Description
This Easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe features tender baked meatballs coated in a tangy and flavorful homemade sweet and sour sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or served over rice or noodles for a satisfying meal, this recipe is simple to prepare and bursting with balanced flavors that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (or combination of meats)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sweet and Sour Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (cornstarch slurry)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, soy sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Shape Meatballs: Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them evenly spaced on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Prepare the Sauce: While the meatballs are baking, combine ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce in a medium saucepan. Simmer the sauce over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and blend the flavors.
- Thicken the Sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry gradually into the simmering sauce. Continue cooking and stirring for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy, slightly thick consistency.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Add the baked meatballs to the saucepan with the sauce. Toss gently to coat each meatball thoroughly with the sweet and sour sauce.
- Simmer Together: Let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for an additional 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the meatballs to absorb some of the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the sweet and sour meatballs warm, either as a delicious appetizer or over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- Using a combination of ground meats like beef and pork can enhance the flavor and juiciness of the meatballs.
- Breadcrumbs help bind the meatballs and keep them tender; soaking them briefly in milk can add extra moisture.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar in the sauce for your preferred sweetness level.
- Leftover meatballs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari instead of soy sauce.
