Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake: The One-Dish Dinner That’ll Save Your Weeknights

Okay, let me tell you about this honey garlic meatball rice bake that’s honestly been a total game-changer in my kitchen. You know those nights when you’re staring into the fridge thinking “what the heck am I gonna make for dinner?” This is your answer right here.

Picture this: tender, juicy meatballs swimming in the most amazing sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, all snuggled up with perfectly cooked rice and colorful veggies. And the best part? You literally dump everything in a pan and let the oven do all the work. I’m talking serious comfort food that tastes like you ordered takeout but actually took you maybe 20 minutes of real effort.

Why This Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake is Pure Genius

Here’s the thing about this honey garlic meatball rice bake – it’s like someone took all the best parts of Asian takeout and made it foolproof for home cooking. I’ve been making this for my family for years (trust me, I’ve perfected it through plenty of trial and error), and it never fails to impress.

What makes this honey garlic meatball rice bake so incredible? First off, everything cooks together, so the rice soaks up all those amazing flavors while the meatballs get perfectly glazed. Plus, at about 1 hour 15 minutes total with only 20 minutes of actual work, you’ve got time to help with homework or actually sit down for five minutes.

The breakdown: Serves 6 hungry people, beginner-friendly (seriously, if I can make this, anyone can), and it’s the kind of meal that makes everyone ask for seconds.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Everything You Need for This Amazing Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake

For the Meatballs:

• 1 lb ground beef or chicken (I usually go with beef, but chicken works great too)
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs (just the regular stuff from a can)
• 1 egg (straight from the fridge is fine)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion (don’t stress about perfect dicing)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (or use the jarred kind – no judgment here)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil (if you’ve got it – totally worth buying)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt

For That Amazing Honey Garlic Sauce:

• ⅓ cup honey (the good stuff if you’ve got it)
• ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce (your taste buds will thank you)
• 3 tablespoons ketchup (yep, regular old ketchup)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (this is where the magic happens)
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, but it makes the sauce super glossy)

The Rice Base:

• 1 cup long-grain white rice (jasmine rice is my favorite)
• 2 cups chicken broth (way better than water – trust me on this)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

The Veggie Squad:

• ½ cup diced bell peppers (any color you like)
• ½ cup frozen peas (don’t even bother thawing them)
• ¼ cup chopped green onions for garnish

Want to mix things up? Ground turkey works great, brown rice is doable (just add more liquid and time), and you can throw in whatever veggies you’ve got hanging around.

Let’s Make This Life-Changing Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake!

Step 1: Get Your Oven Ready Preheat to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish. I always use cooking spray because I’m lazy and it works perfectly.

Step 2: Mix Up Those Meatballs In a big bowl, combine all your meatball ingredients. Here’s my pro tip from years of making this honey garlic meatball rice bake: mix with clean hands and stop as soon as everything’s combined. Overmixing = tough meatballs, and nobody wants that.

Step 3: Roll ‘Em Out Form about 20-24 meatballs, roughly 1 to 1.5 inches. Don’t stress about making them perfect – slightly wonky meatballs have character! Wet your hands a bit so the meat doesn’t stick.

Step 4: Give Them a Quick Sear Heat a little oil in a skillet and brown the meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side. They don’t need to cook through completely – we’re just building flavor here. Work in batches so they actually brown instead of steam.

Step 5: Whip Up That Sauce In a small saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, ketchup, water, and garlic. Heat until it starts bubbling and smells incredible (which happens pretty fast). If you want it thicker, mix that cornstarch with a tablespoon of water first, then stir it in.

Step 6: Layer It Up Spread the uncooked rice in your greased dish, then scatter the bell peppers and peas on top. Drizzle with oil or melted butter, then carefully pour the chicken broth over everything.

Step 7: Nestle Those Meatballs Arrange your browned meatballs throughout the rice, pressing them down slightly so they’re partly buried. This is key for the honey garlic meatball rice bake magic – the meatballs flavor the rice while they finish cooking.

Step 8: Sauce It Up Pour that gorgeous honey garlic sauce over everything, then cover tightly with foil. Make sure it’s sealed well – we need that steam to cook the rice perfectly.

