Teriyaki Meatball Bowls came about after one of my readers shared her weekly menu and mentioned making a bowl recipe for dinner. That got my wheels spinning, and I decided to make my own Asian version with meatballs, rice, and an easy homemade teriyaki sauce.

The end goal was a quick weeknight dinner my whole family would actually eat, including my toughest critic when it comes to meat.

Teriyaki meatball bowls on a bed of rice next to a serving spoon.

I’ll admit, I like eating meatballs a lot more than I like making them. Handling raw meat is just not my favorite kitchen task, so premade meatballs are one shortcut I’m happy to use.

My go-to are fully cooked Aidells chicken meatballs, but this recipe works with beef, turkey, pork or homemade meatballs, too. And I usually keep an extra package in the freezer because my family asks for this meal regularly.

Teriyaki Meatball Bowls – 30 Minute Meal

Using premade meatballs also means this dinner comes together in about 30 minutes, which is exactly what I need on busy nights. Serve everything over cooked rice and dinner is done. If quick bowl meals are your thing, you may also like my Ground Turkey Rice Bowls or Instant Pot Korean Ground Beef.

For the homemade teriyaki sauce, I started with a recipe from Jamie Cooks It Up and made a few changes over time to fit our tastes. The combination of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil gives it that sweet and savory teriyaki flavor we all love, and it’s super easy to make.

Ingredients needed to make teriyaki meatball bowls recipe with text labels.

Teriyaki Meatball Bowls Ingredients Needed

For the Bowls

  • Meatballs – I use precooked chicken meatballs to make this a 30-minute meal.
  • Rice – Makes the base of the bowls.

For the Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

  • Brown sugar – Lightly packed.
  • Soy sauce – I use the reduced-sodium kind to keep the dish from becoming too salty.
  • Garlic powder – Adds a savory flavor and balances the sweetness.
  • Grated ginger – Use freshly grated or the kind in a tube.
  • Cold water – The base of the sauce.
  • Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce.
  • Sesame oil – You’ll need just a little to add a toasted nut flavor.
  • Sesame seeds – Add a slight crunch.

How to Make Meatball Bowls with Teriyaki Sauce

Start by preparing your rice.

Warm up the meatballs and keep them warm until you’re ready to build your bowls.

Two photo collage of mixing the homemade teriyaki sauce ingredients together with text overlay.

Place the first five sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix together. Whisk in the cornstarch until the lumps are gone, then stir in the sesame oil.

Side by side images of making the homemade teriyaki sauce and adding the sauce to the Aidell chicken meatballs and rice with text labels.

Transfer the mixture to a pan and heat until it’s thickened, whisking continually.

Build your bowls: start with rice, add meatballs and spoon sauce over the top.

Tips for Making the Teriyaki Meatball Bowl Recipe

  • Using precooked meatballs makes this a quick weeknight dinner.
  • I use a rice cooker for perfectly cooked rice every time.
  • You can add the sesame seeds directly to the sauce if preferred, but I sprinkle them on when serving because I have a few haters in my house.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

  • Chicken, turkey, beef, or homemade meatballs can be used in this recipe. Just make sure they’re cooked before making your bowls.
  • You can use a premade teriyaki sauce but this homemade sauce is so simple to make (and worth the slight effort!).
  • Jasmine rice is my go-to kind, but you can use white, brown, or try cauliflower rice for a lower carb option. You can even use the 90-second rice packets for an easy shortcut (no judgement here!).
  • Bulk up the bowls by adding your favorite veggies – roasted broccoli or carrots, corn, snap peas, or sliced green onion and pineapple are all tasty options.

How to Serve Teriyaki Meatball Bowls

Simply scoop some white or brown rice, or cashew fried rice in a bowl.  Add meatballs and top with the teriyaki sauce.  You could also add vegetables – I like adding steamed broccoli and carrots to mine.

White dish of Teriyaki Meatball Rice Bowl with a serving spoon.

How to Store Leftover Meatball Bowls

Place leftover rice and meatballs in an airtight container and the sauce in a separate container. Store in the refrigerator – the rice and meatballs will keep for up to for up to 4 days and the sauce will keep for up to a week.

And yes, this recipe passed the toughest test. The Girl loved both the bowls and the meatballs, polished off the leftovers the next day, and even declared the recipe “BOMB.” Around here, that is very high praise.

More Easy Meatball Recipes

Closeup view of Aidell chicken meatballs and rice with teriyaki sauce with text overlay.

Originally published 10/31/14, fully updated including photos on 8/29/26.

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Family favorite meal, ready in 30 minutes. Teriyaki Meatball Bowls - A Reinvented Mom
  • 2 cups uncooked rice, I use Jasmine rice
  • 1.5 pounds pre-cooked meatballs, chicken, turkey, beef, or pork

Prevent your screen from going dark

  • Cook the rice according to package directions.

    2 cups uncooked rice

  • Heat meatballs according to package directions or make from your favorite recipe. Keep warm.

    1.5 pounds pre-cooked meatballs

  • Combine the brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and water in a bowl and stir.

    1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger, 1½ cups cold water

  • Add the corn starch and whisk until the mixture is smooth.

    3 Tablespoons corn starch

  • Add the sesame oil and stir.

    1 teaspoon sesame oil

  • Pour the sauce mixture into a large skillet. Whisk continually over medium high heat until sauce has thickened.

  • Optional: The sesame seeds can be added to the sauce at the end or sprinkled on top of the bowls before serving.

    sesame seeds

  • To serve: Start with rice, then add meatballs and top with teriyaki sauce.

  • Jasmine, white, brown, and cauliflower rice work in this recipe.
  • Store leftover meatballs and rice for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Place remaining sauce in a separate container, where it will keep for up to 1 week in the fridge.
  • Teriyaki sauce recipe adapted from Jamie Cooks It Up! 

Calories: 572kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 1317mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.

Two photo collage of teriyaki meatball bowls with graphic overlay.
Bowl of Teriyaki Meatballs with rice | A Reinvented Mom
Package of Aidells Teriyaki and Pineapple meatballs.





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