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Home » Recipes » Healthy » Korean BBQ Meatballs (Beef Bulgogi Meatballs)

April 17, 2018 · Updated June 19, 2020 · 4 Comments

Korean BBQ Meatballs (Beef Bulgogi Meatballs)

Gluten Free· Healthy· Main Dishes· Recipes

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

You’ve never had a meatball like this! Korean BBQ Meatballs are sweet, juicy, flavorful, and ready in 30 minutes!

A must-try meatball twist! Korean BBQ Meatballs are sweet, juicy, flavorful, and ready in 30 minutes!

Korean Beef Bulgogi Meatballs

Meatballs: such a simple idea, but they are always a crowd-pleaser!

Our family eats meatballs at least every other week, and my husband (the chef of the family) is always looking for ways to make “not just your ordinary meatball.”

He occasionally makes Asian-style meatballs, but this past week he did a version of his usual recipe that was AH-MA-ZING: Bulgogi Meatballs.

Why I especially love this recipe:

  • Ready in 30 minutes
  • Gluten free
  • Made with simple, real-food ingredients
  • Contains “hidden” fruits & veggies to sneak extra nutrition into the kids’ diets

What is “Bulgogi?”

Bulgogi is a Korean word that loosely translated means grilled marinated meat (most-often it’s beef). My husband’s food truck partner has a Korean-Mexican fusion truck (Oh My Gogi!) so he is around the stuff almost every day. Of course, my husband put his own spin on it!

This Korean beef bulgogi meatball recipe makes about two dozen — that might sound like a lot, but they are sooo good they’ll go faster than you think!

Close up of Korean BBQ meatball held by chopsticks

For your convenience, I’ve included shop-able ad links to some of the products used to make this recipe; disclosure policy available here.

Here’s what you need to make Bulgogi Meatballs:

  • Ground beef
  • Sweet Italian sausage
  • Powdered ginger
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Soy sauce
  • Brown sugar
  • Apple
  • Green onion
  • Yellow onion
  • Egg
  • Mirin (sweet Japanese cooking wine)

A free printable copy of this recipe with full ingredient amounts and directions is available at the bottom of the post.

Keep reading for photo step-by-step instructions and cooking tips or  click here to jump to printable recipe. 

Korean BBQ meatballs in bowl with rice and broccoli

How to Make Korean BBQ Meatballs

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Rough chop one apple (Yes, an apple! This “secret” ingredient makes the recipe!) and 1/2 of a yellow onion and add to food processor.

TIP: The Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Food Processor has lasted us for YEARS – it’s our kitchen workhorse! 

Blend until smoothly puréed.

You've never had a meatball like these! This Bulgogi Meatball recipe is a deliciously sweet and savory spin on a traditional Korean favorite. (The "secret" ingredient MAKES them!)

Combine all ingredients (including the apple/onion puree) in a large mixing bowl and knead together by hand until well incorporated. F

Form into balls (about 1/4 cup of mixture each) and place evenly spaced, on a greased baking sheet or non-stick silicone baking mat.

You've never had a meatball like these! This Bulgogi Meatball recipe is a deliciously sweet and savory spin on a traditional Korean favorite. (The "secret" ingredient MAKES them!)

Bake for 20 minutes at 375°F. (Oven times may vary, so keep an eye on ’em!)

Cooked Korean beef meatballs on baking tray

Perfect Pairings for Korean Meatballs

We usually enjoy our Bulgogi Meatballs with brown rice or quinoa and a veggie. Here are some of our favorite sides that pair perfectly with these sweet Korean BBQ meatballs:

  • Roasted Asian Brussels Sprouts
  • Ginger Ale Carrots

[convertkit form=4956168]

  • Dr. Pepper Instant Pot Meatballs
  • Keto Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
  • Easy Swedish Meatballs
  • Keto Meatball Stroganoff

Grab a free printable version of our Sweet Korean BBQ Meatballs:

A must-try meatball twist! Korean BBQ Meatballs are sweet, juicy, flavorful, and ready in 30 minutes!
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Korean BBQ Meatballs

A must-try meatball twist! Korean BBQ Meatballs are sweet, juicy, flavorful, and ready in 30 minutes!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Korean
Servings: 8
Calories: 385kcal
Author: Stacey aka the Soccer Mom

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 apple puréed
  • 1/4 cup green onion chopped
  • 1/2 yellow onion puréed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tablespoon Mirin sweet Japanese cooking wine optional

Instructions

  • Pre heat oven to 375°. 
  • Rough chop one apple and 1/2 of a yellow onion and add to food processor. Blend until smoothly puréed.
  • Combine all ingredients  in a large mixing bowl and knead together by hand. 
  • Form into balls (about 1/4 cup of mixture) and place, evenly spaced, on a greased baking sheet or non-stick silicone baking mat.
  • Bake for 20 minutes at 375°. 

Notes

Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate only; actual values will vary based on the exact ingredients used and amount of recipe prepared.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 855mg | Potassium: 365mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2.1mg

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Stacey aka the Soccer Mom
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom
Stacey is the creator of The Soccer Mom Blog, a Houston Texas mom blog that focuses on positive living for women and families. She loves to share real food recipes, money-saving tips, parenting encouragement, kids activities, DIY tutorials, home hacks, fitness, and so much more! To get to know Stacey even better, click here.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom
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Comments

  1. Sheryl Moyer says

    July 28, 2018 at 2:31 pm

    What kind of apple do you use for the Korean meatball recipe? I have a golden delicious and a honey crisp. Just wondering which would be best. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says

      July 29, 2018 at 3:36 pm

      Hi Sheryl – I think either one of those types of apples would work perfectly! We just use whatever we have on hand – our favorites are Golden Delicious and Gala.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Mateo's "Famous" Asian Brussels Sprouts - The Soccer Mom Blog says:
    April 17, 2018 at 10:18 pm

    […] Related: Pair these Asian Brussels Sprouts with our Glazed Korean Short Ribs or our Korean BBQ Meatballs! […]

    Reply
  2. Keto Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (Gluten Free, Paleo) - The Soccer Mom Blog says:
    June 28, 2018 at 2:40 pm

    […] sure to try our Korean BBQ Meatballs too! While not keto, they’re a wholesome alternative to the traditional meatball (and contain […]

    Reply

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