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–+ servings
Sweet and sour meatballs in a cast iron skillet.
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5 from 2 votes

Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Pineapple

You can make these Sweet and Sour Meatballs in only 20 minutes! The sauce features sweet brown sugar and ketchup, tangy apple cider vinegar, and umami Worcestershire and soy.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Servings: 6
Calories: 469kcal
Author: Ryan Allen

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 26 ounce bag frozen homestyle meatballs
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium red bell pepper cut into 1" pieces
  • 1 medium green bell pepper cut into 1" pieces
  • 1 cup yellow onion cut into 1" pieces
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 cup Pineapple chunks in 100% juice reserve ⅓ cup pineapple juice in a small bowl

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, add brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and garlic. Whisk until well combined and set aside.
  • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and onions, cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Lower heat to medium, pour in the sweet and sour sauce, then mix well. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the meatballs
  • Whisk reserved pineapple juice with cornstarch until there are no lumps. Pour into meatballs and mix well. Cook for 8-10 minutes until meatballs are heated through and sauce has thickened.
  • Add pineapple and stir until coated.
  • Serve over rice and garnish with sesame seeds.

Notes

  • Leaner and Lighter: Use chicken or turkey instead of beef. The Hawaiian flavors go so well with these poultry meatballs. 
  • Want a Thicker Sauce? Whisk together a tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of water, then mix it into the sauce. Continue to cook for a couple minutes to allow it to thicken. 
  • Garnish: For serving, garnish with some sesame seeds, green onions and a few extra pineapple chunks.

Nutrition

Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 433mg | Potassium: 579mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 891IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 2mg