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Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Sweet and sour meatballs have a delicious balance of sweet and tangy flavors Made with lean ground turkey and a homemade sweet and sour sauce with red bell pepper and pineapple chunks, these meatballs are a healthier twist on a classic favorite.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 296 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Meatballs
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey
  • ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs regular or gluten-free
  • 1 egg
  • 2 clove garlic minced or crushed
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sweet and Sour Sauce
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup tamari or low sodium soy sauce gluten-free if needed
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated or minced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ¼ teaspoon Chinese 5 spice
  • 1 red bell pepper cored, seeded, and cut into bite sized chunks
  • 8 oz can pineapple chunks drained, reserving juice.
  • 1.5 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk all meatball ingredients except turkey in a large bowl. Add turkey and mix with a large fork, or your clean hands until mixed.
  3. Use a rounded tablespoon to measure turkey mixture. Roll into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
  4. Bake for about 20 minutes, turning half way through. Meatballs should be nicely browned. Remove from oven and set aside.
  5. While meatballs are cooking: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together broth, pineapple juice, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, ginger, sesame oil, and 5 spice.
  6. Add peppers and and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium heat. Mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoon cold water and stir into sauce, heating and stirring until sauce is thickened and glossy.
  7. Stir in pineapple and meatballs, cooking until heated through.
  8. Garnish with parsley or green onions If desired. Serve hot with rice.

Notes

  • Shortcut: Instead of homemade meatballs, use your favorite pre-made frozen meatballs and cook them according to package directions before adding to the sweet and sour sauce. Look for neutral flavored meatballs. You won't, for example, want to use Italian meatballs in this recipe.
  • Add spice: If you want to add a spicy element to the sour and sweet, add a pinch of red pepper flakes, chili sauce, or some sriracha sauce to the sauce before thickening it.
  • Thickening: Add the cornstarch slurry gradually, while whisking into the sauce. You may not need it all if the sauce is thickened to your liking.
  • Appetizers: This easy sweet and sour recipe is a delicious main course, but you can also use it to make sweet and sour cocktail meatballs. Use a toothpick to secure a chunk of pineapple and a chunk of red pepper to each meatball and serve the sauce as a dipping sauce.
  • Smaller meatballs: If you're making cocktail meatballs, or serving sweet and sour meatballs to kids, make them smaller. They will need a shorter cooking time.
  • Make ahead: Make and cook the meatballs ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to make the sauce.
  • Freeze: Cooked meatballs are perfect for the freezer. This meatball recipe can be doubled so you have meatballs to freeze for other recipes or meal prep. To freeze, put cooked meatball on a parchment paper lined baking tray. Freeze for 30 minutes or until firm. Pack into a freezer safe container or zip lock bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw frozen meatballs in the fridge overnight.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1g Calories 296kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 31g (10%) Protein 31g (62%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 0.03g Cholesterol 104mg (35%) Sodium 1079mg (45%) Potassium 619mg (18%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 21g (42%) Vitamin A 1051IU (21%) Vitamin C 47mg (52%) Calcium 46mg (5%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 296

% Daily Value*

Serving 1g
Calories 296kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 31g 10%
Protein 31g 62%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 0.03g 2%
Cholesterol 104mg 35%
Sodium 1079mg 45%
Potassium 619mg 13%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 21g 42%
Vitamin A 1051IU 21%
Vitamin C 47mg 52%
Calcium 46mg 5%
Iron 2mg 11%

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