Name: Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs ground beef; 2 large eggs; 3 teaspoons dried parsley flakes; 2 teaspoons turmeric; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; ½ cup light brown sugar (packed); 1 tablespoon soy sauce; ¼ cup white vinegar; water (see recipe); 1 (20 oz. can) crushed pineapple in pineapple juice (juice and pineapple divided); ⅓ cup diced yellow bell pepper; 6 cups cooked rice (for serving); Fresh parsley for garnish

Easy and flavorful Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe are drenched in a tangy sauce of brown sugar, pineapple, soy sauce, vinegar, and yellow peppers.

This recipe is ready in less than 45 minutes with only about 15 minutes of prep time and it’s bound to be a recipe your family loves! They also make a great appetizer!

Close up photo of sweet and sour meatballs on a bed of white rice with pineapple.

Sweet ‘n Sour Meatballs are tasty, easy to make, and can inspire lots of yummy dinner and appetizer ideas! This homemade meatball recipe is dairy-free as well as gluten-free since there aren’t any breadcrumbs in this mix!

I’ve shared a few crock pot and slow cooker meatball recipes, but for this one, all you need is a cookie sheet. In fact, you don’t even have to brown the meatballs first — just bake!

Meanwhile, the sweet and sour sauce for meatballs is made on the stovetop, then the cooked meatballs simmer in it once they’re out of the oven. Add some rice and a healthy side like Roasted Vegetables, and you’ve got a full meal for the fam!

Table of Contents

Ingredients

Meatballs: These are made with ground beef. Eggs serve as the binding agent in this recipe, and the beat is seasoned with a simple blend of dried parsley, turmeric, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Sauce: This sauce is sweet and sour thanks to a combination of pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, and vinegar. Diced bell pepper and crushed pineapple chunks add more flavor and texture. The one unexpected ingredient is corn starch, which helps make the sauce thicker (and perfect for pouring over rice!).

How To Make Sweet & Sour Meatballs:

Prepare and Bake the meatballs by mixing together the ground beef, eggs, parsley, turmeric, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl until fully combined. Shape the mixture into balls and bake on a greased baking sheet.
Whisk together the cornstarch and sugar in a medium saucepan then add in the rest of the sauce ingredients and stir frequently over medium heat until the sauce thickens.
Add the cooked meatballs, crushed pineapple, and bell peppers to the sauce and gently stir to coat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes over medium heat.

sweet and sour meatballs being made in a saucepan.

This recipe is mouthwateringly good and there are so many different ways to enjoy these meatballs and if you have leftovers, they’re easy to freeze too!

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How To Serve Them:

Over white or brown rice
Over quinoa
On a salad
In a sub roll
Sliced on pizza
As an appetizer

How Long Are They Good For?

Leftover meatballs can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer (in a freezer bag) for up to 3 months.

Close up photo of sweet and sour meatballs with pineapple on a plate of white rice.

Can They Be Frozen?

Frozen meatballs can be the basis for a last-minute dinner on a weeknight or in a pinch! There are a few ways to do this:

Cook the meatballs and sauce then freeze them separately, combining them once they’re thawed. They can be put in a pot and warmed together.
Combine the meatballs and sauce immediately and freeze them altogether.
Make just the meatballs, freeze them, and make the sauce fresh.

No matter which option you choose, make sure the meatballs and/or sauce are completely cooled before freezing. Pack them in gallon bags and squeeze out excess air before stashing them in the freezer.

Reheat meatballs and sauce together in a saucepan on the stove.

If you’re only warming the meatballs, cover them with foil to keep them moist. Set the oven to 300°F and bake for about 15 minutes.

Overhead photo of a plate of white rice topped with sweet and sour meatballs.

More Meatball Recipes:

Classic Crockpot Meatballs – Put ‘em in the slow cooker and enjoy over pasta!
Apple Cider Meatballs – This yummy sauce has seasonal fall flavors.
Cranberry Orange Meatballs – Sweet with a hint of chili spice.
Maple Chili Meatballs – My favorite for game day munchies!

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!