Description
This Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe combines tender, flavorful beef meatballs with a tangy and slightly sweet sauce loaded with colorful bell peppers and pineapple chunks. Air-fried or baked meatballs are simmered in a glossy homemade sauce for a deliciously balanced dish perfect to serve over rice for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meatballs:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large onion (shredded or finely chopped)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Sweet And Sour Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice (from canned pineapple)
- 1/2 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)
- 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
Instructions
- Prepare Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, shredded onion, eggs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated. Shape the mixture into small golf ball-sized meatballs and set aside.
- Cook Meatballs: Place the meatballs into the air fryer basket and air fry at 380°F for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. Alternatively, arrange meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes until cooked through.
- Make Sweet and Sour Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, tomato paste, pineapple juice, cornstarch, and salt until smooth. Set the sauce mixture aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and both colored bell peppers, cooking for about 1 minute until slightly softened. Add minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Thicken Sauce: Pour the prepared sweet and sour sauce into the wok with vegetables. Stir continuously as the sauce simmers and thickens to a glossy finish.
- Combine Meatballs and Pineapple: Add the cooked meatballs along with pineapple chunks to the wok. Toss everything together to coat evenly with the sauce and cook for another 2 minutes to meld flavors. Remove from heat afterward.
- Serve: Serve the sweet and sour meatballs hot over steamed rice for a complete, satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness or sourness of the sauce by varying the amount of brown sugar or rice vinegar to your taste preference.
- Using an air fryer for the meatballs reduces oil usage and cooks them evenly with a nice exterior, but baking is an excellent alternative.
- Make sure the meatballs are uniformly sized to ensure even cooking.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs and confirm the soy sauce or other condiments if used are gluten-free.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the meatballs at their juiciest with the freshest flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup serving with meatballs and sauce
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
