Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Sweet and Sour Meatballs are a delightful blend of savory meat and a tangy, flavorful sauce. This dish is perfect for family dinners, gatherings, or any occasion where you want to impress with a homemade meal that’s bursting with taste. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the recipe step by step, ensuring you can recreate this dish with ease.

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
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• ¼ cup pineapple juice (from canned pineapple)
• ½ teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt

Main Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• ½ cup pineapple chunks

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Meatballs

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, shredded or finely chopped onion, eggs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
2. Form the mixture into small, golf ball-sized meatballs.

Step 2: Cook the Meatballs

• Air Fryer Method: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes, shaking halfway through the cooking time.
• Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Step 3: Prepare the Sweet and Sour Sauce

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, tomato paste, pineapple juice, cornstarch, and salt. Set aside.

Step 4: Cook the Vegetables

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok over medium-high heat.
2. Add the diced onions and bell peppers to the wok and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

Step 5: Combine and Cook

1. Pour the sweet and sour sauce into the wok with the vegetables. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
2. Add the cooked meatballs and pineapple chunks to the wok. Toss everything together well and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and serve immediately over rice.

Nutritional Information

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Calories: 560 kcal
• Servings: 4 servings

Conclusion

Sweet and Sour Meatballs are a perfect blend of savory and tangy flavors that are sure to be a hit at your next meal. This recipe is straightforward and can be adapted to fit your cooking preferences, whether you prefer using an air fryer or an oven. Serve these meatballs over a bed of rice for a complete meal that your family and friends will love.

Happy cooking!