Description
Sweet and Sour Meatballs are a quick and juicy comfort food delight, featuring tender meatballs cooked to perfection and coated in a tangy, flavorful sauce with pineapples and bell peppers for a perfect balance of sweet and savory. This versatile recipe offers options for air frying or baking and makes a satisfying main dish for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1 pound Ground Beef (Can substitute with ground chicken or turkey.)
- 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs (Panko for lighter texture.)
- 1 large Egg (Flaxseed meal mixed with water as a vegan alternative.)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (Fresh minced garlic can enhance flavor.)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
For the Sauce
- 1/4 cup Rice Vinegar (Apple cider vinegar can work in a pinch.)
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar (Adjust to suit your taste.)
- 1 cup Chicken Broth (Low sodium recommended; use vegetable broth for vegetarian.)
- 1/2 cup Ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 1/2 cup Pineapple Juice (Juice from canned pineapple is recommended.)
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil (Olive oil can be used as a substitute.)
- 1 cup Bell Peppers (Mix of red and green, can use other sweet varieties.)
- 1 cup Onions (Diced and shredded.)
- 1 cup Pineapple Chunks (Canned pineapple makes for easy preparation.)
Instructions
- Making Meatballs: In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture. Shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs.
- Cooking Meatballs: Place the meatballs in an air fryer preheated to 380°F and cook for 10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Alternatively, bake them on a lined sheet in a preheated oven at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Preparing Sauce Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, tomato paste, pineapple juice, and cornstarch until smooth and fully combined.
- Sautéing Vegetables: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions and bell peppers and sauté for about 1 minute until they begin to soften. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Thickening Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Stir continuously as the sauce thickens, which should take about 2-3 minutes, creating a rich glaze.
- Combining Meatballs and Sauce: Add the pineapple chunks and cooked meatballs to the skillet, tossing everything together to coat the ingredients evenly with the thick sauce.
- Final Cook and Serve: Allow the meatballs to simmer in the sauce for an additional 2 minutes to meld flavors and heat through. Serve hot over fluffy rice or noodles for a comforting, flavorful meal.
Notes
- For a lighter texture, use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.
- Ground chicken or turkey can be substituted for beef for a leaner option.
- Using fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder enhances the flavor.
- Adjust the brown sugar quantity in the sauce to control the sweetness level.
- Vegetable broth can substitute chicken broth to make the recipe vegetarian-friendly.
- Serving the meatballs over rice or noodles complements the sauce perfectly.
- Ensure not to overmix meatball ingredients to keep them tender.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American Chinese
