Description
Meatballs in a tangy sweet and sour sauce — a crowd‑pleasing main dish often served over rice.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (≈ 450 g) ground beef
- 1 cup dry bread crumbs
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 large egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar (or to taste)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (for thickening)
- Optional: bell peppers, pineapple chunks (for extra flavor and texture)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, bread crumbs, chopped onion, egg, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs (about 1½‑inch diameter each).
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together brown sugar, water, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the meatballs; reduce heat to low and simmer for 3–5 minutes (or until sauce thickens and coats the meatballs).
- If using, stir in bell peppers and pineapple chunks; simmer a few more minutes until heated through.
- Serve hot (for example over steamed rice) and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef to lighten the dish.
- If the sauce is too thin, you can mix a little extra cornstarch with cold water and add to thicken.
- Adjust the vinegar or sugar to your taste for more sour or more sweet flavor.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 3–4 days; reheat gently so sauce doesn’t break.
- For a healthier version, reduce sugar or use a sugar substitute and choose lean meat. (See “Healthy Sweet & Sour Meatballs” adaptation) :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (of 5)
- Calories: 601
- Sugar: 51 g
- Sodium: 878 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Carbohydrates: 71 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 114 mg
