Description
This Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe offers a quick and juicy comfort food delight, blending flavorful meatballs with a tangy pineapple sauce. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, this dish balances savory, sweet, and tangy flavors with colorful vegetables and pineapple chunks.
Ingredients
Scale
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
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
Vegetables and Oil
- 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
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs, then shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs.
- Cook the 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 baking sheet in an oven preheated to 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, tomato paste, pineapple juice, and cornstarch until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell peppers and sauté for about 1 minute until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Thicken the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet with the vegetables. Stir continuously for 2 to 3 minutes as the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.
- Combine Meatballs and Pineapple: Add the pineapple chunks and the cooked meatballs into the skillet, gently tossing everything to coat meatballs and pineapple evenly in the sauce.
- Simmer and Serve: Allow the meatballs to cook in the sauce for another 2 minutes to infuse flavor, then serve hot over fluffy rice or noodles for a comforting, delicious meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground chicken or turkey for a leaner option.
- For a vegan alternative, replace the egg with flaxseed meal mixed with water and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Adjust the brown sugar quantity to make the dish sweeter or more tangy according to your preference.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, baking the meatballs in the oven is a great alternative.
- Serve over rice, noodles, or steamed vegetables to complete the meal.
- Fresh minced garlic can be used instead of garlic powder for enhanced flavor in meatballs.
