Sweet and sour meatballs are a delightful fusion of flavors that bring together the savory taste of ground beef with a tangy and sweet sauce. This dish is perfect for a family dinner or a gathering with friends, offering a unique twist on traditional meatballs. The combination of pineapple juice, brown sugar, and vinegar creates a mouthwatering sauce that perfectly complements the tender meatballs.
While most of the ingredients for this recipe are common pantry staples, you might need to pick up pineapple juice and cornstarch if they are not already in your kitchen. Pineapple juice adds a unique sweetness and acidity to the sauce, while cornstarch is essential for thickening it to the perfect consistency. These items can typically be found in the juice and baking aisles of your local supermarket.

Ingredients For Sweet And Sour Meatballs
Ground beef: The main protein for the meatballs, providing a rich and savory base.
Breadcrumbs: Helps to bind the meatballs together and adds texture.
Beaten egg: Acts as a binder to hold the meatball mixture together.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the meatballs.
Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice and depth to the meatballs.
Pineapple juice: Provides sweetness and acidity for the sauce.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and a slight molasses flavor to the sauce.
Vinegar: Contributes tanginess to balance the sweetness of the sauce.
Ketchup: Adds a tomato-based sweetness and tang to the sauce.
Soy sauce: Provides a savory, umami flavor to the sauce.
Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce to the desired consistency when mixed with water.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When forming the meatballs, use a small ice cream scoop to ensure they are all the same size. This helps them cook evenly in the oven. Additionally, for a more flavorful meatball, consider browning them in a skillet before baking. This adds a nice crust and enhances the overall taste.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
ground beef - Substitute with ground turkey: Ground turkey is a leaner option and works well in meatballs, providing a similar texture and flavor.
breadcrumbs - Substitute with crushed crackers: Crushed crackers can provide a similar binding effect and texture in meatballs.
beaten egg - Substitute with flaxseed meal mixed with water: Flaxseed meal mixed with water can act as a binding agent, suitable for those avoiding eggs.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty flavor along with umami depth, reducing the need for additional salt.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat and flavor but is less visually noticeable in the dish.
pineapple juice - Substitute with orange juice: Orange juice can provide a similar sweet and tangy flavor profile for the sauce.
brown sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey can add sweetness and a slight floral note, making it a good alternative to brown sugar.
vinegar - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice can provide the necessary acidity and tanginess for the sweet and sour sauce.
ketchup - Substitute with tomato paste mixed with a bit of sugar: Tomato paste with a bit of sugar can mimic the sweetness and thickness of ketchup.
soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce and offers a similar savory flavor.
cornstarch - Substitute with arrowroot powder: Arrowroot powder can thicken sauces similarly to cornstarch and is a good alternative for those avoiding corn products.
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How to Store / Freeze This Dish
- Allow the meatballs to cool completely at room temperature before storing. This prevents condensation from forming inside the storage container, which can make the meatballs soggy.
- Transfer the cooled meatballs and sauce into an airtight container. If you prefer, you can store the meatballs and sauce separately to maintain the texture of the meatballs.
- Place the container in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the meatballs within 3-4 days. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to keep the meatballs fresh.
- For longer storage, place the meatballs and sauce in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Label the container with the date to keep track of its freshness.
- If using a freezer bag, lay it flat in the freezer to save space and allow for even freezing. This method also makes it easier to thaw the meatballs later.
- When ready to use, thaw the meatballs and sauce in the refrigerator overnight. This slow thawing process helps maintain the texture and flavor of the meatballs.
- Reheat the meatballs and sauce in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating and prevent the sauce from sticking to the pan.
- Alternatively, you can reheat the meatballs in the microwave. Place them in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, and heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
- Serve the reheated sweet and sour meatballs over freshly cooked rice or noodles for a quick and delicious meal.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the meatballs in an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil to retain moisture. Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating.
Stovetop Method: Add a splash of pineapple juice or water to a skillet and heat over medium-low. Add the meatballs and cover with a lid. Stir occasionally and heat until the meatballs are hot, about 10-15 minutes.
Microwave Method: Place the meatballs in a microwave-safe dish and cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving a small vent. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. Continue heating in 1-minute intervals until hot.
Slow Cooker Method: Place the meatballs in a slow cooker and set to low. Add a bit of pineapple juice or water to keep them moist. Heat for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly warmed.
Steam Method: Place the meatballs in a steamer basket over simmering water. Cover and steam for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. This method helps retain moisture and keeps the meatballs tender.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used to bake the meatballs at a consistent temperature of 400°F (200°C).
Mixing bowl: Essential for combining the ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, salt, and black pepper.
Baking sheet: Provides a flat surface to place the meatballs on for baking.
Saucepan: Used to prepare the sweet and sour sauce by combining pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce.
Measuring cups: Necessary for accurately measuring ingredients like pineapple juice, brown sugar, and vinegar.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure smaller quantities of ingredients such as salt, black pepper, ketchup, and soy sauce.
Whisk: Helps in beating the egg and mixing the cornstarch with water.
Spatula: Useful for stirring the sauce and ensuring it thickens properly.
Tongs: Handy for adding the cooked meatballs to the sauce and stirring to coat them evenly.
Serving spoon: Ideal for serving the meatballs over rice or noodles.
Cutting board: Provides a clean surface for any additional prep work, such as chopping vegetables if desired.
Knife: Useful for any additional chopping or slicing needed during preparation.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Prepare ingredients ahead: Measure and mix breadcrumbs, salt, and black pepper in advance to save time.
Use a cookie scoop: Form meatballs quickly and uniformly with a cookie scoop.
Pre-make the sauce: Combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce ahead of time.
Batch cooking: Double the recipe and freeze half for a quick meal later.
Quick thickening: Mix cornstarch and water in a small jar and shake well for a lump-free mixture.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup vinegar
- 3 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Form the mixture into small meatballs and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
- In a saucepan, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce. Bring to a boil.
- Add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan and stir until the sauce thickens.
- Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce and stir to coat evenly.
- Serve hot over rice or noodles.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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