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Honey garlic meatball rice bake with sticky glazed meatballs nestled over fluffy jasmine rice with colorful bell peppers and peas in a golden casserole dish

Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake

Juicy homemade ground beef meatballs arranged over rinsed white rice and baked together in a sticky honey garlic sauce until the meatballs are caramelized and the rice is fully cooked and flavored from the bottom up. A complete one-dish family dinner with minimal prep and one pan to clean.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 524
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs ground beef, 80/20
  • 1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced for meatballs
  • 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce for meatballs
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley or green onion, chopped
  • 1.5 cups long grain white rice, rinsed until clear
  • 2.75 cups low sodium chicken or beef broth
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce for sauce
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced for sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish

Equipment

  • 9x13 Baking Dish
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Aluminum foil
  • Small Whisk or Fork

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix meatball ingredients by hand until just combined. Roll into 1.5-inch balls and set aside.
  2. Whisk honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, paprika, pepper flakes, and cornstarch slurry together for the sauce.
  3. Spread rinsed rice in the baking dish. Pour broth over rice. Stir in half the honey garlic sauce.
  4. Arrange raw meatballs in a single layer over the rice. Spoon remaining sauce over each meatball.
  5. Cover very tightly with foil, sealing all edges. Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 to 15 more minutes until meatballs are caramelized and rice is fully cooked.
  6. Rest 5 minutes uncovered before serving. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Notes

  • Use 80/20 ground beef for juicy, tender meatballs - lean beef dries out during the bake time.
  • Do not overmix the meatball mixture - mix only until the breadcrumbs and egg are incorporated.
  • Seal the foil tightly against all edges - steam loss during the covered phase causes dry, undercooked rice.
  • The exact broth ratio is 2.75 cups to 1.5 cups rice - measure carefully rather than estimating.
  • If rice is still undercooked after the full bake time, add 3 to 4 tablespoons of warm broth, re-cover, and bake 8 more minutes.