These sweet and sour meatballs are such an easy dinner that can be ready and on the table in less than 30 minutes. Such an easy way to have the flavors of a favorite Chinese take-out dish at home!
These homemade sweet and sour meatballs are such a quick and easy dinner recipe that is made with a homemade sweet and sour sauce, that is the best you’ll ever have – on top of some veggies and frozen meatballs to give the dish that homemade flavor, without all the work – and without too much time.
They are tangy, with a little sweetness and perfect for a party as an appetizer, or for an easy dinner served over rice. Even my kids love when I make these!
The best Quick and Easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Quick and Easy – These meatballs come together in less than 20 or 30 minutes!
- Tastes like Take Out – The homemade sweet and sour sauce on these meatballs makes them taste just like something you’d get from your favorite Chinese restaurant.
- Great for a party – These will be the biggest hit at your next party. Perfect for the holiday season, superbowl, a backyard bbq, you name it! The recipe can easily be doubled for a bigger group too.
Ingredients needed for Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Sauce:
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Sweet and Sour Meatball Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Frozen Meatballs – by using frozen, store-bought meatballs this whole recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes
- brown sugar
- white vinegar
- pineapple juice
- ketchup
- cornstarch
- soy sauce
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
- bell pepper – I used red and green
- yellow onion
- minced ginger
- minced garlic
- pineapple chunks
How to make Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe?
- Make the sweet and sour sauce. Add the brown sugar, white vinegar, pineapple juice, ketchup, cornstarch, soy sauce, and salt and pepper to a medium bowl and whisk them together until smooth. Meanwhile cook the meatballs in the airfryer or oven until hot.
- Sauté the vegetables. Add the olive oil to a large pan or wok, and heat it over medium. Then add the peppers and onion and cook for a few minutes until they are crisp tender. Add in the garlic and ginger and cook it with the pepper mixture for about 1 minute.
- Add the sauce and the pineapple chunks and cook it for a few minutes until the sauce becomes translucent and thickens.
- Add the meatballs, and cook for a couple minutes until they are coated well in the sauce. Serve warm over your choice or cooked rice or noodles.
Tips and Tricks
- Add a little heat – add some spice to the dish with a dash of chili flakes, or a couple TBS of sriracha.
- Adjust the sweetness or tanginess – by adding or reducing the amount of vinegar or pineapple juice used. You can also add a little more brown sugar for sweetness.
- Serving Instructions: Serve these with some brown or white rice to make a full meal, or keep them in a crockpot to stay warm for a party.
Storage Instructions:
These sweet and sour meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave in 30 second increments as needed, or on the stove top until hot throughout.
These delicious tangy meatballs are such a yummy dish to add to your rotation. They’re a great weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
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Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 3/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup tomato ketchup
- 3 TBS cornstarch
- 2 TBS soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt (to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (to taste)
For the Meatball and Veggie Mixture:
- 40 frozen meatballs
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- 1 green bell pepper (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- 1/2 yellow onion (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 2 cups pineapple chunks
Instructions
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk them together until smooth. Set it aside.
For the Meatball and Veggie Mixture:
- Add the meatballs to the oven or air fryer and cook according to package directions to warm up. (I did 15 mins in the air fryer at 375 F.)
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add in the pepper, and onion pieces and sauté, stirring occasionally until they are crisp tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add in the garlic and ginger and cook it for another minute.
- Stir in the pineapple chunks.
- Pour in the sweet and sour sauce and let it cook in the pan until translucent and bubbling throughout.
- Add the warm meatballs to the sauce and stir to coat them in the sauce. Let them keep cooking for about 5 minutes.
- Serve over rice if desired.
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