Sweet and Sour Meatballs - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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These sweet and sour meatballs are exquisite and easy to make. Deliciously glazed, they are irresistible!

Quickly bake them in the oven, then coat them in the rich glaze. They're perfect as an appetizer or a filling entree.

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I enjoy meatballs and make them often. My favorites include pork meatballs, keto meatballs, turkey meatballs, and chicken meatballs.

These sweet and sour meatballs are especially good. The sauce they're cooked in is exceptionally flavorful, and they are ready in just 40 minutes.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • Instructions
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • More Meatball Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card
  • Let's Connect

Ingredients

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Here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.

For the Meatballs:

  • Lean ground beef: I like to use an 85/15 blend. I find that 93/7 is too lean.
  • To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.

For the glaze:

  • Unsweetened ketchup: I typically use the Primal Kitchen brand.
  • Rice vinegar: It's OK to use white wine vinegar if that's all you have on hand.
  • Honey: Just 2 tablespoons for the entire recipe. You can use a sugar-free substitute.
  • Light soy sauce: Or use a gluten-free alternative if needed.

Variations

  • Use ground pork instead of ground beef. You can also use a mix - half pork and half beef.
  • Use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder.
  • Add chopped cilantro to the beef mixture. I like the flavor it adds.
  • Enjoy spicy food? Add a tablespoon of sriracha to the glaze.

Instructions

The original recipe for sweet and sour meatballs is my mother-in-law's. It calls for browning the meatballs in a skillet, cooking them in broth, and finally glazing them.

My mother-in-law's meatballs are amazing, but I am far too lazy for a three-step recipe! So I decided to streamline, skip the browning and cooking, and simply bake the meatballs, then coat them in the sauce.

The result is so good! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

Mix the beef and spices. Place the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and use your hands to mix everything together.

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Bake the meatballs. Divide the mixture into 20 portions and form it into meatballs. Arrange the meatballs in a single layer on a greased baking dish and bake them for 10 minutes at 400°F.

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Prepare the glaze. Mix the glaze ingredients in a medium saucepan and heat them over medium-low heat.

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Coat the meatballs. Add the meatballs to the sauce and turn to coat. Keep cooking until the meatballs are heated through and the glaze is thickened, about 5 more minutes.

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Expert Tips

  • When mixing the seasonings into the ground beef and shaping the meatballs, try to use a light touch and work the meat lightly. This will help prevent the meatballs from being too dense.
  • You can mix a teaspoon of cornstarch into the glaze to help thicken it. I don't usually find it necessary, but it's an option.

Recipe FAQs

Should I add eggs or breadcrumbs to the beef mixture?

There's no need for a filler (breadcrumbs) or binder (eggs). The meatballs keep their shape well. If you work them lightly, they'll be light and fluffy and won't come out too dense.

Can I make these meatballs with jelly?

Yes. You can use grape jelly (regular or sugar-free) instead of honey. But honey tastes better, in my opinion.

Can I fry these meatballs instead of baking them?

Yes. You can heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a very large (14-inch) lidded skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer and cook them, turning frequently, until golden brown, 5 minutes.

Add ¼ cup of water to the bottom of the skillet. Cover with the lid and cook until the meatballs are cooked through (internal temperature should be 165°F), about 3 more minutes. Drain and add the sauce.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve these meatballs with toothpicks as an appetizer. But I usually serve them as a main dish for dinner. They're excellent on a bed ofcauliflower rice or mashed cauliflower.

I usually add an Asian-style vegetable such as sauteed bok choy, cabbage stir-fry, Asian Brussels sprouts, or Chinese green beans.

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can also freeze these metaballs for up to three months.

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More Meatball Recipes

  • co*cktail Meatballs
  • Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
  • Lamb Meatballs
  • Turkey Meatballs

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Recipe Card

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Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Thesesweet and sour meatballsare exquisite and easy to make. Deliciously glazed, they are irresistible!

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 293kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil for pan

Meatballs:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (85/15)
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Glaze:

  • ½ cup unsweetened ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey (or a sugar-free substitute)
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce (or a gluten-free alternative)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch Optional, to thicken the sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F. Brush a rimmed baking dish (such as a 9 X 13 dish) with oil.

    Sweet and Sour Meatballs - Healthy Recipes Blog (13)

  • Mix the meatball ingredients (ground beef, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder) in a large bowl. Form 20 meatballs and place them in the prepared baking dish. Bake them for 10 minutes.

    Sweet and Sour Meatballs - Healthy Recipes Blog (14)

  • While the meatballs are baking, whisk the glaze ingredients (ketchup, vinegar, honey, soy sauce, and cornstarch if using) in a medium saucepan. Heat the glaze over medium-low heat.

