Grandma’s Sweet and Sour Meatballs are baked to perfection while simmering in an amazing sauce made with pineapple chunks and green pepper. This family-friendly dinner is one you can turn to on busy weeknights. Super simple, super delicious! Love meatballs?? We do too! Make sure to check out these Teriyaki Meatballs, the BEST Turkey Meatballs and my personal favorite, Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs – so good!
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
I am so excited to be sharing my Grandma’s Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe with you today! This recipe is so easy to pull together and when these meatballs are baking away – oh em gee! It smells SOOO good! This recipe makes tons of meatballs so it’s perfect for a crowd. They meatballs are even better the next day so make some extra rice and get ready for an awesome leftovers lunch.
For The Love of Meatballs
We are big time meatballs lovers. I love how versatile the meatballs is. It works with spaghetti, in a sandwich, over rice, or as an appetizer. These easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs fall into the weeknight dinner category or make a perfect Sunday lunch.
I whipped up a batch of these meatballs this past Sunday when my dad and brother came over to watch the 49ers game. This was NOT the recipe that I was going to be sharing today but once I tasted those meatballs I simply had to move them up on the schedule. They’re just that good!
What’s In Sweet and Sour Meatballs
There are two components to this dish: meatballs and sweet and sour sauce. The meatballs are pretty basic leaving room for that super flavorful sauce:
- lean ground beef
- bread crumbs
- milk
- egg
- salt and pepper to taste
The sauce is pretty much where all the flavor comes in as the meatballs cook in all of the goodness:
- green bell pepper
- pineapple chunks
- chopped onion
- brown sugar
- ketchup
- vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
It all starts with a very basic meatball recipe that you can adjust to your liking. It makes a ton but the recipe could easily be halved. I just counted the meatballs in this picture…40 exactly! And everyone of them exactly the same size…NOT! Oh well, we can’t all be perfect 🙂
Next you’re going to mix up the ingredients for the sauce – all in one bowl! That is one of my favorite features of grandma-type recipes. They don’t have time to mess around with a bunch of different dishes. Pour all that goodness over the top…
Throw it in the oven for an hour and voila! Dinner is served! It’s really that easy and I know you’re going to LOVE the amazing flavors in this dish!
Tips for Making the Best Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Use pineapple chunks in JUICE not syrup. If you get the pineapple with syrup, it will be way too sweet.
- I used green bell pepper in this recipe for a pop of color but red, orange, or yellow bell peppers will also work.
- If you want to brown the meatballs in olive oil prior to baking, you can. I love this easy method and I suggest you try it at least once as written before altering.
- We usually serve the sweet and sour meatballs over white rice but it’s also super yummy with fried rice.
- Use a cookie scoop. It keeps them all roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Wet your hands when forming the meatballs. A little water goes a long way in keeping the stickiness at bay.
More Meatball Recipes
- The BEST Turkey Meatballs
- Teriyaki Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider Maple Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Meatballs
How To Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Grandma’s Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 2 cups plain bread crumbs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg
- salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 20 oz pineapple chunks in juice (including the juice)
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup water
- 4 tbsp vinegar
- 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Meatballs
- Mix ingredients together and form into balls.
- Arrange in a single layer in a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish.
Sauce
- Combine all ingredients and pour over meatballs.
- Bake for one hour uncovered.
- Serve over rice.
Video
Nutrition
Originally posted January 14, 2014.
More comfort foods:
Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza Pinwheels
Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Soup
Slow Cooker Philly Cheesesteaks
Spicy Pulled Pork Popper Sandwich
Chicken Cordon Bleu Crescent Rolls
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Lori Jo Wahl says
I followed directions….next time I would not use 4 Tbs. of vinegar, a little to sour. Very easy to make, I put it over egg noodles.
Nadine says
I really love this recipe. I like to add a bit of finely minced onion, sesame oil and some minced garlic to the meatballs, gives a little of an Asian flavor.
Denise says
This is an excellent recipe. I used fresh pineapple, pureed half, it thickened the sauce nicely, I also added fresh garlic and fresh ginger. Half and half Worcester sauce and soy sauce
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So good and EASY! I love your additions Denise!
Colleen says
Really delicious!! The only things I did differently was to add some onion powder to meatball mixture and I made a cornstarch slurry at the end to thicken the sauce a bit. Very happy with this recipe, it’s a “keeper”!
Grace says
I add cornstarch to the sauce before pouring over the meatballs – such a delicious recipe – making it tonight for company coming over 🙂
lorna says
This is the best sweet and sour meatballs I’ve ever made!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Ivory says
Yum, yum, and yum. My family ad I love meatballs, and these looks fanstatic
Olivia says
I had a Sweet and Sour Meatball recipe many years ago, but lost it. This is very close and delicious. I browned the meatballs in a skillet for about 4 minutes, before putting them in the oven. I also remember my old recipe having cornstarch to make the sauce thicker so I added to this recipe.
