Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Dinner, Appetizer, or Both!

The beauty of this delicious meatball recipe is just how easy it comes together to bring you a dish with such complex flavors! Busy moms and dads love this recipe simply because it’s one the kids will never complain about!

I’ve made a few different versions of sweet and sour sauce recipes before. Sweet and sour chicken, for example, uses fewer ingredients with a similar flavor. Or these slow cooker Hawaiian meatballs that are made with even fewer ingredients. However, neither are as authentic as the sweet and sour sauce for meatballs used in this recipe!

This recipe can be made with frozen or homemade meatballs, chunks of red bell pepper and pineapple smothered in an authentic Asian-inspired sweet and tangy sauce. Serve it with coconut rice for a delicious dinner idea your entire family will love!

Why We Love This Recipe

• Serves a crowd. Whether you buy meatballs or you make them yourself, there are usually plenty. This is great for serving appetizers to a crowd and can be stretched out for dinner when serving it with rice or noodles.
• Easy ingredients. There is nothing complicated about this recipe. If you don’t already have what you need on hand, you can find it at your local grocery store. 
• Dinner in a hurry. A meal ready in under 30 minutes is what I call a win! Juicy meatballs smothered in an irresistible and crave-worthy sauce work well for busy weeknights!

Ingredients Needed

Find the full printable recipe at the bottom of this post.

For the Sauce

• Pineapple juice: Using the juice from the canned pineapple chunks is convenient if you don’t already have a can or jar of juice on hand. Avoid using fresh juice as it’s not quite sweet enough.
• Light brown sugar: Packed sugar adds the sweet to the sour and a bit of color as well. Using brown sugar over white gives it a bit more flavor too.
• Rice vinegar: The acidic component that gives it that tangy sour, yet slightly sweet taste.
• Ketchup: A signature ingredient that adds a red color (instead of using any food coloring) and also a sweet and tart flavor balance.
• Soy sauce: Needed for that umami flavor!
• Kosher salt: Brings out the flavors in this finger-licking sauce.
• Ginger: Using vibrant ginger is an Asian-inspired way to brighten it up! 
• Cornstarch & Water: Helps to thicken up the sauce. 

For the Meatballs

I’m usually all about homemade meatballs because when I make them I make a big batch and keep some frozen for times like this. You can also use your favorite store-bought version if preferred.  

Red bell pepper is sweeter so I use those but feel free to use green, orange, or yellow if you prefer. You can also use a combination. The pineapple chunks that come in a can are ripe, juicy, and sweet. It’s also a bonus that it comes with juice that I use in the sauce itself.

How To Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1. Make the sauce. In a large skillet over medium heat, stir together the pineapple juice, sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, salt, and ginger. Simmer until sugar has dissolved then lower the heat and thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry.
2. Smother the meatballs. Add cooked meatballs to the sauce. They can be frozen or thawed, it’s up to you. Cover with the lid and cook for 10 minutes until heated through. If frozen, tack on 10 extra minutes. Stir in pineapple chunks and season to taste.

Tips & Variations

• Different meat: Make turkey meatballs with ground turkey or these chicken meatballs instead. You can also use ground pork, ground lamb, lean ground beef, or a mixture.
• Add some spice: For a sweet, sour, and spicy version, throw some red pepper flakes into your sauce.
• Use leftover sauce: Drizzle it over meatloaf or use it as a dipping sauce for egg rolls or cream cheese wontons. You can also use it to coat chicken and vegetable stir fry or use it as a glaze for grilled salmon.
• To thaw meatballs: If you want to cut down cooking time when they’re frozen, allow them to thaw at room temperature for 30-60 minutes ahead of time.

How to Serve Them

If you have leftover cooked rice, you’re ahead of the game. Use it up! 

We love them overtop coconut rice or pineapple fried rice garnished with green onions.

You could enjoy them over fried rice or plain white rice. For that, I have both an Instant Pot rice recipe and a stovetop rice recipe for you. 

When serving them as an appetizer, all you need are some toothpicks and napkins! My kids love walking through the door after school to the aroma! They’re such a fun after school treat to look forward to!

What’s the Secret to Great Meatballs?

Well, there are a few secrets, in no particular order! 

1. Flavor and texture. First, you want to think about what kind of meat you’re using. Higher fat content leads to more moisture. So, medium ground beef, ground pork, or a mix of the two work well together. Pairing leaner meat with higher fat ground meat makes a difference.
2. Moisture. You also want to make sure you’re not overworking the meat. This is when it becomes too tough which will then dry out your meatballs. 
3. How they hold. Use binding ingredients like eggs and/or breadcrumbs. Soaking the breadcrumbs in water can help to keep them moist.

Make Ahead & Storage Tips

Make ahead: There are some things you can do to prepare yourself ahead of time. If using homemade meatballs, bake them in the oven the day before (or the crock pot, or whatever method you choose), you can chop your peppers, and if you’re using frozen meatballs, thaw them in the fridge overnight. 

To store: Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.