    Sweet and Sour Meatballs - Healthy Recipes Blog (15)

  • Add the meatballs to the saucepan and turn to coat them in the sauce. Keep cooking, turning frequently, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened, for about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Sweet and Sour Meatballs - Healthy Recipes Blog (16)

Video

Notes

  • When mixing the seasonings into the ground beef and shaping the meatballs, try to use a light touch and work the meat lightly. This will help prevent the meatballs from being too dense.
  • The nutrition info assumes that real honey was used. Nutrition info if using a sugar-free sweetener: Calories 261, Total Fat 17g, Saturated Fat 7g, Sodium 643mg, Carbohydrate 4g, Fiber 0g, Sugars 0g, Protein 21g.
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can also freeze these metaballs for up to three months.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 5meatballs | Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 643mg | Sugar: 8g

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Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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About the Author

Sweet and Sour Meatballs - Healthy Recipes Blog (27) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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Sweet and Sour Meatballs - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

How many calories are in homemade sweet sour meatballs? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
601Calories
26gFat
71gCarbs
20gProtein
Feb 15, 2023

What makes meatballs stick together better? ›

How to make meatballs that won't fall apart
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. Add breadcrumbs to the mixture, but not too many breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

How to make meatballs that aren t tough? ›

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

How much sugar is in sweet and sour meatballs? ›

Nutrition Facts
Sweet and Sour Meatballs (5)
Sugar16 g
Protein16 g
Vitamin A0 IU
13 more rows

Is Sweet and Sour high in calories? ›

A 2-tablespoon serving of sweet and sour sauce has 54 calories. Carbohydrates make up 100% of the calories in sweet and sour sauce.

What can I substitute for grape jelly in meatballs? ›

Replace the Grape Jelly with apricot preserves, orange marmalade, canned cranberry sauce, raspberry preserves, or hot pepper jelly. Replace the Ketchup with Heinz chili sauce or barbecue sauce. If swapping the ketchup for chili sauce, it is not a spicy sauce.

How to thicken sweet and sour sauce? ›

Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Why do people put flour in meatballs? ›

Filler ingredients like breadcrumbs or flour are important too because they stop the meatballs becoming dry. The breadcrumbs absorb the juices from the meat as it cooks, trapping them within the meatball. Again quantity is important here; too much and your meatball will be more like stuffing or a dumpling.

Is it better to use milk or water in meatballs? ›

While water and broth may keep the meatballs moist throughout the cooking process, milk's extra fat and luscious consistency add an unmatched level of complexity to any classic meatball recipe.

Should I put egg in my meatballs? ›

Including eggs in the recipe is especially important if you are using very lean meat such as ground chicken or turkey breast as they add some fat from the yolk. You won't need more than an egg or two per every one to two pounds of meat. If you use too many eggs, you'll wind up with soggy, heavy meatballs.

How to stop meatballs falling apart when cooking? ›

The only way to prevent your meatballs from falling apart is to add some flour in the precooked seasoned ground beef. once you season the ground beef to your taste, you then add some flour, not too much but at least half of a handful.

What is the secret to making tender meatballs? ›

Milk: Adds moisture and tenderizes the meat, making our meatballs juicy and tender once cooked. Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked. Parmesan: My secret ingredient for the best meatballs! Parmigiano-Reggiano adds flavor and salt to our mixture.

Why add milk to meatballs? ›

When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

What does baking soda do to meatballs? ›

Baking soda acts as a meat tenderizer by changing the physical composition of meat fibers. It raises the pH levels on the surface and makes it tougher (pun intended) for the proteins in the meat to bond.

How many calories are in sweet and sour meatballs? ›

Foodland Sweet And Sour Beef Meatballs (0.75 cup) contains 5g total carbs, 3g net carbs, 18g fat, 15g protein, and 240 calories.

How many calories are in sweet meatballs? ›

Results for "Sweet and Sour Meatballs"

Other sizes: 1 serving - 71kcal, 100 g - 197kcal, 1 oz - 56kcal, more...

How many calories in a 2 oz homemade meatball? ›

How Many Calories in a Meatball? A two ounce meatball has 53 calories, 8.9 grams of fat, 1.76 grams f carbs, 10.9 grams of protein, and no fiber. If you want to lower the amount of calories in a meatball recipe, you can omit the breadcrumbs – that will also drop the carbs.

How many calories are in homemade meatballs with sauce? ›

Common serving sizes
Serving SizeCalories
1 oz54
1 meatball with sauce81
100 g189
1 cup444
Aug 21, 2007

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