• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Firecracker Meatballs

appetizer· Tailgating Recipes
April 8, 2021

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Firecracker Meatballs – Mini pork meatballs with yummy Asian fusion flavors are coated in a spicy cream sauce and perfect as an appetizer or a meal all their own

zoomed in shot of firecracker meatballs between two chopsticks

I haven’t been shy with you all about my love for Hello Fresh. We continue to use it once per month to switch up our dinners and broaden our horizons a bit. These Firecracker Meatballs are adapted from a recipe we’ve had a couple times from Hello Fresh over the years. I think the recipe is incredible, mostly due to the creamy firecracker sauce that the meatballs get tossed in after they’re baked.

Despite the yummy original recipe, I thought it needed a few tweaks so I’ve decided to share my version here for all of you to enjoy. Here are my Firecracker Meatballs!

Making the meatballs

These meatballs are some of the easiest ones you can make, mostly because of their few ingredients. Ground pork, scallions, breadcrumbs, ginger, and soy sauce are mixed together to form the mixture. Your hands are the best tools for mixing the meat to prevent overmixing.

Once the pork mixture is combined, it’s time to form the mini meatballs. Make sure not to make them too big if you plan to serve as an appetizer. Appetizers are best served in bite-sized portions so they can be easily eaten without utensils. If you decide to serve these as a entrée, you can make them slightly bigger.

Once they’re formed, place them on a baking sheet to bake for 12-14 minutes.

Firecracker sauce

Once the meatballs are cooked and slightly cooled, they get tossed in a creamy firecracker sauce. The sauce gets it’s kick from Sriracha but it gets tamed a bit by the creamy mayo and sour cream. If you don’t want it too spicy, you can definitely hold back on how much Sriracha you use.

Tips & Tricks

  1. Make sure the meatballs are all the same size to ensure they cook evenly. I like to separate my meat into sections to help easily divide into small meatballs. For example, split the meatball into 3 even sections. Then split each section into 5 mini meatballs. See how easy that is?!
  2. It’s important to use a lean ground meat for this recipe so that the meatballs don’t taste too rich. So if you decide you don’t want to use pork, make sure you use a lean ground turkey, chicken, or beef.
Print Recipe

Firecracker Meatballs

Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Servings: 15 meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 10 ounces ground pork
  • 2 scallions
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce divided
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons mayo
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • sesame seeds for garnish
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Coat a sheet pan with 1 teaspoon of canola oil. Set aside.
  • Slice scallions and separate greens and whites. Save scallion greens for garnish. Place scallion whites in medium bowl with ground pork, panko breadcrumbs, 4 teaspoons soy sauce, minced ginger, salt, and pepper. Using your hands, mix ingredients together until combined. Form meat into 15 mini meatballs and place onto prepared baking sheet.
  • Place meatballs into oven and bake until browned, about 12-14 minutes. While they bake, make the firecracker sauce. Add 2 teaspoons soy sauce, mayo, Sriracha, honey, and sour cream to a large bowl. Whisk together. Set aside until meatballs are done.
  • Remove meatballs from oven and let them cool for 5 minutes. Once cooled, add to large bowl with the firecracker sauce and toss to cover the meatballs in sauce. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and scallion greens and serve over rice as an entrée or alone as an appetizer.

Pin for later:

collage of firecracker meatball photos with descriptive text

More recipes you’ll love:

Grilled Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers
Grilled Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers with scallions sprinkled around them, shot from overhead
Asian Steak Skewers
Asian Steak Skewers on a platter sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onions, shot from the front
Orange Chicken
a plate of orange chicken with broccoli with a fork on it with a pan of more orange chicken with a spoon in it next to it, shot from overhead

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

15 Comments

« Greek Lemon Potatoes
French Almond Cakes (Financiers) »

Comments

  1. piokngyats says

    October 4, 2025 at 3:00 am

    The writing in bitlife is very witty. Even small pop-up messages have clever phrasing that makes me smile. It shows how much effort the developers put into making the game enjoyable.

