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5.0 from 6 votes

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

These sweet and sour meatballs are the perfect blend of savory, sweet, and tangy. You'll experience tender, juicy, succulent meatballs - great for party appetizers or an easy meal.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 40 meatballs
Calories: 50 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian-American Fusion

Ingredients

For the Meatballs
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 cup bread crumbs dry plain
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 4 TB pineapple juice
  • 2 tsp onion powder
For Sweet and Sour Sauce
  • ½ cup pineapple juice
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup brown sugar tightly packed
  • 4 TB tomato paste
  • 2 TB tamari sauce or soy sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 ½ TB corn starch completely dissolved in 2 TB water
  • toasted sesame seeds for garnishing (optional)
  • Pineapples diced, for garnishing (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Set oven to 350F with rack on middle position. In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, kosher salt, black pepper, pineapple juice, and onion powder.
  2. Form into 40 meatballs; place on large baking sheets. Bake 20 minutes, or just until meatballs are cooked through.
  3. In a saucepan off heat, combine all Sweet and Sour Sauce ingredients; whisk to ensure there is no trace of white cornstarch left, as even a tiny bit of undissolved cornstarch will cause clumps.
  4. Turn heat on to medium and continue to whisk until tomato paste is smooth and sauce is thickened.
  5. Add sauce and meatballs to the slow cooker, gently fold to coat with sauce. Cook on low setting for about 30 minutes or just long enough to warm up sauce if sauce simmers for long, it will thicken too much.
  6. Taste and add more kosher salt and black pepper, if needed. Switch to warm setting and serve saucy meatballs straight from slow cooker.

Notes

  • Add meatballs and sauce to a pot and let meatballs bring to a simmer; remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Transfer to serving dish and garnish as desired. 
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  • Seasoned, frozen meatballs may be baked according to package instructions, and then mixed with sauce, per recipe (although homemade ones will yield the best flavor).
  • Sweet and sour sauce can be made several days in advance. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. 
  • Stovetop Option: Add meatballs and sauce to a pot and let meatballs bring to a simmer; remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Transfer to serving dish and garnish as desired. 
  • Love meal prepping? These baked meatballs can be frozen for future use. Just thaw and mix with the sweet and sour sauce for a quick, delicious meal.
  • This recipe is part of our Party Appetizers Collection.
  • Serve these meatballs over jasmine rice or lo mein noodles for a complete meal. The sauce is so tasty, you won't want to leave any behind.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1meatball Calories 50kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 23mg (8%) Sodium 19mg (1%) Potassium 88mg (3%) Fiber 0.03g (0%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 17IU (0%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 6mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 40meatballs

Amount Per Serving

Calories 50

% Daily Value*

Serving 1meatball
Calories 50kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 23mg 8%
Sodium 19mg 1%
Potassium 88mg 2%
Fiber 0.03g 0%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 17IU 0%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 6mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.