Craving a flavorful, satisfying meal? Look no further than these Sweet and Sour Meatballs. Juicy meatballs made from ground beef are perfectly seasoned and paired with a homemade sweet and sour sauce that’s tangy, sweet, and savory all at once. This dish combines tender meatballs, bell peppers, onions, and juicy pineapple chunks, creating a delicious and colorful meal that’s perfect for a family dinner or special occasion. Serve these meatballs over rice for a complete meal that everyone will love!
Ingredients:
For the Meatballs:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large onion, shredded or finely chopped
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup of pineapple juice, extracted from canned pineapple.
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Main Dish:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced into 1-inch chunks
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced into 1-inch chunks
- ½ cup pineapple chunks
Instructions:
Prepare the Meatballs:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or applying a light coating of oil.
- Mix the meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, shredded onion, eggs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Form the meatballs: Roll the meat mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs: Bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Prepare the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- Make the sauce: In a small saucepan, whisk together the rice vinegar, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, tomato paste, pineapple juice, cornstarch, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Stir-Fry the Vegetables:
- Cook the vegetables: In a large skillet or wok, warm the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the red and green bell peppers, and stir-fry for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened but still crisp.
- Add the pineapple: Stir in the pineapple chunks and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Combine and Finish:
- Add the meatballs and sauce: Add the cooked meatballs to the skillet with the vegetables. Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the top and gently stir to coat the meatballs and vegetables evenly in the sauce. Let the mixture simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: Serve your Sweet and Sour Meatballs hot over steamed rice or noodles, garnished with fresh green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
Conclusion:
These Sweet and Sour Meatballs are the perfect blend of savory, sweet, and tangy, making them a delicious choice for any meal. The tender meatballs combined with the flavorful sauce and stir-fried vegetables create a colorful and satisfying dish that will please both kids and adults alike. This easy-to-make dish brings classic takeout flavors right to your home kitchen!
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Sweet and Sour Meatballscombine juicy meatballs with bell peppers, onions, pineapple chunks, and atangy homemade sweet and sour sauce. This colorful and flavorful dish isperfect served over rice for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large onion shredded or finely chopped
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup of pineapple juice extracted from canned pineapple.
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Main Dish:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced into 1-inch chunks
- 1 medium green bell pepper diced into 1-inch chunks
- ½ cup pineapple chunks
Instructions
Prepare the Meatballs:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or applying a light coating of oil.
- Mix the meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, shredded onion, eggs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Form the meatballs: Roll the meat mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs: Bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
Prepare the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- Make the sauce: In a small saucepan, whisk together the rice vinegar, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, tomato paste, pineapple juice, cornstarch, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Stir-Fry the Vegetables:
- Cook the vegetables: In a large skillet or wok, warm the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the red and green bell peppers, and stir-fry for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened but still crisp.
- Add the pineapple: Stir in the pineapple chunks and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Combine and Finish:
- Add the meatballs and sauce: Add the cooked meatballs to the skillet with the vegetables. Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the top and gently stir to coat the meatballs and vegetables evenly in the sauce. Let the mixture simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: Serve your Sweet and Sour Meatballs hot over steamed rice or noodles, garnished with fresh green onions or sesame seeds if desired.