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Lunch Dinner 30 Minutes or Less Beef Meatballs Asian
5 from 6 votes

Sweet And Sour Meatballs

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •3/6/23 12 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for sweet and sour meatballs.

Tossed together with chunks of sweet pineapple and stir-fried veggies, these tasty quick and easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs can be baked or air fried! Made with juicy ground beef and coated in a simple sweet tangy sauce, these delicious meatballs are a dish that the whole family will love!

sweet and sour meatballs in a wok.
Table of Contents Open
  • Easy Sweet And Sour Meatballs Recipe
  • Why You’ll Love These Sweet And Sour Meatballs
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
    • Meatballs
    • Sweet And Sour Sauce
    • Other Ingredients
  • How To Make Sweet And Sour Meatballs
    • Preheat And Prep The Pan
    • Make The Meat Mixture
    • Form The Meatballs
    • Cook The Meatballs
    • Make The Sauce
    • Stir Fry The Veggies
    • Finish The Dish
  • Why Do My Meatballs Keep Falling Apart?
  • Can I Fry The Meatballs?
  • Expert Tips
  • Storage
  • Other Delicious Meatball Recipes To Try
  • Sweet And Sour Meatballs
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

Easy Sweet And Sour Meatballs Recipe

Move over saucy Swedish Meatballs and yes you too Italian Meatballs! There is a new bite-size ball of deliciousness taking center stage on the plate tonight! But all jokes aside, you guys know I love making meatballs and I must say this recipe is amazing! 

Just imagine if yummy Sweet and Sour Chicken got turned into a juicy beef meatball and then tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce with some stir-fried bell peppers, onions, and pineapple! It would be this incredible dish! And you can cook these meatballs in the air fryer or in the oven. Talk about a versatile recipe!

So whether you’re after a quick dinner or an easy party food, this sweet and sour meatballs recipe is an excellent choice. You can serve them with steamed rice or noodles and the kids love them too!

sweet and sour meatballs over a bed of yellow rice.

Why You’ll Love These Sweet And Sour Meatballs

  • Easy Recipe! Making meatballs is actually really simple! With some basic ingredients, this recipe comes together very quickly with the option of baking or air frying the meatballs.
  • Sweet Tangy Meatballs! Tossed together with pineapple, bell peppers, onions, and a yummy sweet and sour sauce, these tasty meatballs are bursting with layers of delicious flavor.
  • Weeknight Meal! This family favorite is one the kids and adults will love served over rice or noodles. And keeps really well in the fridge, which makes it a fantastic make-ahead meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

ingredients needed to make sweet and sour meatballs.

Meatballs

  • Ground Beef – I used ground beef for these meatballs. Yet, you can also make this recipe with ground pork or ground turkey if you prefer. Even ground chicken will work, but just keep in mind that ground meat with a lower fat content can make the meatballs dry. 
  • Breadcrumbs – Make sure to use plain breadcrumbs. Panko is another option.
  • Onion – I always use brown onion, but any type of onion you have on hand will work.
  • Eggs – Used to bind the meatballs together along with the breadcrumbs.
  • Garlic Powder – I opted to use garlic powder for the meat mixture. Make sure not to use garlic salt by mistake.
  • Seasonings – Salt and black pepper are used to season the meatballs.

Sweet And Sour Sauce

ingredients needed to make sweet and sour meatballs.
  • Rice Vinegar – Less intense than regular vinegar it adds a touch of tang to the sauce.
  • Brown Sugar – It naturally has a bit of molasses in it that adds a lovely bit of sweetness along with the pineapple. 
  • Chicken Broth – To control the amount of added salt I always like to use a low-sodium chicken broth.
  • Ketchup – This everyday ingredient adds a little bit more umami, tang, and texture to the sauce. 
  • Tomato Paste – The tomato flavor helps to marry all the flavors of the sauce together. 
  • Pineapple Juice – You’ll need some pineapple juice from canned chunks of pineapple. 
  • Cornstarch – Used to thicken the sauce once it’s heated.
  • Salt – Just a bit is used to balance the sweetness of the sauce.

Other Ingredients

ingredients needed to make sweet and sour meatballs.
  • Vegetable Oil – Needed to stir-fry the veggies. Peanut oil is another option. 
  • Onion – Any kind of onion will work. But I like to use brown onions. 
  • Garlic – Always use fresh minced garlic cloves for the best taste.
  • Bell Peppers – I used both green bell pepper and red bell pepper. Yet, you can use any color of bell peppers you like.
  • Pineapple Chunks – A can of pineapple chunks is perfect.

