Description
Sweet and Sour Meatballs are juicy, tender bites of seasoned ground meat simmered in a tangy and sweet sauce made with pineapple, vinegar, and ketchup. Perfect as a party appetizer or served over rice for a satisfying main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef or ground pork (or a mix)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice (from canned pineapple)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water
Optional Add-ins
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
- Sesame seeds and green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and mix meatball ingredients: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, finely chopped onion, milk, salt, and black pepper. Mix until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form and bake meatballs: Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the meatballs are browned and fully cooked through.
- Prepare the sauce: While the meatballs bake, combine ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, and pineapple juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Thicken the sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Add optional ingredients: If using, add pineapple chunks and chopped red and green bell peppers to the sauce. Stir to combine and cook them gently.
- Combine meatballs and sauce: Transfer the cooked meatballs into the sauce and stir to coat them thoroughly. Let them simmer together for 3 to 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving. Serve the meatballs hot, ideally over rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- Great served over rice or noodles.
- Make ahead and reheat—flavors deepen with time.
- Swap beef for turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
