Easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs

The sticky sweet and sour glaze is what makes these Sweet and Sour Meatballs so special and you only need a few ingredients to create it. Throwing these meatballs together is perfect for those nights when I don't feel like cooking. The combination of apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and soy cooks down into the most delicious crowd-pleasing glaze. It's so good!

Let's get one thing straight: using pre-cooked frozen meatballs isn't lazy. It's genius! I've made enough recipes with meatballs to know that it's all about the sauce.

This recipe quickly became a favorite in our house, and now the kids always ask for it. These easy meatballs are up there with my Easy Lasagna Recipe, these Turkey Sloppy Joes, and Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese! But if you are looking for something with a sweet sauce, check out our Pepper Steak, Beef Teriyaki, Grape Jelly Meatballs, or Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Ingredients

• Frozen Homestyle Meatballs: You can use beef, chicken, pork, or turkey for these frozen, pre-cooked meatballs. If you decide to make meatballs from scratch, be sure to partially bake or sear them first so that they hold their texture as they cook.
• Brown Sugar and Ketchup: The brown sugar adds sweetness with a hint of molasses flavor, while the ketchup adds some acidity and tanginess along with more sweetness.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: It wouldn't be a great sweet and sour sauce recipe without some vinegar! Apple cider vinegar is nice because it's milder than white vinegar, but technically either would work.
• Worcestershire Sauce and Soy Sauce: One tablespoon of each is all you need to deepen the flavor of the sweet and sour sauce.
• Red and Green Bell Pepper: Grab a mix of bell peppers to give your plate some color!
• Yellow Onion and Minced Garlic: Cooking the onions and peppers on the stovetop before you put them in the slow cooker gives the dish so much savory goodness especially with the garlic too. Plus, your house will smell amazing!
• Pineapple Chunks: Look for a can of pineapple in 100% juice. You are going to keep the juice to add sweetness to the dish, so don't pour it out!

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Use Chicken or Turkey Meatballs: Want something a little lighter? Try chicken or turkey instead of beef. The Hawaiian flavors go so well with meatballs that have poultry for the base!
• Add Some Heat: Throw in some Sriracha hot sauce, chili flakes, or cayenne pepper to make the meatballs spicier.
• Go Gluten Free: Choose a gluten-free frozen meatball and use tamari instead of soy sauce.

How to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Here's how to make these delicious meatballs. It's super easy! The sweet and sour sauce for meatballs will be ready in minutes on the stovetop.

Step 1: Make the Sauce. Whisk together the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and garlic.

Step 2: Saute the Bell Peppers and Onions. Melt the butter and cook them for a few minutes.

Step 3: Add the Sauce and Meatballs. With the heat on medium, add in the sauce to the veggies and bring it up to a boil. Then add the meatballs.

Step 4: Make a Slurry. Whisk the reserved pineapple juice with the cornstarch and pour it into the meatball mixture. 

Step 5: Cook. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Step 6: Serve. Add in the pineapple, stir, then serve over rice. 

Serving Suggestions

This easy recipe is always a hit and the perfect dinner on a hectic weeknight. They're also easy to transport if you're going to a potluck or game and want to impress! Just skewer them with toothpicks and you're ready to go.

• Serve over lo mein, egg noodles, or rice noodles and garnish with sesame seeds, green onions and a few extra pineapple chunks.
• Scoop them onto white or brown rice or some garlic mashed potatoes for a comforting and hearty meal.
• Serve them as a main course over rice pilaf with a side of roasted potatoes with carrots and some freshly baked garlic knots or homemade biscuits.
• Having a luau or backyard barbecue? Serve these Hawaiian sweet and sour meatballs with this Hawaiian macaroni salad and have white chocolate macadamia nut cookies for dessert!

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