How To Make Sweet And Sour Meatballs

This yummy dish is super easy! And I’ve provided you with instructions on how to both bake and air fry the meatballs. They turn out perfect either way! 

Preheat And Prep The Pan

Before you begin, if you are baking the meatballs you need to preheat your oven temperature to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. However, if you are going to air fry them, you’ll need to preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Yet, whether or not you need to preheat the air fryer depends on your particular model. So you will need to check your manufacturer’s guide.

Make The Meat Mixture

process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.

To start, put all the meatball ingredients into a large bowl and then mix everything together really well with a wooden spoon or your hands. I prefer to use my hands! But however you do it, the most important thing is that all the ingredients are fully incorporated. 

Form The Meatballs

process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.

Next, take the meat mixture and start forming golf ball size meatballs. And for the most even cooking try your best to make them all about the same size and shape. Also, if you notice that your meatballs are not holding together well it is most likely because the meat mixture is either too wet or too dry. To fix that, if it’s too mushy and moist just add a few more breadcrumbs, and if it’s too dry then add a little bit more egg.

Cook The Meatballs

process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.

Now, let’s cook these meatballs! If you are baking them, just put the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and then pop them into the preheated oven to bake for about 20 to 25 minutes. But if you are air frying them, put the meatballs in the basket of the air fryer and then air fry them for 10 minutes, shaking them halfway through the cooking time.

Make The Sauce

process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.

While the meatballs are cooking away you can make the sweet and sour sauce. To do this, just whisk all of the sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl making sure that they are fully combined. Note, the cornstarch really needs to be incorporated well, which is why you should use a whisk.

Stir Fry The Veggies

process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.

After the meatballs are cooked, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large wok or large frying pan. Next, add the onion and bell peppers to the wok and sauté them for 1 minute. Then add the minced garlic and sauté everything for another 30 seconds just until aromatic.

Finish The Dish

process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.

To complete the recipe, stir the sauce mixture into the wok with the veggies and cook it until it gets glossy and thick.

process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.

Next, add the meatballs and pineapple chunks. Then toss everything together and cook for another 2 minutes before removing the dish from the heat. Now, serve the finished sweet and sour meatballs over rice or noodles.

sweet and sour meatballs over a bed of yellow rice.

Why Do My Meatballs Keep Falling Apart?

The most common reason that meatballs fall apart has to do with the binder, which means that the ratio of your eggs to breadcrumbs is off. So if the meatballs are mushy and wet, you need to add more breadcrumbs. But if they are crumbly and dry you need to add a bit more egg. However, when adding egg just beat an egg and add a little at a time or the meatballs will just become too wet.

Can I Fry The Meatballs?

Yes, of course! Once the meatballs are made just add some vegetable oil to the wok and heat it over medium. Then once the oil is hot, add the meatballs to the pan in a single layer and cook until well browned on all sides and cooked through.

sweet and sour meatballs on a white serving platter.

Expert Tips

  1. Use a cookie scoop. For the most uniform and evenly cooked meatballs, use a small cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to make them all exactly the same size and shape. 
  2. Temp the meatballs. Use an instant-read digital thermometer to ensure that the ground beef meatballs have reached an internal temperature of at least 160°F (74°C) before serving them.
  3. Make it spicy. If you want to add a little kick to the dish just mix in about a tablespoon of sriracha into the sauce mixture. You could also stir-fry some sliced jalapeno with the onion and bell pepper mixture.

Storage

Leftover sweet and sour meatballs will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply put them in the microwave for a few minutes on medium power or heat them on the stove in a skillet. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to 5 months in an airtight container. Just let the meatballs thaw out overnight in the fridge before reheating them. 

sweet and sour meatballs over a bed of yellow rice.

