Vietnamese Meatballs (2024)

I don’t know how authentic these beef meatballs actually are—but I can promise you they will blow your taste buds away in the flavor department. The texture is smooth, compact and packed with unbelievable flavors: Thai chilies, ginger, garlic, cilantro and fish sauce are mixed with ground beef to form perfect little round balls that will then be dressed or dipped into a sweet and spicy hoisin sauce.

When I think of South East Asian food I think of punchy, stinky, in your face flavors. These Beef Meatballs may not have the stinky factor but they are very South East Asian nonetheless! They are so tasty you could technically do without the dipping sauce. Blending the ingredients (including the beef) in a blender also changes the texture, making these Beef Meatballs very different from say, Italian meatballs.

What Is Bun Cha?
Vietnamese Beef Meatballs Ingredients
How to Make Vietnamese Beef Meatballs
Vietnamese Beef Meatballs Companion Dishes
Other Delicious Vietnamese Dishes

A well-known and traditional Vietnamese meatball dish is called Bun Cha.

What Is Bun Cha?

Bún chả is a Vietnamese dish said to have originated from Hanoi, Vietnam. It’s made with grilled, fatty pork (essentially pork meatballs) paired with rice vermicelli noodles, which is a thin noodle, also known as rice noodles.

This dish is also made with tons of fresh herbs and a dipping sauce as well. Although it should produce a slightly different taste than our savory meatballs since our specialized recipe pulls from a different source of protein and other flavor profiles.

Vietnamese Beef Meatballs Ingredients

Ground beef: I highly recommend using lean ground beef as your protein of choice when making this specific recipe. Although it’s not unheard of for some to opt for ground pork depending on their preference.
Red onion: Diced red onion will add a great deal of flavor to your meatball—and beneficial health components as well!
Garlic: Garlic is the strong ingredient that will bring your meat balls to life. They’re going to smell and taste phenomenal!
Cilantro: Cilantro will give your ground beef a flavor boost.
Ginger: A small amount of ginger goes a long way. It will add a unique flavor that will be easily enhanced by the other sensational ingredients in this mixture.
Honey: Honey will add just the right amount of sweetness to this otherwise savory side.
Thai chili: Thai chili will give your meatballs a mouthful of flavor. If you’re a fan of a little spice, keep a bottle or a jar on hand for future dishes as well.
Canola or vegetable oil: Any neutral oil with a high smoking point will work for this recipe.
Fish sauce: See further detail about fish sauce down below!
Dipping sauce: A mix of hoisin sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, Thai chili, and water.

How to Make Vietnamese Beef Meatballs

Gather all of your kitchen tools and ingredients.
Put all of the ingredients for the beef balls in a food processor and blend until everything is minced and blended into a meat mixture. Then transfer to a large bowl.
Put a little oil in your hands, just enough to lightly coat fingers and palms, and use a tablespoon to scoop up the ground meat so the meatballs are the same size. Repeat the process until all of the beef mixture is used.
In a deep pan, over medium heat (or medium to high), add oil and the meatballs. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the meatballs over, cover and cook for another 5 or until the meatballs are golden brown.
Mix all the ingredients for the dipping sauce in a small bowl and serve together with beef meatballs. Pour over or use as a dipping sauce.
Serve with rice, tomatoes and a few cilantro leaves.

The texture is smooth, compactand packed with unbelievable flavors: Thai chilies, ginger, garlic, cilantro and fish sauce are mixed with ground beef to form perfect little round balls that will then be dressed or dipped into a sweet and spicy hoisin sauce.

Vietnamese Beef Meatballs Companion Dishes

Serve these Vietnamese beef meatballs with a side of Japanese rice so the sauce can soak through each grain making every bite even more satisfying. Then garnish with sliced tomatoes and/or fresh cilantro for full effect. Watch our video on how to make Japanese rice with the stove top or rice cooker method for full potential. Once you learn how to make this rice recipe as well, you will have a new, easy side dish to pair with many of our other recipes like smacked cucumber with chili oil or air fryer teriyaki tofu!

And if you’re feeling fun, you can even turn these Vietnamese Beef Meatballs into meatball skewers. In my experience, kids and adults alike love eating off a stick.

Other Delicious Vietnamese Dishes

Vietnamese food easily wins my heart because of its pungent flavors and healthier ingredients. When I am around Vietnamese food I turn into Ms Pac-Man, munching on anything that’s in front of me. Nothing satisfies me more than a big bowl of pho and some crispy spring rolls wrapped in mint and lettuce when I crave a cheap and tasty lunch.