Step 9: Let the Oven Work Its Magic Bake covered for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until the top is golden and the rice is tender. The smell alone will have everyone hovering around the kitchen.

Step 10: The Hardest Part – Let It Rest Let your honey garlic meatball rice bake sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. I know it’s torture, but this lets everything settle and the rice finish absorbing any remaining liquid.

Making It Look Restaurant-Worthy

The beauty of this honey garlic meatball rice bake is that it already looks amazing straight from the oven – those golden, glazed meatballs nestled in perfectly cooked rice with pops of colorful veggies. Just sprinkle some fresh green onions on top and you’re done.

I usually serve this family-style right from the baking dish because, let’s be honest, who wants extra dishes to wash? Put out some soy sauce and sriracha on the side for people who want to customize their heat level.

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Leftovers and Make-Ahead Magic

Storage: This honey garlic meatball rice bake keeps great in the fridge for up to 4 days, and honestly, I think it tastes even better the next day when all those flavors have had time to meld.

Reheating: Microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes, or reheat the whole thing covered in a 325°F oven for 15-20 minutes. Add a splash of broth if it seems dry.

Make-ahead: You can assemble this honey garlic meatball rice bake completely and stick it in the fridge overnight before baking. Just add 10-15 minutes to the cooking time since you’re starting cold.

Freezer-friendly: It freezes for up to 3 months, though the rice texture changes a bit. Still totally edible though!

Fun Ways to Switch Up Your Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake

Pineapple Version: Add chunks of pineapple for a sweet tropical twist that’s absolutely divine with the honey garlic sauce.

Spicy Kick: Throw in some diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes if you like things with a little heat.

Veggie-Loaded: Add broccoli, snap peas, or carrots – whatever you’ve got in the fridge works.

Teriyaki Style: Swap the honey garlic sauce for teriyaki sauce for a different but equally delicious flavor profile.

More One-Dish Wonders You’ll Absolutely Love

If this honey garlic meatball rice bake has you hooked on easy, flavorful meals, you’re gonna want to check out some of my other favorite one-bowl dinners! Our Hot Honey Chicken Bowls bring that same sweet-and-spicy magic with crispy chicken and tons of fresh veggies – it’s like the perfect balance of healthy and indulgent.

For those nights when you want something super quick, try our Chicken and Sweet Potato Rice Bowl – seriously, 30 minutes from start to finish and it’s packed with flavor and nutrition. And if you’re in the mood for something creamy and comforting (but different from this rice bake), our Creamy Ground Beef Orzo is like a warm hug in a bowl.

Want even more recipe inspiration and behind-the-scenes kitchen tips? Follow me on Pinterest where I share all my latest recipe experiments, meal prep ideas, and those little cooking tricks that make everything easier!

Trust me, once you make this honey garlic meatball rice bake, it’ll become one of those go-to recipes you’ll make over and over again. Your family will start requesting it, and you’ll be happy to oblige because you know it’s going to turn out perfectly every single time!

Why This Honey Garlic Meatball Rice Bake is a Total Winner

After making this countless times for my family and friends, I can tell you this honey garlic meatball rice bake hits all the right notes. It’s got that perfect balance of sweet and savory that appeals to both kids and adults, plus the one-dish format means less cleanup (which is always a win in my book).

The protein from the meatballs, carbs from the rice, and vitamins from the veggies make it a complete meal that actually satisfies everyone. Plus, there’s something really satisfying about pulling this gorgeous, bubbling dish out of the oven that makes you feel like a total cooking rockstar.

This honey garlic meatball rice bake has become one of those recipes I turn to when I want something delicious but don’t want to spend my entire evening in the kitchen. It’s comfort food that doesn’t require a ton of skill or fancy ingredients – just good, honest cooking that creates something really special.

Trust me, once you make this honey garlic meatball rice bake, it’ll become one of those go-to recipes you’ll make over and over again. Your family will start requesting it, and you’ll be happy to oblige because you know it’s going to turn out perfectly every single time!

Frequently Asked Questions