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adobo chicken meatballs

This recipe combines juicy ground chicken meatballs with a savory adobo sauce made with chicken broth, coconut milk, soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. The meatballs and vegetables like carrots, onions, and garlic are simmered in the adobo sauce for a flavorful and comforting Filipino-inspired dish.

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Updated on Fri, 03 Jan 2025 01:23:24 GMT
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A black skillet contains cooked meatballs, diced carrots, green onions, and white rice all coated in sauce. Save it
A black skillet contains cooked meatballs, diced carrots, green onions, and white rice all coated in sauce. | myhomemaderecipe.com

I discovered these adobo chicken meatballs when craving comfort food but wanting something lighter than beef. The combination of tender meatballs swimming in tangy sauce with carrots and onions has become our family favorite. The coconut milk makes everything rich and creamy while soy sauce adds that perfect savory touch. Now my kids ask for these every week, especially over a big bowl of fluffy rice.

What Makes These Special

Ground chicken transforms into something magical here. The sauce hits all the right notes—savory, tangy, with just a touch of sweetness—while coconut milk brings everything together in the most luxurious way. I love that everything cooks in one pot, making cleanup a breeze. Perfect for those busy nights when you want something that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.

Your Shopping List

  • The Main Player: Fresh ground chicken from the butcher counter if possible—it stays more tender than frozen.
  • For The Sauce: Good coconut milk, soy sauce, and rice vinegar create that classic adobo flavor.
  • Fresh Stuff: Sweet carrots, onions, and plenty of garlic make the sauce extra special.
  • The Extras: Black pepper, bay leaves, and a pinch of brown sugar balance everything perfectly.

Let's Get Cooking

Shape Your Meatballs
Mix ground chicken with garlic, black pepper, and a splash of soy sauce. Roll them into bite-sized balls with wet hands—keeps everything from sticking.
Brown The Beauties
Get your pan nice and hot with oil. Brown those meatballs in batches until they're golden all over, about 2 minutes per side.
Build Your Sauce
Add onions and carrots to the same pan—let them get soft and sweet. Pour in coconut milk, soy sauce, vinegar, and drop in your bay leaves.
Simmer To Perfection
Nestle those meatballs back in, let everything bubble gently for about 20 minutes until the sauce thickens and the meatballs cook through.
A black pan filled with savory meatballs, sliced carrots, and onions, garnished with chopped green onions in a glossy sauce. Save it
A black pan filled with savory meatballs, sliced carrots, and onions, garnished with chopped green onions in a glossy sauce. | myhomemaderecipe.com

Kitchen Secrets

Keep your hands wet while rolling meatballs—it makes everything so much easier. Go for low-sodium soy sauce if you want more control over the salt. Never skip that browning step—it locks in flavor and helps your meatballs stay together in the sauce. Trust me on this one, I learned the hard way.

Serving Time

These meatballs need a big bed of steamy rice to soak up all that amazing sauce. Sometimes I serve them over cauliflower rice when we want something lighter. A simple green salad or some roasted broccoli on the side makes it feel like a complete meal.

Save Some For Later

Tuck any leftovers in the fridge—they stay good for 3 days in a sealed container. Warm them up gently in the microwave or on the stove. Skip the freezer, though—the texture just isn't the same after freezing, trust me on this one.

Mix It Up

Try this with ground pork or turkey when you want to switch things up. Toss in green beans, zucchini, or colorful peppers to add more veggies. Light coconut milk works fine if you want to keep things lighter. Play with the soy sauce and vinegar amounts until it tastes perfect to you.

A plate of meatballs served with a sweet sauce, diced carrots, and green onions over a bed of fluffy rice. Save it
A plate of meatballs served with a sweet sauce, diced carrots, and green onions over a bed of fluffy rice. | myhomemaderecipe.com

Make It Your Way

Add some heat with chili flakes or make it smoky with paprika. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top or finish with a drizzle of sesame oil. Your kitchen, your rules. My husband likes his extra tangy with more vinegar while the kids prefer theirs mild. That's the fun part about cooking—making each dish just right for your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What is adobo?

Adobo is a popular Filipino dish that typically involves meat or seafood braised in a sauce made with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and other seasonings.

→ What kind of meatballs are used in this recipe?

This recipe uses ground chicken meatballs made with panko breadcrumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

→ What vegetables are included in this dish?

The adobo chicken meatballs are simmered with sliced carrots, onions, and garlic.

→ How is the adobo sauce made?

The adobo sauce is made with chicken broth, coconut milk, soy sauce, white vinegar, brown sugar, and black pepper.

→ What can these adobo chicken meatballs be served with?

The recipe suggests serving the adobo chicken meatballs with rice or cauliflower rice, and garnished with sliced green onions.

adobo chicken meatballs

Ground chicken meatballs simmered in a flavorful adobo sauce with carrots, onions, and garlic. A tasty Filipino-inspired dish.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
30 Minutes
Total Time
40 Minutes
By: Zaho

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Filipino

Yield: 4 Servings (20 meatballs)

Dietary: Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 1 pound ground chicken (90% lean or leaner).
02 1 large egg.
03 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs.
04 1 teaspoon onion powder.
05 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
06 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.
07 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.
08 1/2 cup chicken broth.
09 1/2 cup coconut milk.
10 1/4 cup soy sauce.
11 2 1/2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar.
12 2 teaspoons brown sugar.
13 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.
14 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
15 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced.
16 1 medium yellow onion, sliced.
17 4 large carrots, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
18 1 bay leaf.
19 1 green onion, sliced, for serving.

Instructions

Step 01

In a medium bowl, mix together the ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined. This will be the meatball mixture.

Step 02

In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the chicken broth, coconut milk, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and black pepper to make the adobo sauce mixture.

Step 03

Heat a large braising pan or skillet with a lid over medium heat and add the vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, use a small scoop or your hands to shape the meatball mixture into balls and gently drop them into the pan.

Step 04

Brown the meatballs for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown and opaque.

Step 05

Push the meatballs to one side of the pan and add the sliced garlic to the other side. Sauté for 1 minute.

Step 06

Add the sliced onions, carrots, and bay leaf to the pan, nestling them around the meatballs.

Step 07

Pour the adobo sauce mixture over the meatballs and vegetables. Once simmering, cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Step 08

Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium-high, and let the sauce reduce and thicken for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 09

Garnish with sliced green onions and serve hot with rice or cauliflower rice.

Notes

  1. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave until piping hot, about 1 1/2 minutes.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large braising pan or skillet with lid.
  • Mixing bowls.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 460
  • Total Fat: 27 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 23 g
  • Protein: 33 g