The Best Sweet and Sour Meatballs
The best sweet and sour meatballs feature tender meatballs coated in a rich, tangy-sweet sauce. Easy to prepare and perfect for gatherings, they’re a crowd-pleasing dish that works equally well as an appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 500 g ground meat (beef, pork, or chicken)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup vinegar (white or apple cider)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- In a bowl, combine all meatball ingredients and mix gently.
- Shape into evenly sized meatballs and place on a baking tray.
- Bake for 20 minutes until cooked through.
- In a saucepan, combine ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce.
- Simmer for 5 minutes, then stir in cornstarch mixture to thicken.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Do not overmix the meat to keep meatballs tender.
- Uniform meatballs ensure even cooking.
- Sauce thickens as it cools slightly.
- Adjust sugar or vinegar to taste.
- Can be made ahead and reheated gently.