These Ginger and Lemongrass Chicken Meatballs are super succulent (with no trace of toughness), deliciously fragrant (with a hint of sweetness), the perfect size for dipping (because kids love to dip) and are great for adding to a lunchbox. Just make sure you leave some for the kids!
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How to Make Tender Chicken Meatballs that Kids will Love.
Using leaner meats, such as chicken or turkey, can often result in a tougher meatball due to the low-fat content. This would be such a turn off for my kids and I'm sure it would be for many children. Young kids often aren't keen on meat and I put it down to the texture. This is why I add a breadcrumb and milk mixture to my meatballs, it helps add moisture and also prevents the meat proteins from shrinking and becoming tough.
Adding Veggies to Chicken Meatballs
As parents, we are always trying to encourage our children to eat the recommended daily vegetable intake. This can be tough and so I always like to grate or finely chop some vegetables into every meal. I'd say 80% of my meals start with an onion. Known as the "Secret Serve" of vegetables it provides great flavour and if chopped finely enough it will go unnoticed. In these chicken meatballs, I also added grated carrot. I recommend sautéing the vegetables, along with garlic and the lemongrass, until softened before adding it to the ground meat. It makes the meatballs more flavoursome and adds a delicious sweetness to the balls that kids love. You also want to sauté the mixture until it is quite dry so that the moisture balance isn't offset.
Get the Kids Involved
This is a great recipe to get your children in the kitchen. I honestly believe that kids who are involved in cooking meals are more likely to try and enjoy their food. There are a lot of simple tasks that young kids can do in this recipe. Pouring, mixing, forming balls are all easy activities that kids can undertake (just watch that they don't try to eat the raw mixture like my boys do!)
The great thing about these meatballs is that I can have them prepped in the morning. Finn's busy sport's schedule means that we are often home late in the evening and I need something easy and quick. I chill the meatballs and just pop them in the oven when we get home. The dip can be made ahead of time too, in fact, I think it tastes better if made in advance. My kids are suckers for a dip and the flavours complement the meatballs perfectly. If you have any dip left over I suggest you add some pureed mango to it for a delicious dessert.
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Chicken Meatballs with a Lemongrass and Ginger Dip.
Ingredients
- 25g (½ cup) Breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp Milk
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 Onion (white, brown or red) (Finely Chopped)
- 1 Carrot (Grated)
- 2 Garlic Cloves (Finely Chopped)
- 1 stalk Lemon Grass (white only) (Finely Chopped)
- 1 tablespoon Ginger (grated)
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Fresh Lime Juice
- 500g (1.1lb) Minced Chicken
- 2 tbsp Fresh Coriander Leaves (cilantro) (Finely Chopped)
- Dip
- 250g (1 cup) Greek Yoghurt
- ½ Lemon Grass Stalk (white Only)
- 2 tsps Ginger (grated)
- ½ Lime (zest and juice)
Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 200C / 400F and line a baking tray with baking paper / baking mat.
- In a small bowl, pour the milk over the breadcrumbs and set aside while preparing the rest of the meatball mix.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook until softened, about 4 mins. Add the garlic and lemon grass and cook for a further minute. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
- In a small bowl, add the ginger, soy sauce and lime juice. Stir until combined.
- Add the chicken mince to a large mixing bowl and add the carrot / onion mixture, sauce mixture, coriander and the breadcrumb mixture. Gently mix until combined. Shape tablespoons of the mixture into balls and place on the lined baking tray. (I made 27 balls)
- Place in the oven and bake for approx. 20 mins, until golden and cooked through.
- DIP - Add the lemon grass to a food processor and pulse until finely minced. Add the ginger, lime zest and juice and continue to pulse until combined. Stir the mixture through the yoghurt until fully mixed.
Stephanie
Hi! I love your website so much. I use it all the time!
These look amazing - I am making for a 1 year old, would I simply omit the soy sauce?
Amy
Thanks Stephanie! Yes, just skip or reduce the soy sauce 🙂
Rachel
These were very yummy I didn’t cook the vegetables because I’m a slacker, I just threw everything together and put it in the oven. I did not have lemongrass but used lemongrass paste. I didn’t think the dipping sauce was anything to go crazy over, but my grandma did once I added some honey to it
Amy
Brilliant, thanks Rachel 🙂
Malinda
Help me understand how these are packed for a school lunch. Do you put in a thermos to keep warm? Do kids eat room temperature? My daughter is in kindergarten. I don't know why this is confusing to me...
Amy
Hi Malinda, my boys enjoy these cold. I just pack them in their lunchbox and pop in a cooler bag with an icepack.
Jayelen
I have been on a diet change and use a lot of your recipes for myself. I made these meatballs into patties with roast veggies for my birthday meal and choc orange balls for dessert. Just quietly they were a household hit and definitely on my to make again list. I have also made them with turkey mince. So so so good either way. DELICIOUS.
Lucy Richards
Hi Amy, this recipe looks great. However, I can't find chicken mince in the supermarket, do you know if this recipe would work ok with minced turkey?
Amy
Hi Lucy, yes turkey mince should work great 🙂
Enna Casey
This is by far one of the best recipes I have ever made out of your others. Although my fussy little one didn’t even touch it, I demolished them all lol. Soooo yummy !
Amy
Hi Enna, that is a shame your little one didn't like these but at least you did! Glad you enjoyed them!
Kb
Looks delicious! What would you pair this with for a meal? Thanks!
Amy
Hi Kb, we like them with some roasted vegetables and some sweet potato wedges. They could also be added to a salad bowl or sandwich.
Elissia
Hi this recipe looks amazing! Do you think all the ingredients would be suitable for an 8 month old?
Amy
Hi Elissia, I was happy to serve this to my 8 mth old but every baby is different. I'd probably miss out the soy sauce to reduce the sodium level 🙂
Hazel
Really great recipe, prepared y.day and it was really yummy...
Amy
Thanks Hazel, glad you liked it! I always split the mixture in two and add a ton of chili to hubby and my portion! So good!
Rebecca
My especially super picky 4 year old and 1 year old just enjoyed these for lunch. A lovely recipe, thank you 🙂
Amy
Fab! This makes me happy 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to rate and comment.
amy
Amy these were great for my 6 month old doing BLW and the older kids liked them too. Am making a second batch for the lunchboxes, thank you!
Amy
Brilliant! Thanks for taking the time to let me know, it means a lot.
Lindsey
If I can't find lemongrass, will lemon grass paste be alright to use? Any other substitutes? Just leave out? I'm not confident I can find at my grocer, in my small town.
Amy
Hi Lindsey, yes you could use lemongrass paste. Enjoy!
steph
can these be made but uncooked and frozen ahead of time?
Amy
I haven't tried freezing these but I have with similar recipes and it works well. I'd freeze on a lined baking tray and once frozen store in a freezer bag / container.
Amy
Thanks Andreya, hope you enjoy them!
satti
Hi Amy,
I have made quite a few of your dishes and they have gone down really well!
Are you able to advise how many carrots are needed for this recipe?
Many thanks
Satti
Amy
Hi Satti, Good spot - I used one medium carrot, grated. I added it at the same time as the onion. Will update recipe now.
So happy that the recipes are going down well!
Amy
satti
Hey Amy, just messaging to say that I made the chicken balls yesterday and not only did little Emma enjoy them but so did her dad! It's the only meat recipe that they have both loved. As I'm a vegetarian I haven't made many meat dishes. Many thanks 🙂
Amy
I'm so happy they were husband and child approved! Thanks for taking the time to tell me and hopefully you find some other dishes that you all love.
Andreya
wow!!! looks so delicious and yummy. definitely, kids will love 🙂