Thai chicken meatballs that are better than any takeaway

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Ok, yes, I did say that. These Thai chicken meatballs are better than takeaway. These little nuggets are packed with flavour thanks to all the fresh ingredients I have used. And did I mention that they are baked in the oven?

a close up to a half-bitten chicken meatball

As you might know, we have found ourselves in yet another lockdown here in Melbourne. In fact, this one is number FIVE. So who could possibly blame me for trying to make the days a little sweeter for my family? So today I made these cute little meatballs to cheer us up. They turned out to be tender and juicy and were an absolute hit with everyone.

When ordering takeaway food keep in mind that most places will use vegetable oils to prepare your food, especially when the food is fried. Vegetable oils have a bad reputation for good reasons. They are highly refined with high heat and chemicals which lead to oxidative stress in our bodies. Vegetable oils are high in Omega-6 fatty acids. When eaten in moderation, Omega-6 is good for our health. However, it is too abundant in our modern diet and we should pay closer attention to how much Omega 6 we consume. Some vegetable oils might also contain small amounts of trans-fats.

chicken meatballs in a round bowk with coleslaw in the background

Are these Thai chicken meatballs gluten-free?

Yes, yes and yes! They are gluten-free, as are all the recipes on the A Is For Apple Au blog. I have an easy trick for you on how to make the best gluten-free bread crumbs. Freeze a couple of slices of your favourite gluten-free bread. Once frozen, put them in the food processor and whizz them for a couple of seconds until you have gluten-free bread crumbs! 🙂 It is that easy.

Can these meatballs be prepared in advance?

Absolutely! They are great for meal preps or lunch boxes. You can keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat them in the oven, pan or just enjoy them cold. They are also freezer-friendly. Simply freeze any leftovers in an air-tight container, they will keep for up to 3 months. Make sure you reheat them thoroughly after freezing. I’d recommend reheating them in the oven for 20 minutes at 200’C (400’F)

Quick lime and sweet chilli sauce

This dressing is probably not the healthiest recipe you will find on my blog, but it is quick and tastes delicious. Depending on the quality of your sweet chilli sauce it will still be a better alternative to the store-bought variety. When shopping for the sweet chilli sauce, make sure that the ingredients are as simple as possible. Ideally, it will only contain chillies, sugar, water and vinegar. Make sure it does not contain MSG. Unfortunately, many Asian products contain this very unhealthy flavour enhancer.

three chicken meatballs on a blue plate with dipping sauce and lime wedge

And now let’s have a look how to make these

Thai meatball that are better than any takeaway.