Sweet and Sour Meatballs: A Delicious and Easy Recipe
Sweet and sour meatballs are a classic dish that’s always a crowd-pleaser. They’re perfect as an appetizer, a main course served over rice, or even as a fun party snack. This recipe is easy to follow and customizable to your liking, making it a staple in your kitchen. Let’s dive into creating these flavorful meatballs!
## Why You’ll Love This Recipe
* **Easy to Make:** This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward steps, making it perfect for weeknight dinners.
* **Crowd-Pleasing:** The sweet and tangy sauce is universally appealing to both kids and adults.
* **Versatile:** Serve them as an appetizer, over rice, or with noodles.
* **Make-Ahead Friendly:** You can prepare the meatballs and sauce separately ahead of time and combine them when ready to serve.
* **Customizable:** Adjust the sweetness, sourness, and spice level to your preference.
## Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make both the meatballs and the sweet and sour sauce:
### For the Meatballs:
* 1 pound ground beef (or a mixture of beef and pork)
* 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1 egg, lightly beaten
* 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for browning)
### For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
* 1 cup pineapple juice
* 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
* 1/4 cup ketchup
* 1/4 cup white vinegar
* 2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 2 tablespoons water
* 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 1 cup pineapple chunks (canned or fresh)
## Equipment
* Large bowl
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Skillet or large frying pan
* Whisk
* Small bowl
## Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these detailed steps to create the perfect sweet and sour meatballs:
### Part 1: Making the Meatballs
1. **Combine the Ingredients:** In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Gently mix all the ingredients together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
2. **Shape the Meatballs:** Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs. You should get approximately 24-30 meatballs from this recipe. A cookie scoop can help ensure consistent sizing.
3. **Brown the Meatballs:** Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs to the skillet in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. You may need to work in batches. Brown the meatballs on all sides until they are nicely seared. This step adds flavor and helps them hold their shape in the sauce. The meatballs don’t need to be fully cooked at this point, as they will continue to cook in the sauce.
4. **Remove and Set Aside:** Once the meatballs are browned, remove them from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.
### Part 2: Making the Sweet and Sour Sauce
1. **Prepare the Cornstarch Slurry:** In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth. This mixture will be used to thicken the sauce.
2. **Combine the Sauce Ingredients:** In the same skillet (or a clean skillet if you prefer), combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, white vinegar, and soy sauce. Stir the mixture well to dissolve the brown sugar.
3. **Bring to a Simmer:** Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
4. **Thicken the Sauce:** Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
5. **Add Vegetables:** Add the green and red bell pepper pieces to the sauce. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until the peppers are slightly softened but still have a bit of a bite.
6. **Add Pineapple:** Add the pineapple chunks to the sauce and stir to combine.
### Part 3: Combining Meatballs and Sauce
1. **Add Meatballs to Sauce:** Gently add the browned meatballs to the skillet with the sweet and sour sauce. Make sure the meatballs are mostly submerged in the sauce.
2. **Simmer Together:** Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for about 15-20 minutes. This allows the meatballs to fully cook and absorb the flavors of the sauce.
3. **Serve:** After simmering, the sweet and sour meatballs are ready to serve. Garnish with sesame seeds or chopped green onions, if desired. Serve hot over rice, noodles, or as an appetizer.
## Tips and Variations
* **Meatball Mixture:** Feel free to experiment with different ground meats. Ground chicken, turkey, or a combination of beef and pork all work well.
* **Breadcrumbs:** Use panko breadcrumbs for a crispier texture.
* **Spice It Up:** Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the meatball mixture or the sauce for a bit of heat.
* **Vegetables:** You can add other vegetables to the sauce, such as carrots, onions, or mushrooms.
* **Sweetness:** Adjust the amount of brown sugar to your liking. If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the amount of brown sugar.
* **Sourness:** Adjust the amount of white vinegar to control the sourness. Taste the sauce and add more vinegar, if needed.
* **Pineapple:** Use fresh, canned, or frozen pineapple chunks. If using frozen pineapple, thaw it before adding it to the sauce.
* **Ginger and Garlic:** Add grated ginger and more minced garlic to the sauce for deeper flavor.
* **Gluten-Free:** Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free version.
* **Make it in a Slow Cooker:** Brown the meatballs as directed, then transfer them to a slow cooker. Combine all the sauce ingredients (except the cornstarch slurry) in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. During the last 30 minutes, stir in the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
* **Serving Suggestions:** Serve over white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice (for a low-carb option), or noodles. They’re also great as an appetizer with toothpicks.
## Make-Ahead Instructions
* **Meatballs:** The meatballs can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can also freeze the cooked meatballs for up to 2 months. Thaw completely before adding them to the sauce.
* **Sauce:** The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat before adding the meatballs.
## Storage Instructions
* **Refrigerate:** Store leftover sweet and sour meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
* **Freeze:** Freeze leftover sweet and sour meatballs in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw completely before reheating.
## Reheating Instructions
* **Stovetop:** Reheat the sweet and sour meatballs in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
* **Microwave:** Reheat the sweet and sour meatballs in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
## Nutritional Information (Approximate)
(Per serving, based on 6 servings)
* Calories: 350-400
* Protein: 20-25g
* Fat: 15-20g
* Carbohydrates: 30-35g
* Fiber: 2-3g
*Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes.*
## Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe Card
**Recipe Name:** Sweet and Sour Meatballs
**Prep Time:** 20 minutes
**Cook Time:** 35 minutes
**Total Time:** 55 minutes
**Servings:** 6
### Ingredients:
#### Meatballs:
* 1 pound ground beef (or a mixture of beef and pork)
* 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1 egg, lightly beaten
* 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
#### Sweet and Sour Sauce:
* 1 cup pineapple juice
* 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
* 1/4 cup ketchup
* 1/4 cup white vinegar
* 2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 2 tablespoons water
* 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 1 cup pineapple chunks (canned or fresh)
### Instructions:
1. **Make Meatballs:** In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix gently.
2. **Shape:** Roll mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
3. **Brown:** Heat oil in a skillet. Brown meatballs on all sides. Remove and set aside.
4. **Make Sauce:** In the same skillet, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and soy sauce. Bring to a simmer.
5. **Thicken:** Whisk cornstarch and water together. Slowly pour into the simmering sauce, whisking until thickened.
6. **Add Vegetables:** Add bell peppers and cook for 3-5 minutes, until slightly softened.
7. **Add Pineapple:** Add pineapple chunks and stir.
8. **Combine:** Add meatballs to the sauce. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through.
9. **Serve:** Serve hot over rice or noodles.
### Notes:
* Adjust sweetness and sourness to taste.
* Add other vegetables like carrots or mushrooms.
* For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes.
Enjoy your delicious homemade sweet and sour meatballs! This recipe is sure to become a family favorite.