Sweet And Sour Meatballs
Sweet and Sour Meatballs are a flavorful dish combining tender meatballs with a tangy, sweet sauce. Easy to make and customizable, they’re perfect for any occasion, from family dinners to parties.
Ingredients
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
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 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
Instructions
- Combine all the meatball ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about the size of a golf ball.
- To cook the meatballs, place them in the basket of your air fryer and air fry at 380°F for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Alternatively, you can bake the meatballs by placing them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and baking at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
- While the meatballs cook, prepare the sweet and sour sauce. In a medium bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients and whisk them together until smooth. Set aside.
- Next, heat the vegetable oil in a large wok or pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell peppers and cook for 1 minute. Then, add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Pour the sweet and sour sauce mixture into the wok and stir well until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Add the cooked meatballs and pineapple chunks to the wok, tossing everything together to coat evenly. Cook for another 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Serve immediately over rice for a delicious meal.
Notes
This recipe yields approximately 36 meatballs.
For the most consistent size and even cooking, use a small cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to shape the meatballs, ensuring they are all the same size and shape.
To check if the meatballs are fully cooked, use an instant-read digital thermometer to confirm that the internal temperature of the ground beef meatballs has reached at least 160°F (74°C).
If you'd like to add some heat to the dish, mix about a tablespoon of sriracha into the sauce mixture. Alternatively, you can stir-fry some sliced jalapeños with the onion and bell peppers for an extra kick.
For the most consistent size and even cooking, use a small cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to shape the meatballs, ensuring they are all the same size and shape.
To check if the meatballs are fully cooked, use an instant-read digital thermometer to confirm that the internal temperature of the ground beef meatballs has reached at least 160°F (74°C).
If you'd like to add some heat to the dish, mix about a tablespoon of sriracha into the sauce mixture. Alternatively, you can stir-fry some sliced jalapeños with the onion and bell peppers for an extra kick.