Other Delicious Meatball Recipes To Try

  • Korean Meatballs
  • Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
  • Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy
  • Salisbury Steak Meatballs
  • Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatballs
  • Chicken Meatballs Alfredo

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

sweet and sour meatballs on a white serving platter.
Print
5 from 6 votes

Sweet And Sour Meatballs

Prep 15 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 30 minutes
Rate Recipe
Tossed together with chunks of sweet pineapple and stir-fried veggies, these tasty quick and easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs can be baked or air fried! Made with juicy ground beef and coated in a simple sweet tangy sauce, these delicious meatballs are a dish that the whole family will love!
8

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 large onion (shredded or finely chopped)
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper (to taste)

Sweet And Sour Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice (from canned pineapple)
  • ½ 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)
  • ½ cup pineapple chunks

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Combine all the meatball ingredients in a bowl. Form the meatballs into small golf ball size meatballs.
    process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.
  • Place the meatballs in the basket of your air fryer and air fry for 10 minutes at 380°F shaking them halfway through. To bake, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
    process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.
  • In a medium bowl, combine all the sweet and sour sauce ingredients together, whisk well. Set aside.
    process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.
  • In a large wok or pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and bell peppers and cook for 1 minute. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until aromatic.
    process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.
  • Pour the sweet and sour sauce mixture in the wok and stir well until the sauce get thick and glossy.
    process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.
  • Add the meatballs and pineapple chunks to the wok, toss everything together well. Cook for another 2 minutes then remove from heat.
    process shots showing how to make sweet and sour meatballs.
  • Serve immediately over rice.

Equipment

  • COSORI Air Fryer 5.8 Quart
  • COOKLOVER Nonstick 12.6 inch Black Wok with Lid and Spatula

Video

Notes

  1. Recipe yields around 36 meatballs.
  2. Use a cookie scoop. For the most uniform and evenly cooked meatballs, use a small cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to make them all exactly the same size and shape. 
  3. Temp the meatballs. Use an instant-read digital thermometer to ensure that the ground beef meatballs have reached an internal temperature of at least 160°F (74°C) before serving them.
  4. Make it spicy. If you want to add a little kick to the dish just mix in about a tablespoon of sriracha into the sauce mixture. You could also stir-fry some sliced jalapeno with the onion and bell pepper mixture.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 375kcal (19%)Carbohydrates: 31g (10%)Protein: 28g (56%)Fat: 15g (23%)Saturated Fat: 6g (38%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 120mg (40%)Sodium: 603mg (26%)Potassium: 639mg (18%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 18g (20%)Vitamin A: 679IU (14%)Vitamin C: 37mg (45%)Calcium: 73mg (7%)Iron: 4mg (22%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

sweet and sour meatballs on a white serving platter.

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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12 Comments
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Carey
Carey
Posted: 3 days ago

5 stars
Very very delicious, will be making this a regular favourite!

0
Reply
Antashia
Antashia
Posted: 9 days ago

I’m one of those people that doesn’t like the idea of sweet and meat together so I was skeptical. This turned out great and everyone had seconds and there’s no leftovers! I might just be impatient, but I did add a small cornstarch slurry to the sauce to get it thicker to my liking. We will definitely make this again!

0
Reply
Jane H Boice
Jane H Boice
Posted: 10 days ago

5 stars
Love this recipe. Easy enough for me to make in my RV without an air fryer. Just baked them in the oven. Cut in half because it’s just for two. Have enough leftovers for another night, and then may freeze the rest. Love Jo’s recipes!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Jane H Boice
Posted: 9 days ago

Thank you, glad you’re enjoying my recipes!

0
Reply
Felicia
Felicia
Posted: 10 days ago

look very good. I like it.

0
Reply
Jane
Jane
Posted: 10 days ago

5 stars
Very easy to make and turned out delicious! Made in my RV.

0
Reply
Mara
Mara
Posted: 14 days ago

5 stars
Absolutely delicious!!! I cut the recipe in half and the only thing I would do differently is increase the amount of that wonderful sweet and sour sauce. We thorough enjoyed this recipe and will make it again for certain!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Mara
Posted: 14 days ago

Glad you enjoyed it!

0
Reply
BYRON WHALEN
BYRON WHALEN
Posted: 15 days ago

Follow the recipe! It’s Great! I didn’t have an air cooker, so I just baked the meatballs for 30 minutes on a sheet pan. I only got 26 meatballs, but that was on purpose. Really tasty and quite easy. Thanks

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  BYRON WHALEN
Posted: 15 days ago

Glad you liked it!

0
Reply
Cindy
Cindy
Posted: 15 days ago

5 stars
This recipe is a great add to a weekday meal plan. Flavours are wonderful and everyone enjoyed it. My sauce didn’t thicken up the best, but i could have added more cornstarch. Shortening up this meal you could use premade meatballs, but will affect overall flavour I would think.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Cindy
Posted: 15 days ago

Yes, homemade is always best, but yeah if you don’t have the time, premade meatballs are a good idea.

0
Reply

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I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
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