Asian Pork Meatballs

An appetizer or healthy meal your family won’t be able to get enough of – Asian Pork Meatballs, made in an air fryer! The flavorful sauce is similar to a sweet and sour, with a kick.

Love using your air fryer? So do I! Try these Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts as a side dish for this recipe.

*This post is sponsored by SunButter, a sunflower seed spread perfect for allergy-safe baking and cooking! Thanks for supporting the brands that keep Sunkissed Kitchen running.

An Air Fryer Meatball Recipe you Won’t Want to Miss!

I have been in love with my air fryer lately. It’s so easy to pull out and heat up, and gives food the best texture and crunch. I make everything from chicken legs to brussels sprouts in it.

It’s perfect to heat up my son’s chicken nuggets, and makes it so easy to prepare him quick meals.

I use this little Ninja Air Fryer, and it’s perfect for our needs. If you’re cooking for a larger family, this large air fryer would be better!

These delicious Asian Pork Meatballs could be sautéed in the same frying pan you make the sauce in, if you don’t have an air fryer. I like cooking them in the air fryer to give them a crunchy exterior, while quickly whipping up the sauce on the side.

The pork meatballs themselves are quite simple. I infuse them with Asian flavors by adding tons of cilantro, shallots, and some ginger. The coconut aminos gives them that savory, slightly caramelized flavor on the outside.

The magic happens with the sauce! It’s a super simple mixture of coconut aminos (a soy-free alternative to soy sauce), honey, siracha, and SunButter sunflower seed butter. The SunButter thickens the sauce, as well as giving it a slightly nutty flavor, similar to Asian sauces with crushed peanuts. It’s like a sweet and sour sauce, but infinitely better!

What You’ll Need:

• Ground Pork (these would be just as good with beef or chicken!)
• Cilantro
• Shallots
• Coconut Aminos
• Ginger Powder
• Rice Wine Vinegar
• Paleo Sriracha
• SunButter No Sugar Added or Organic SunButter
• Raw Honey

If you haven’t used SunButter for savory dishes yet, you’re in for a treat with this recipe! It’s a great way to add flavor, healthy fats, and to thicken sauces and dressings.

I use SunButter to make Asian salad dressings, dipping sauces, and for slow cooker recipes.

Pick up a jar of SunButter and start cooking! You can find out where it’s sold near you on the SunButter website.

How to Make Meatballs in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Add the ground pork, cilantro, shallots, coconut aminos, salt and ginger powder to a mixing bowl. Mix until evenly combined.

Step 2: Scoop the meat into balls. Make smaller meatballs (about 20) for an appetizer type serving, or larger meatballs (about 12) for more of a dinner entree.

Step 3: Preheat the air fryer to 390º F for 5 minutes.

Step 4: Add the meatballs into the hot air fryer. If making about 20 meatballs, cook for 8 minutes. If your meatballs are larger (about 12), cook for 11 minutes, or until pork is cooked through.

Step 5: While the meatballs are cooking, add the water, coconut aminos, honey, sriracha, SunButter, and ginger to a saucepan. Add a pinch of salt, if desired. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking to incorporate the SunButter. After it begins to simmer, continue cooking and whisking for about 2 minutes, so the SunButter starts to thicken the sauce. It will continue to thicken as it cools.

Step 6: Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce, and stir to coat them. Garnish the meatballs with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

Variations and Other Cooking Methods

Don’t have Ground Pork? It can be difficult to find! I buy it at Whole Foods. You can also make these with ground beef, turkey, or chicken!

Need these to be mild? You can turn this in to a more traditional sweet and sour type sauce by omitting the chili sauce and adding 1 tablespoon of tomato paste to the sauce. Season it with extra salt.

No Air Fryer?

• Bake these Asian pork meatballs by preheating the oven to 400º F, and laying out the meatballs on a lined baking tray. Bake the meatballs for about 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
• Use a skillet to brown the meatballs. Prior to making the sauce, brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium heat with a little avocado oil. Once they are cooked through (about 15 minutes), remove them from the skillet to make the sauce. Once the sauce has thickened, add them back into the skillet with the sauce.

Healthy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Legs
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

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