Description
Juicy beef meatballs baked in a tangy-sweet sauce made with pineapple, BBQ, and chili sauce. A comforting, versatile dish perfect for weeknight dinners or parties.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- ½ cup finely diced sweet yellow onion
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks, juices reserved
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Form mixture into meatballs using a scoop or spoon and place them evenly in the prepared dish.
- In a separate bowl, whisk reserved pineapple juice, BBQ sauce, sweet chili sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Pour sauce evenly over the meatballs and sprinkle pineapple chunks on top.
- Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes, until meatballs are fully cooked and sauce is bubbly.
- Serve warm over rice, noodles, or as an appetizer.
Notes
- Can be made with ground turkey for a lighter version.
- Add bell peppers or shredded carrots for extra color and texture.
- Teriyaki sauce can replace BBQ sauce for a different flavor.
- Use pre-cooked meatballs as a shortcut (reduce baking time).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs with sauce
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 70mg