

Servings

Ingredient unitsSwitch every measurable amount on this recipe.

Equipment

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Keep screen awakeNo disappearing instructions mid-recipe.

Instructions

Prep the Meatballs:

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic, ginger, gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper.

2 lb 93% lean ground beef, ½ cup breadcrumbs, 2 large eggs, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp grated ginger, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp gochujang, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper

Mix gently until just combined- avoid overmixing for tender meatballs.

Roll into 1.5-inch balls and place on the baking sheet.

Bake for 18- 20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.

Roast the Brussels Sprouts:

Toss the halved Brussels sprouts with olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper.

1 ½ lb Brussels sprouts, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp sesame oil

Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 20- 25 minutes, flipping halfway.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Cook the Rice:

Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.

1 cup dry jasmine rice

Cook according to your preferred method (I love my rice cooker). Add the listed rice vinegar for extra flavor.

1 tbsp rice vinegar

Make the Gochujang-Honey Glaze:

In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, fresh grated ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using).

3 tbsp gochujang, ¼ cup honey, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp grated ginger, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Simmer for 4- 5 minutes until slightly thickened.

Assemble & Serve:

Toss the baked meatballs in the gochujang-honey glaze, ensuring they are evenly coated.

Divide the jasmine rice with rice vinegar evenly among your meal-prep containers.

Add glazed meatballs on top and a side of sesame roasted Brussels sprouts.

Optional: Sprinkle with extra sesame seeds for garnish.

1 tbsp sesame seeds

Nutrition

Per serving

Estimates for one serving.

Calories: 917 kcal
Protein: 63.9 g
Fat: 32.6 g
Carbs: 95.3 g

Full nutrition and how it’s calculated

All values are per serving. Changing the recipe yield scales the ingredients and keeps these per-serving amounts the same.

Saturated Fat: 9.48 g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 13.76 g
Trans Fat: 0.8 g
Cholesterol: 246 mg
Sodium: 2,281 mg
Potassium: 1,701 mg
Fiber: 8.7 g
Sugar: 29.8 g
Added Sugar: 21.9 g
Vitamin A: 157 mcg RAE
Vitamin C: 151.43 mg
Vitamin D: 0.84 mcg
Calcium: 184 mg
Iron: 11.72 mg

Nutrition updated September 2026. We now calculate nutrition using our ingredient library, with USDA data, product labels, and documented estimates. Older Pinterest graphics and MyFitnessPal entries may show different numbers. Use the per-serving values above when tracking this recipe.

Brands, substitutions, and preparation can change these estimates.

View ingredient standards & nutrition methods

Estimated ingredient cost

$7.25 per serving · $29.01 for this batch

Ingredient costs and assumptions

Estimated US grocery prices for the amounts used, including purchase waste and discarded marinade. Your store, brands, and package sizes may cost differently. Buying full packages can cost more. Price sources and methodology.

Quantities without exact weights use the nutrition library’s portion estimates. Purchase yields are estimates. Separate citrus ingredients are costed independently; reusing the same fruit for juice and zest can lower your cost. Labor, utilities, and delivery are excluded.

