Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)
Tsukune, Japanese grilled chicken meatballs, with keto teriyaki sauce is sweet, salty, and absolutely delicious! This is the best low carb Tsukune recipe!
Servings 13 meatballs
Calories 88kcal
Equipment
- Flat skewers
- Perforated grill tray or grill grid
Ingredients
For the Tsukune meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken breast or thighs or a combination
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 bulbs scallions chopped
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 large egg yolk
- 0.5 oz ginger grated and squeezed into 1 tbsp ginger juice
- 0.8 oz shallot grated
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
For the sauce and serving:
- 1/4 cup Keto teriyaki sauce plus some extra for serving
- 1 head butter lettuce
Instructions
Make the sauce:
- Make the keto teriyaki sauce. Set it aside to cool.
Make the meatballs:
- In a large mixing bowl, add ingredients from chicken to egg yolk.
- Grate the ginger and squeeze the juice into the bowl. You should have about 1 tbsp ginger juice. Grate the shallot and add the entire mixture into the bowl.
- Stir the meat (I use a pair of chopsticks) in one direction until they become very sticky, about 2 minutes. If you have a stand mixer, use it to help you bind the meat together.
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment. Use a cookie scoop to form 13 meatballs and place them on the sheet. My scoop is about 3 tbsp per scoop.
- Grease your hands with some olive oil. This will prevent the meat from sticking to your hands. Shape the meatballs into a smooth surface.
If pan-fry (easiest way):
- Flatten the meatballs into small patties (about ½-inch thick). Pan fry them with avocado oil over medium heat about 2.5 minutes on the first side. Flip the patties and brush with teriyaki sauce. Fry the second side for about 1.5 minutes. Flip the patties again, brush with more sauce, and fry 1.5 minutes more.
If grill:
- Use a narrow flat skewer with a handle at one end and a perforated grill tray or grill grid on top of your grill surface to support the skewers or they will fall apart.
- Flatten the meatballs into small patties (about ½-inch thick) and thread them onto the skewers. Brush the grill tray with avocado oil. Cradle the entire skewer in your hand to keep the meat on the stick and place it on the grill grid.
- Grill the first side about 3-4 minutes, rotate to grill the second side about 2-3 minutes, and rotate again to grill for 15-30 seconds longer. Brush with the teriyaki sauce as you rotate the skewers.
To serve:
- Brush with a thin layer of teriyaki sauce and serve over butter lettuce. Enjoy it while it's sizzling hot!
Notes
- The meatballs can be made up to 24 hours ahead in the fridge.
- If on Whole30, try my Paleo/Whole30 Teriyaki sauce. The sauce will taste less sweet than the keto version.
Nutrition
Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 222mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 434IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg