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    Home » Meat Recipes » Sweet and Sour Meatballs

    Sweet and Sour Meatballs

    Last updated: Feb 16, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    You are going to love this easy recipe for delicious, sticky, sweet-and-sour meatballs, smothered in a tasty sauce.

    Quickly bake them in the oven, then coat them in the rich sauce. They're perfect as an appetizer but also work as a filling entree.

    Sweet and sour meatballs served in a  white bowl with chopsticks.

    Meatballs are wonderful. The kids love them, so naturally, I make them often. But grownups enjoy them too - they are simply fun to eat!

    I have quite a few meatball recipes on this website. My favorites include pork meatballs, keto meatballs, turkey meatballs, and chicken meatballs. But these sweet and sour meatballs are especially good. The sauce they're cooked in is wonderfully flavorful.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    Here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.

    For the Meatballs:

    Lean ground beef: I like to use an 85/15 blend. I find that 93/7 is too lean.

    Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use.

    Spices: I use onion powder and garlic powder.

    For the sauce:

    Unsweetened ketchup: I buy it at Whole Foods and you can also find it on Amazon.

    Rice vinegar: Or use white wine vinegar if that's all you have on hand.

    Honey: Just 2 tablespoons for the entire recipe. You could also use a sugar-free substitute.

    Light soy sauce: Or use a gluten-free alternative if you wish.

    The ingredients needed to make sweet and sour meatballs.

    Instructions

    The original recipe for sweet and sour meatballs is my mother-in-law's. It calls for browning the meatballs in a skillet, then cooking them in broth, and finally glazing them with the sauce.

    My mother-in-law's meatballs are amazing, but I am far too lazy for a three-step recipe! So I decided to streamline, skip the browning and cooking and simply bake the meatballs, then coat them in the sauce.

    The result is wonderful! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

    • Mix the beef and spices. Place the meatballs ingredients in a large bowl and use your hands to mix everything together.
    • Form the meatballs. Now divide the mixture into 20 portions and form it into meatballs.
    • Bake them. Arrange the meatballs in a single layer on a greased baking dish and bake them for 10 minutes at 400°F.
    • Prepare the sauce. Simply mix the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan and heat them over medium-low heat.
    • Finish the dish. Add the meatballs to the sauce and turn to coat. Keep cooking until heated through and thickened, about 5 more minutes. You can mix in a cornstarch slurry at this point (cornstarch mixed with cold water) to help thicken the sauce.
    A six-photo collage showing the steps for making sweet and sour meatballs.

    Expert tip

    When mixing the seasonings into the ground beef and then when shaping the meatballs, try to use a light touch and work the meat lightly. This will help prevent the meatballs from being too dense.

    Frequently asked questions

    Should I add eggs or breadcrumbs to the beef mixture?

    There's no need for a filler (breadcrumbs) or a binder (eggs). The meatballs keep their shape well and if you work them lightly, they'll be nice and light and won't come out too dense.

    Can I make these meatballs with jelly?

    Yes. You can use grape jelly (regular or sugar-free) instead of honey. But honey tastes better, in my opinion.

    Can I fry these meatballs instead of baking them?

    Yes. You can heat some oil in a very large (14-inch) lidded skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer and cook, turning frequently, until golden brown, 5 minutes.

    Add ¼ cup of water to the bottom of the skillet. Cover with the lid and cook until cooked through (internal temperature should be 165° F), about 3 more minutes. Drain and add the sauce.

    Variations

    This recipe is wonderful as is and I almost always make it as written. Still, here are a few ideas for you for varying the basic recipe:

    • Use ground pork instead of ground beef. You can also use a mix - half pork and half beef.
    • Use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder.
    • Add chopped cilantro to the beef mixture.
    • You can add sriracha to the sauce for an added kick.

    Serving suggestions

    You can serve these meatballs with toothpicks as an appetizer. But I usually serve them as a main dish for dinner. They're great on a bed of cauliflower rice.

    I also like to add an Asian-style vegetable such as sauteed bok choy or Asian Brussels sprouts.

    Storing leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, on 50% power. You can also freeze these metaballs for up to three months.

    Sweet and sour meatballs served in a  white bowl with chopsticks.

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    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or updated recipe once a week. Want the new recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Sweet and sour meatballs served with chopsticks.
    4.99 from 255 votes
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    Sweet and Sour Meatballs

    An easy recipe for delicious, sticky, sweet-and-sour meatballs, smothered in a tasty sauce. Quickly bake them in the oven, then coat them in the sauce.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 293kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon olive oil for pan

    Meatballs:

    • 1 lb. lean ground beef (85/15)
    • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

    Sauce:

    • ½ cup unsweetened ketchup
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons honey (or a sugar-free substitute)
    • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce (or use a gluten-free alternative)
    • 2 teaspoons cornstarch Optional, to thicken the sauce

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Brush a rimmed baking dish with oil.
    • Mix the meatballs ingredients in a large bowl. Form 20 meatballs, and place them in the prepared baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
    • While the meatballs are baking, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat.
    • Add the meatballs to the saucepan and turn to coat them in the sauce. Keep cooking, turning frequently, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes.*

    Video

    Notes

    *You can promote thickening by mixing 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water and stirring the slurry into the sauce.
    Nutrition info if using a sugar-free sweetener: Calories 261, Total Fat 17g, Saturated Fat 7g, Sodium 643mg, Carbohydrate 4g, Fiber 0g, Sugars 0g, Protein 21g

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 5meatballs | Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 643mg | Sugar: 8g
    SubscribeI typically publish a new or updated recipe once a week. Want the new recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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