My homemade Sweet and Sour Meatballs are the best you'll ever have! Tender and juicy meatballs made with ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, and garlic powder. Smothered in my favorite sweet and sour sauce, tossed with pineapple and bell peppers, they're sweet, savory, and just what you need for an easy weeknight meal.
Looking for more easy recipes? Try my Sweet and Sour Chicken next!
About This Recipe
These juicy and flavorful sweet and sour meatballs taste just like your favorite takeout, but better. This recipe is super easy to make from scratch and uses simple pantry ingredients you probably already have at home.
I know making homemade meatballs may seem intimidating, but I promise it's super easy. My meatball recipe uses only 6 ingredients, and they are baked entirely in the oven in one batch- no monitoring a stovetop for 30+ minutes required! They come out delightfully juicy and will melt in your mouth.
I love how balanced this recipe is. The rich and savory meatballs pair perfectly with the tangy, sweet and sour sauce. And if you remember from my other sweet and sour recipes, you'll know I've been perfecting my sauce recipe for years. It tastes just like your favorite Chinese takeout!
This recipe is perfect for serving over steamed rice to pick up all the saucy goodness. After your first bite, you'll see why this is the best sweet and sour meatball recipe ever.
Key Ingredients
Ground beef: My meatballs are made with only ground beef. If you want, you can substitute half of it with ground pork. The only reason I didn't do that today is that I'm trying to reduce my fat intake, and ground pork usually contains quite a bit more fat.
Breadcrumbs: These help make the meatballs more tender! I used panko breadcrumbs, but any type of breadcrumbs will work.
Onion: Try to chop these as finely as possible so that their flavor disperses everywhere and so the meatballs do not fall apart.
Eggs: Help bind the meatball mixture together.
Seasoning: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are all you need.
For the sweet and sour sauce: You'll need brown sugar, water, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, salt, and cornstarch. The cornstarch is what thickens the sauce so that it coats each piece of meatball.
For the rest: Onions, pineapple chunks (1 small can), red bell pepper, green bell pepper.
Instructions
STEP 1: Combine all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Roll into small golf ball-sized meatballs (I found an ice cream scoop was perfect for getting equal-sized balls) and place on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
STEP 2: Bake at 450°F for 18-20 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
STEP 3: Combine the sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
STEP 4: Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the onion, red pepper, green peppers, and pineapple for 2-3 minutes until softened.
STEP 5: Give the sauce mixture a stir and pour it into the pot. Cook for 1-2 minutes until thick and glossy.
STEP 6: Stir in the meatballs and cook until warm. Serve immediately.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large onion (finely chopped or shredded)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper (or more to taste)
For the sweet and sour sauce
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the rest
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 1 medium red bell pepper (diced large)
- 1 medium green bell pepper (diced large)
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (drained)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Roll into small golf ball-sized meatballs and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Combine the sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the onion, red pepper, green peppers, and pineapple for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Give the sauce mixture a stir and pour it into the pot. Cook for 1-2 minutes until thick and glossy. Add the meatballs and cook until warm. Serve immediately.
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