    Reply
  2. Taralor says

    June 12, 2025 at 10:20 pm

    Cooking with charcoal will give it a unique flavor. But my family and I don’t usually use this method to cook. Smoke is bad for your health so it should be limited as much as possible when cooking.
    Write by: “Poor Bunny“

    Reply
  3. Shadow Fight says

    March 25, 2025 at 5:37 am

    Play Shadow Fight online for free! Experience intense martial arts combat with stunning shadow graphics. No download needed

    Reply
  4. merge fruit says

    July 25, 2024 at 5:46 am

    This article has made me crave to try these Firecracker Meatballs. With beautiful pictures and detailed instructions, I believe anyone can make this dish at home.

    Reply
  5. merge fruit says

    July 25, 2024 at 5:44 am

    This is a very interesting article about a delicious and unique dish. I feel like I really want to try these Firecracker Meatballs.

    Reply
  6. Beth says

    April 10, 2021 at 12:20 am

    Yummy! I can’t wait to make this! I love the twist on the meatballs! My family will love this!

    Reply
  7. veenaazmanov says

    April 9, 2021 at 10:25 pm

    This dish looks so delicious and creamy . Looks so mouth melting. Would love to try this amazing recipe.

    Reply
  8. Irina says

    April 9, 2021 at 9:51 pm

    I am so intrigued by your recipe that I am going to make these meatballs ASAP. I am used to making similar ones with tomato sauce, but cream sauce sounds even better. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Kristina Tipps says

    April 9, 2021 at 9:09 pm

    I’ve never seen a recipe like this, and I can’t wait to try it. The flavors sound incredible.

    Reply
  10. Tara says

    April 9, 2021 at 9:03 pm

    Oh yum! These meatballs sound amazing with that spicy cream sauce and they look beautiful piled over the bed of rice. Such a delicious meal!

    Reply
  11. Tisha says

    April 9, 2021 at 1:14 pm

    I have to make this sauce!! Sounds like a dinner I need!

    Reply
  12. Brittany Limberakis says

    April 9, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    Yum! I bet that sauce tastes good on so many different things too!

    Reply
  13. Marta says

    April 8, 2021 at 5:21 pm

    These look absolutely divine, Sharon. That sauce looks so flavorful. I can’t wait to try this recipe.

    Reply
  14. Mimi says

    April 8, 2021 at 4:09 pm

    They look so good! I need to make them for my next cheat meal

    Reply
  15. Amber Myers says

    April 8, 2021 at 2:31 pm

    These look incredible! We love meatballs, so I’ll have to try this version. I am all about spice!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

fall flavors

apple cinnamon monkey bread with a chunk out of it and sliced apples in front, shot from a side angle

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

a stack of three Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts on a cloth napkin with more doughnuts around them, shot from the front

Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts

close up of pretzel bread pudding slice on a plate in a pool of whiskey sauce

Pretzel Bread Pudding

a glass dish with pumpkin cinnamon rolls in it with some missing from the center and a spatula with a pumpkin the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

styled shot of Turkey Noodle Soup

Turkey Noodle Soup

chicken and biscuits in a dutch oven overhead shot

Chicken and Dumplings

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

holiday favorite

plate of Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons with a gourd in the background, shot from the front

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

close up of a serving bowl with sage and brown butter mashed sweet potatoes

Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Candied Pecans

overhead shot of fig and goat cheese crostini on a serving platter

Fig & Goat Cheese Crostini

two stacked Cinnamon Chocolate Muffins and one muffin cut in half next to it and a pan of cinnamon chocolate muffins, shot from a side angle

Cinnamon Chocolate Muffins

 

Mango Coconut Sticky Rice – sushi rice cooked wi Mango Coconut Sticky Rice – sushi rice cooked with coconut milk and fresh mango for a tropical side dish! 🥭

This is a SAVORY version of the sweet Thai dessert, you guys! I created this to stay in the savory spectrum so you can serve it with any entree during the week! 

