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Here’s a delicious and easy recipe for Sweet and Sour Meatballs — juicy meatballs simmered in a tangy, sweet, and sticky sauce. Great as an appetizer, party snack, or served over rice for a comforting dinner!
🍴 Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Tangy. Sweet. Savory. Perfectly saucy and crowd-pleasing.
✅ Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
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1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half pork)
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1 egg
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½ cup breadcrumbs
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¼ cup milk
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1 tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
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1 tsp garlic powder
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1 tsp onion powder
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2 tbsp finely chopped parsley (optional)
For the Sweet & Sour Sauce:
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½ cup brown sugar
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⅓ cup rice vinegar or white vinegar
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⅓ cup ketchup
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2 tbsp soy sauce
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1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (for slurry)
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Optional: 1 tbsp pineapple juice or orange juice for extra tang
🥣 Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
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Preheat to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make the Meatballs
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In a bowl, combine ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, and seasonings.
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Mix until just combined (don’t overwork the meat).
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Roll into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheet.
3. Bake
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Bake meatballs for 15–18 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
4. Make the Sauce
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In a saucepan, whisk together brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and optional juice.
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Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
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In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to make a slurry.
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Add slurry to sauce and stir until thickened (about 1–2 minutes).
5. Combine & Simmer
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Add baked meatballs to the sauce.
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Gently stir to coat and simmer for 5–10 minutes, until heated through and glazed.
🍚 How to Serve
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Serve over steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles
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Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds
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Serve on toothpicks for a party appetizer
🧊 Storage
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Fridge: Up to 4 days in airtight container
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Freezer: Freeze fully cooked meatballs (with or without sauce) for up to 3 months
🔄 Variations
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Use frozen meatballs to save time — just bake and toss in sauce
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Add pineapple chunks and bell peppers for a tropical twist
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Make it spicy: add a splash of sriracha or chili flakes to the sauce
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Try turkey or chicken meatballs for a lighter version
Would you like a crockpot version, Asian-style twist, or vegetarian version next?