DeAnn says
I just made this for dinner. It’s so delicious and super simple! I realized after starting dinner that I was out of canned pinapple so I used canned peaches instead. Also, I used frozen meatballs. Everything else was per the recipe. I will totally be making this all the time! I love recipes that are flexible and call for ingredients I already have on hand!
Carmen Wishlow says
Making this tomorrow for the family but halving the recipe as we are leaving for vacation and the freezer is already full with meals for school starting back up! Pretty excited for this recipe and love everything I have tried from you so far! Thanks for sharing everything you make 🙂
Anna says
Can this be cooked in the crockpot?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’ve actually been meaning to try it that way for awhile Anna! If you do can you let me know how it goes? I’m sure it would work just fine!
Sheri says
The Best meatballs. Cooked it with bison.
Adam says
Had these minus the pineapple on mashed potatoes and it was amazing 🙂
Betty says
This sounds really great and easy to make. Since my husband and I are diabetic I really need the nutritional information before I can decide to make it.
Barb says
Wow! I made these, but cheated and used frozen meatballs (threw them in the pan still frozen). I made a few slight changes to the sauce. I decreased the Worcestershire to 1.5 Tbs. I added 2 Tbs soy sauce, some onion and garlic powder, about 2 tsp chopped garlic, and about 1.5 tsp of red chili flakes for a bit of heat. It was fantastic! I used rice wine vinegar which I think gave it great flavor. I plan to make it again and replace some of the brown sugar with orange marmalade, but it was great as is. Thanks!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Love all your changes Barb! Sounds delicious!
Esther says
Just curious if this would work as a freezer meal? If so how would I go about it ? Thanks 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You could make the meatballs in advance and freeze those Esther. The rest you would need to do the day of.
Nakita says
Good morning. Has anyone tried this recipe with ground turkey?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I haven’t Nakita but it should work fine!
Melissa says
I made these tonight for my dinner co-op. I cook for 16 people each Monday night. They were AMAZING! Thanks so much.
Liz says
Nice recipe. Thank you Trish.
Jessie says
I made these last night for my husband and I and they were great! Easy to put together and the flavor is delicious. Love finding simple recipes that are ACTUALLY good. This is a keeper.
Sara says
Is 85/15 ground beef ok for this? I just don’t want it to turn out greasy.
Laura says
Oh my gosh I tried this recipe tonight and it was the PERFECT balance of flavors!
Thankyou Trish and Grandma!
From the whole clan x
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Love hearing that Laura! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Rachael says
What type if vinegar did you use?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
White vinegar Rachael but any vinegar will work 🙂
Jenna says
This looks awesome. I’m wondering if you think it’d work to substitute the ground beef for ground pork?
Jenna says
Just reporting back that I made this tonight substituting ground pork (regular Jimmy Dean) for the ground beef, and kept everything else the same (except I added a red bell pepper along with the green). It turned out really great and the flavor was wonderful. I also used a mini ice cream scooper to shape the balls and it made that part fly and they were all about the same size. I froze half of it for a pregnant friend, I think it will freeze up well 🙂 Thanks!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That’s awesome Jenna! I like all of your substitutions and yes, should totally freeze well. You’re such a great friend!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I think it would work but would definitely taste different. Try to match up the fat content as well. Good luck Jenna!
Kristen Duke says
These sound amazing! I love sweet and sour and never thought of combining that with meatballs!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Super good! Thanks Kristen 🙂
Mommy on Demand says
My husband will love this! Would love for you to come over and share at our link party The Weekend Retreat it just started! http://mommyondemand.com/weekend-retreat-link-party-51/
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
You had me at meatballs!! These look delish…love that it’s a family recipe!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
LOL! Thanks Kristi!
Tonia says
I love recipes that have been passed down. They are tried and true and always to turn out!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Same here Tonia! So many good memories attached to them too 🙂
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
Wow! That sounds delicious Trish! I think your right, Grandma’s knew what they were doing with a “no fuss” meal. One bowl and your done. LOVE it! Pinning!
Jenn says
Love how easy these sound and they look yummy too. Pinned!
Jodi says
Wow! Those look really yummy, Trish. What a great idea!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Jodi! Can’t beat Grandma’s meatballs 🙂
Kathy says
These sound perfect! My kids love meatballs! I bet these would be a win!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Kathy! My kids love these!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
These. Are. AMAZING.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Dorothy!
Heather @ French Press says
I am in LOVE Trish! what a fantastic dinner recipe that the kids are going to love
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Heather!
Happy Valley Chow says
Oh em geeeee is right! These are definitely perfect for a day of eating and watching football! Great job Trish 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks so much Eric!