Fantastic Sweet and Sour Barbecue Meatballs

Get ready to transform your mealtime with these Fantastic Sweet and Sour Barbecue Meatballs, a crowd-pleasing recipe bursting with bold flavors and a perfect balance of tangy and sweet! Juicy meatballs made from a savory blend of ground beef and pork are baked to perfection and then simmered in a luscious homemade sauce crafted from ketchup, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and a hint of apple cider vinegar for that signature sweet-and-sour zing. Thickened with a quick cornstarch slurry and infused with soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, this glaze clings beautifully to each meatball. Perfect as a party appetizer or served over steamed rice for a hearty main dish, these meatballs are easy to make and ready in under an hour. With their irresistible flavor and versatility, they’re sure to become a new family favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 61/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 0.5 lb ground pork
• 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 cup ketchup
• 0.5 cup pineapple juice
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

Step 2

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly combined.

Step 3

Using your hands, form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 4

Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until they are fully cooked and browned on the outside.

Step 5

While the meatballs bake, prepare the sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the ketchup, pineapple juice, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and bring the mixture to a simmer.

Step 6

In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water until it forms a slurry. Gradually add this slurry to the simmering sauce, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Step 7

Once the meatballs are cooked, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the baked meatballs to the skillet and pour the sweet and sour barbecue sauce over them.

Step 8

Gently toss the meatballs in the sauce to evenly coat them. Let them simmer in the sauce for 5 minutes to absorb the flavors.

Step 9

Serve the sweet and sour barbecue meatballs immediately as an appetizer or over steamed rice for a delightful main dish. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1229.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2556.5

Total Fat 165.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 56.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 18.8g
Cholesterol 750.3mg	0%
Sodium 3890.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 123.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 2.8g	0%
Total Sugars 64.1g
Protein 153.0g	0%

Vitamin D 80.6IU	0%
Calcium 299.5mg	0%
Iron 14.3mg	0%
Potassium 1648.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 57.4%

Protein: 23.6%

Carbs: 19.0%