Grandma's recipe for Sweet and Sour meatballs is the perfect mix, of tangy, sour, spice, and warm sweetness. Party perfect or family dinner.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Easy Baked Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour
Total Time 1 hourhour10 minutesminutes
Servings 6
Calories 720kcal
Author Kathleen
Ingredients
Meatballs:
2cupssoft fresh bread crumbs
1cupmilk
2poundsground beef
1large egg
1 1/2teaspoons salt
3/4teaspoonpepper
1teaspoonground ginger
1/2teaspoongarlic powder
Sauce:
2/3cuplight brown sugarpacked
1cupketchup
1cupwater
4tablespoonswhite vinegar
1tablespoonWorcestershire sauce
1(20-ounce) canpineapple chunks in juice including juice
1smallwhite onion
1mediumgreen bell pepperchopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350ºF (177ºC) and spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, add breadcrumbs (2 cups) and milk (1 cup) and stir. Allow breadcrumbs to sit until milk is absorbed. Add beef (2 pounds), egg (1 large), salt (1 1/2 teaspoons), pepper (3/4 teaspoon), ginger (1 teaspoon), and garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon). Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed. Form into meatballs about 2 inches in diameter and arrange in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
In a medium bowl, mix together the first 5 ingredients for the sauce until well combined. Add the can of pineapple chunks with all the juice, onion (1 small), and green pepper (1 medium) and mix.
Pour sauce over meatballs and bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 1 hour or until there is no longer any pink left in the meat. Serve over cooked rice.
Notes
Meat: If you’re feeling a little red meat guilt, I understand, I’ve been there. You can lighten up these delicious sweet sour meatballs by subbing ground turkey or chicken for beef! Less fat with no flavor sacrifice!
Frozen Meatballs: In the crockpot version of this dish, store-bought frozen meatballs come into play. You can use my meatballs here as well, by making them ahead of time and then freezing them. You will likely have to extend the cooking time. Most frozen meatballs are packaged fully cooked. This way, your slow cooker sweet and sour meatballs are completely homemade!
Sweet and Sour Sauce: If you’re feeling the urge to go store-bought, deny it. The sauce for this recipe is so easy to make. Don’t take a shortcut. It’s worth it, I promise.