The rice cooker does ALL the work! Just add everything, press start, and walk away!

Pro tip: I love the texture of mango as it cooks with the rice, but if you prefer fresh mango chunks, add them after the rice is done!

Perfect for pairing with grilled chicken, fish, tacos, or any Caribbean-inspired meal! 🌴
💬 Comment "MANGORICE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for tropical dinners
📤 SHARE with someone who loves mango!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/mango-coconut-sticky-rice-giveaway/
Peanut Butter Banana Bites – sliced bananas topp Peanut Butter Banana Bites – sliced bananas topped with peanut butter and dipped in chocolate! A yummy, guilt-free treat that's great fresh or frozen!

I was inspired by those frozen chocolate-covered bananas from Disney World, you guys! I added peanut butter because I LOVE peanut butter, banana, and chocolate together!

Once I made these, I discovered I love them better FRESH instead of frozen! The banana flavor is way more present when they're fresh!

Pro tip: Cut your banana slices thick to make them easier to dip in chocolate – thin slices fall apart!

Perfect for satisfying chocolate cravings, healthy snacking, or anytime you want a guilt-free treat! 

💬 Comment "PBBITES" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for healthy treats
📤 SHARE with someone who loves PB + chocolate!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/peanut-butter-banana-bites/
Rice Cooker Spanish Rice – jasmine rice cooked w Rice Cooker Spanish Rice – jasmine rice cooked with chicken broth, tomatoes, onions, and spices! The rice cooker does ALL the work!

I always burned rice on the stove, you guys! No matter what I did! But since using a rice cooker almost a decade ago, my rice comes out perfectly fluffy every time!

Just throw all the ingredients in, turn it on, and walk away! The work is done for you!

Pro tip: Make sure to include some of the tomato juice when measuring – we need it to help cook the rice properly!

Perfect for taco night, burrito bowls, fajitas, or anytime you want flavorful rice without the fuss! 

💬 Comment "SPANISHRICE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for easy dinners
📤 SHARE with someone who burns rice!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/rice-cooker-spanish-rice
Easy Ravioli Lasagna – meat sauce, cheese raviol Easy Ravioli Lasagna – meat sauce, cheese ravioli, and mozzarella layered to make the easiest baked pasta dish! 

You guys have LOVED my easy dinner recipes lately, so here's another one! This lasagna cuts prep time in half while keeping all the same flavors and textures you love! 

The genius shortcut? Frozen cheese ravioli = no boiling pasta + no mixing ricotta! The ravioli cooks in the oven and the cheese filling acts as the ricotta layer!

Pro tip: Drain the beef well after cooking before adding sauce – otherwise it'll be too greasy!

Perfect for weeknight dinners, family meals, potlucks, or anytime you want lasagna without the fuss! 

💬 Comment "RAVIOLI" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for easy dinners
📤 SHARE with someone who needs this!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/easy-ravioli-lasagna/

#Lasagna #RavioliLasagna #EasyDinner #BakedPasta #PastaRecipe #FamilyDinner #ComfortFood #ItalianFood
Easy Homemade Refrigerator Pickles – classic dil Easy Homemade Refrigerator Pickles – classic dill pickles made with garlic and dill that cure right in your fridge! No canning required!

I never thought I'd want to make my own pickles, you guys, but then I tried homemade pickles at a restaurant and was BLOWN AWAY! They were super salty but not as vinegary as store-bought, still super green, and SO crunchy!

The best part? No intimidating canning process! These refrigerator pickles cure in your fridge and are ready in just 2 days!

Pro tip: Cut the ends off your cucumbers first – the ends have enzymes that make them soft during pickling!

Perfect for Memorial Day, summer BBQs, picnics, or anytime you want restaurant-quality pickles at home! 

💬 Comment "PICKLES" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pickles!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/easy-homemade-refrigerator-pickles/
#Pickles #HomemadePickles #RefrigeratorPickles #DillPickles #PickleRecipe

Copyright © 2026 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.