Tangy Sweet and Sour Meatballs
These Tangy Sweet and Sour Meatballs are a total weeknight win! Juicy beef meatballs are cooked to perfection and then coated in a delicious homemade sauce that’s the perfect mix of sweet, tangy, and savory. It’s super easy to make, and the sauce comes together in just minutes with simple ingredients like brown sugar, ketchup, and vinegar. Whether you’re serving these over rice for dinner or whipping them up as a fun party appetizer, they’re always a hit. And the best part? They’re ready in just 20 minutes, so you can have an impressive, flavor-packed meal on the table in no time!
5 Servings
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 c dry bread crumbs
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 1 c brown sugar
- 1 c water
- 1/2 c ketchup
- 1/2 c cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Start by making the meatballs. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, chopped onion, egg, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Mix everything together until it’s well combined, but don’t overdo it—you want tender meatballs, not tough ones.
- Once mixed, roll the mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
- Heat up a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and cook the meatballs, turning occasionally, until they’re nicely browned on all sides and cooked through.
- While the meatballs are cooking, let’s whip up the sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, water, ketchup, cider vinegar, soy sauce, and cornstarch until smooth and lump-free.
- After the meatballs are done cooking, go ahead and pour the sauce right over them in the skillet. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the meatballs.
- Serve them hot, and dig in!
Notes
It’s super easy to make these meatballs gluten-free! Just swap out the regular breadcrumbs for a gluten-free version, and be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce—Tamari is a great option that tastes just as good. Everything else in the recipe is naturally gluten-free, so you don’t have to worry about making too many changes. Pair them with some steamed rice or gluten-free pasta, and you’ve got yourself a meal that’s both delicious and safe for anyone avoiding gluten.