Ginger Pork Meatball Stir Fry
This pork meatball stir fry is a flavorful and colorful dinner that is perfect for busy weeknights! With crisp vegetables, long tender noodles perfect for slurping, a sauce that doesn’t get everywhere, and perfect pork meatballs, this Asian inspired stir fry recipe is a winner.
There’s something really powerful about starting with a food kids already trust.
For my family, that food is meatballs.
This ginger pork meatball stir fry leans into that familiarity and uses it as a bridge to something a little different — tender noodles, colorful vegetables, and a simple, flavorful sauce that brings everything together without being messy or overwhelming.
It’s an easy, flexible weeknight dinner that feels fun to eat and comforting to serve. The vegetables add crunch and color, the noodles are perfect for slurping, and the meatballs anchor the whole meal in something recognizable and dependable.
Familiar doesn’t mean boring — it means everyone can sit down at the table feeling comfortable enough to explore.
Why this recipe works for real life
This is the kind of meal that fits into busy evenings without asking too much of you. It works because it’s:
- built around familiar meatballs that help kids feel confident at the table
- colorful and textured, which makes the meal visually interesting without being intimidating
- flexible enough to prep ahead or adjust for different ages and appetites
It’s approachable, filling, and easy to adapt — exactly what most weeknights need.
Other great meatball recipes kids love:
How to make this stir fry with pork meatballs recipe
These Asian inspired meatballs are a simple and quick meal to make. For the full recipe and directions, make sure you scroll down to the recipe card, but here is a basic overview:
- Cook a package of udon noodles according to package directions. When done, drain and set aside.
- Mix the ingredients for the meatballs and form them into equal balls.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat with just a little bit of vegetable oil.
- When the oil is hot, cook the meatballs. Make sure to not crowd the pan so that each meatball gets browned all over well. Do this in batches if you need to.
- Remove the meatballs to a plate and keep them warm.
- To the same skillet, add the shredded carrots, diced mushrooms, purple cabbage and snow peas. Saute, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are slightly softened and brightly colored, about 5 minutes.
- In a small jar, whisk together the ingredients for the sauce.
- Add the meatballs and the udon noodles to the pan. Pour the sauce over and toss to coat. Allow to cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until heated through.
- Serve with green onions and sesame seeds.
Recipe Note: Don’t have Udon noodles? Check out The Beginner’s Guide to Asian Noodles to see what you can replace it with.
Simple make-ahead tips
This recipe comes together quickly, but a little prep can make it even easier:
- Cook the meatballs ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve
- Use pre-shredded cabbage and carrots from the store
- Wash and prep vegetables earlier in the day
- Mix the sauce (leaving out the sesame oil) and store it in the fridge until cooking
Even doing just one of these can make dinner feel calmer.
Making this stir fry kid-friendly (without making a separate meal)
“Kid-friendly” doesn’t mean bland — it means predictable and approachable.
This meal works well for families because:
- the meatballs are easy to recognize and eat
- the sauce adds flavor without dripping everywhere
- the long noodles feel fun rather than unfamiliar
You don’t need kids to eat everything all mixed together for this to be a success. Serving components side by side is often enough to build comfort and curiosity over time.
How to serve this meal to your family
These pork meatballs are a really easy meal to serve to your family!
- For toddlers: Pull out the meatballs and serve them in their own separate pile in bite sized pieces. Separate as much of the noodles as you can from the veggies and serve them separate, too.
- For younger kids: Serve the meatballs on the side of the noodles with vegetables.
- For older kids: Serve this meal in a bowl as one dish.
Inviting Kids Into the Experience (Optional, Not Required)
You don’t need kids to cook every meal to help them grow comfortable with new foods — but when it works, this recipe is a good place to start.
Kids can:
- help wash vegetables
- measure sauce ingredients
- mix meatballs
- stir vegetables in the pan (with supervision)
- garnish the finished dish
At the table, simple observations can help kids engage without pressure:
- Which colors do you notice?
- What’s crunchy? What’s soft?
- What part of the meal feels easiest to eat?
Curiosity counts — even if nothing changes on the plate. And always, always supervise! Read more about how to have your children help you in the kitchen.
For busy, real life families
A gentle place to make meals feel easier
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Ginger Pork Meatball Stir Fry
Ingredients
Method
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespon of vegetable oil to the skillet.
- In a large bowl, mix the ingredients for meatballs together, being careful not to overmix (overmixing causes tough meatballs).
- Add the meatballs to the skillet, and cook on all sides, being careful not to overcrowd the pan.
- When the meatballs are cooked through and browned on all sides, remove to a plate.
- Cook the udon noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- Add the carrots, mushrooms, snow peas and cabbage to the skillet. Sautee the vegetables, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, or until slightly softened.
- In a glass, whisk together the ingredients for the sauce.
- Pour the sauce over the vegetables.
- Add in the meatballs and the noodles and toss to coat.
- Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is heated through.
- Serve, garnishing with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a general estimate and may vary based on ingredients, brands, and substitutions. For specific dietary needs, we recommend calculating nutrition using your preferred tool.
What a delicious twist on meatballs!! Love the ginger flavor!! Asian food is my favorite, so I love finding new recipes that taste amazing!
Thanks for linking in. Cheers
Fantastic! How about linking it in to Food on Friday: Meatballs? Have a great week!