Sweet and Sour Meatballs

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

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 10

Servings

Calories 720kcal

Author Kathleen

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.

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.