Spicy Sesame Meatballs with Roasted Carrots and Rice

Get ready for a flavor explosion with these irresistible meatballs! Coated in a creamy, spicy, sweet and savory sauce, they’re baked to perfection and served over fluffy sesame rice alongside tender roasted carrots. This dish is all about big, bold flavors that come together quickly for a weeknight dinner that feels special.

The magic is in the sauce-a blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, honey, soy sauce and sriracha that’s so good you’ll want to drizzle it on everything. Paired with nutty sesame rice and caramelized carrots, every bite is a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Don’t be surprised when you find yourself scraping the plate clean!

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Ingredients

12 ounce CarrotsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit ScallionsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 thumb GingerView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon MayonnaiseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon HoneyView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Soy SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon SrirachaView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Jasmine RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 cup Panko BreadcrumbsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Korean Chili FlakesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Vegetable OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Sesame SeedsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Wash and dry all produce. Trim, peel and cut carrots diagonally into ½-inch-thick pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens; mince the whites. Peel and mince ginger.
2. In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, honey, 2 teaspoons soy sauce and sriracha (adjust to taste). Set aside.
3. Place carrots on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Toss with a drizzle of vegetable oil, salt and pepper, then push to one side. Roast on top rack for 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add half the sesame seeds; cook, stirring, until golden, 1-2 minutes. Add rice, ¾ cup water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
5. In a second large bowl, combine ground beef, panko, ginger, scallion whites, remaining soy sauce, salt (about ½ teaspoon) and pepper. Form into 10-12 meatballs (1½ inches each).
6. After carrots have roasted 10 minutes, remove baking sheet from oven and carefully place meatballs on the empty side. Roast on top rack until meatballs are cooked through and carrots are browned and tender, 14-16 minutes more. (If carrots finish early, remove them and continue roasting meatballs.)
7. Fluff rice with a fork; season with salt and pepper. Divide rice among bowls or plates. Add meatballs to the bowl with sauce and toss to coat. Serve meatballs over rice, drizzle with remaining sauce and arrange carrots alongside. Garnish with scallion greens, remaining sesame seeds and Korean chili flakes to taste.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef?

Yes, ground turkey or chicken work well. Just ensure they are cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F.

Is the firecracker sauce very spicy?

The sauce has a mild to moderate kick from sriracha and chili flakes. You can adjust the spice level by reducing or omitting the sriracha and chili flakes.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs and tamari instead of soy sauce. Ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.