93% lean ground beef: $17.15
907.2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
Authored ingredient weight. BLS lean/extra-lean category average; not an exact 93% lean product quote.
BLS: Ground beef, lean and extra lean · Price checked 2026-09-21
breadcrumbs: $0.16
54 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 108 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Plain Bread Crumbs, 15 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
large eggs: $0.28
114 g purchased · Whole purchased item: 57 g each (estimated); includes shell, peel, or seeds.
1 egg (large) = 50 g; Large shell-free egg: 50 g, from King Arthur's ingredient weight chart. Large shell eggs; estimated 57 g purchased weight per egg includes shell.
Walmart: Great Value Large White Eggs, 12 Count · Price checked 2026-09-21
garlic: $0.16
9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
3 clove = 9 g; USDA SR Legacy household weights used as an approximate physical conversion for the current ingredient profile; nutrition remains from its own mapped record. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Spice World Fresh Peeled Garlic, 6 oz, Pouch · Price checked 2026-09-21
grated ginger: $0.05
6 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2 g Variable-weight produce: uses the listed price per pound, not the estimated price per piece.
Walmart: Fresh Ginger Root, Each · Price checked 2026-09-21
soy sauce: $0.12
16 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 16 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 15 oz Bottle · Price checked 2026-09-21
gochujang: $0.94
36 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: CJ Haechandle Gochujang, Hot Pepper Paste, 500g Korean Spicy Red Chile Paste, 1.1 lb. · Price checked 2026-09-21
sesame oil: $0.33
13.6 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 13.6 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Imperial Dragon 100% Pure Sesame Seed Oil, 5 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
black pepper: $0.05
1.2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.3 g; texture=ground Ground black pepper reference; cracked pepper may cost differently.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Black Pepper · Price checked 2026-09-21
salt: $0.00
3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Iodized table salt reference; not a kosher salt price.
Walmart: Great Value Iodized Salt · Price checked 2026-09-21
gochujang: $1.40
54 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: CJ Haechandle Gochujang, Hot Pepper Paste, 500g Korean Spicy Red Chile Paste, 1.1 lb. · Price checked 2026-09-21
honey: $1.12
84.8 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 339 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Raw Honey, 16 oz Bottle · Price checked 2026-09-21
soy sauce: $0.36
48 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 16 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 15 oz Bottle · Price checked 2026-09-21
rice vinegar: $0.12
14.9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 14.9 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Mizkan Rice Vinegar, Mild Japanese Cooking Vinegar, 12 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
sesame oil: $0.11
4.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 4.5 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Imperial Dragon 100% Pure Sesame Seed Oil, 5 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
grated ginger: $0.02
2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2 g Variable-weight produce: uses the listed price per pound, not the estimated price per piece.
Walmart: Fresh Ginger Root, Each · Price checked 2026-09-21
garlic powder: $0.03
3.1 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 3.1 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Garlic Powder · Price checked 2026-09-21
red pepper flakes: $0.05
1.8 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 1.8 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Crushed Red Pepper, 1.75 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
dry jasmine rice: $0.59
185 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 185 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Jasmine Rice · Price checked 2026-09-21
rice vinegar: $0.12
14.9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 14.9 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Mizkan Rice Vinegar, Mild Japanese Cooking Vinegar, 12 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
Brussels sprouts: $4.75
680.4 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
Authored ingredient weight. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Whole Brussels Sprouts 1lb Bag, Fresh Produce · Price checked 2026-09-21
olive oil: $0.18
13.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 13.5 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 17 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
sesame oil: $0.33
13.6 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 13.6 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Imperial Dragon 100% Pure Sesame Seed Oil, 5 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
soy sauce: $0.12
16 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 16 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 15 oz Bottle · Price checked 2026-09-21
garlic powder: $0.03
3.1 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 3.1 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Garlic Powder · Price checked 2026-09-21
black pepper: $0.10
2.3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.3 g; texture=ground Ground black pepper reference; cracked pepper may cost differently.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Black Pepper · Price checked 2026-09-21
sesame seeds: $0.31
9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 9 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Sesame Seeds, 2.2 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21

Make it yoursRecipe notes & meal-prep tips

Macro breakdown

Protein63.9g27%
Carbs95.3g41%
Fat32.6g32%

Per serving · Share of calories from macros

Calculated using 4 calories per gram of protein and carbs, and 9 for fat. Rounding and fiber can affect the listed calorie total.

Triple B's Meal Prep Notes

These meatballs get gochujang in the meat mixture and again in the glaze. If you want a less spicy batch, adjust both rather than only thinning the finishing sauce. The garlic, ginger, and sesame still carry through the meal. Taste the clean glaze before coating the cooked meatballs so you can make that decision before the entire batch is committed. Use freshly grated ginger here so it distributes through the meatballs and glaze without leaving large pieces. Gochujang and soy sauce also bring salt, so taste before adding more; dialing up the sauce is not only a heat adjustment.

Make jasmine rice with rice vinegar, then use separate trays for the meatballs and Brussels sprouts. The sprouts may want a few more minutes than the meatballs, so pull each when it is ready. Toss the cooked meatballs through the glaze, then divide them by count before adding the rice and vegetables. That combination of oven cooking and easy portioning is a strength of the meatball recipe collection. The oiled sprouts should get real color on their cut faces before you pull them. Keep checking the small leaves as they brown so the extra oven time does not burn them.

For a refrigerated serving, microwave on high for 90 seconds, stir, then heat for another 45 seconds. Use that as a starting point and continue in short intervals as needed until the food reaches 165°F throughout. Turn the meatballs and stir the rice through the glaze during the pause. Add a little water if the sauce has become very thick in the fridge, then finish with sesame seeds if you like. Keep the sprouts alongside the sauced meatballs if you want them less coated. Rice, meatballs, and glaze make a substantial lunch here; compare the higher-calorie recipes if that is the serving range you are planning around. For more ginger, chili, and sesame combinations, explore the Asian-inspired meals or other oven-baked meal preps.

Notes from your kitchen

Tried it? Tell us how it went.

Leave a rating and tell us how it turned out. Swaps, tips, and questions welcome.

From the community

Triple B · Creator note2025-12-14

I built this recipe when I stumbled across some gochujang at the asian market- and I was curious as to a unique way to apply it. Meatballs are just such an amazing vessel for sauce- so I went all-in! Try it out and let me know if this becomes a part of your repeat rotation.

Korean Meatballs