Move over tacos, burgers, spaghetti and meatloaf. If you’re looking for something different to do with a pound of ground beef this is the tasty meal you’ve been looking for. When you get a hankering for an easy to make meal with an irresistible asian flavor profile this dish checks all the boxes. The made from scratch sauce is tasty and delicious and a much healthier option than anything you can buy in a bottle. Making your own meatballs for this dish is easier than you think and takes just a few quick minutes to get them into the oven. Eating healthier home cooked meals doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive and this easy to make delicious dish proves it.
Make meatballs:
Preheat oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat liner. Set aside.
TIP: Chop one half of the onion into a fine dice for the meatballs, and cut the other half into 1 inch chunks for the stir fry.
Place ground beef, diced onion, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl.
Mix ingredients together until well combined. Use a cookie scoop to form evenly sized meatballs.
Roll meatballs in the palm of your hands and place them on the cookie sheet.
Bake for 25 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Prepare sauce:
In a mixing bowl whisk together brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, rice vinegar, tomato paste, pineapple juice, corn starch and salt to combine. Set aside.
Prepare veggies:
Chop onion, bell peppers and pineapple into chunks. Mince garlic. Set aside.
Stir Fry:
Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat.
Add bell peppers and onion chunks to the skillet and stir fry for 1-2 minutes until crisp tender.
Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the sweet and sour sauce to the pan.
Cook until sauce comes to a boil and it thickens and turns glossy, stirring frequently, about 3-4 minutes.
Add cooked meatballs and pineapple chunks to the skillet.
Stir to combine and until everything is heated through, about 1-2 minutes.
Serve over a bed of cooked rice.
This meal is absolutely delightful! The sweet and sour sauce has a lovely tang that’s not too sweet; it’s just right. The meatballs are juicy and flavorful and contrast nicely with the tender crisp veggies and fruity pineapple chunks. You’ll find everything you love about a sweet and sour dish in this easy to make, economical meal. You’re going to love this one!!!
A big shout out to Joann at JoCooks.com for the inspiration for this recipe. She inspired me to try a little something different with a pound of ground beef. I adjusted some of the amounts to suit my family’s tastes and I needed to add quite a bit more cornstarch to get the sauce to thicken for me. Otherwise the flavors are spot on delicious! Be sure to head over to her website and check out all the amazing recipes she has on her blog. I’m sure you’ll find something delicious you will want to try out.
Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Equipment
- Cookie scoop
- cookie sheet
- parchment paper or silpat liner
- large skillet or wok
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ large onion, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 4 servings cooked white rice
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ large onion, finely diced
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
For the sauce:
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
Make meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat liner. Set aside.
- Place ground beef, diced onion, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix ingredients together until well combined.
- Use a cookie scoop to form evenly sized meatballs. Roll meatballs in the palm of your hands and place them on the cookie sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Prepare sauce:
- In a mixing bowl stir together rice vinegar, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, tomato paste, pineapple juice, corn starch and salt to combine. Set aside.
Prepare veggies:
- Chop onion, bell peppers and pineapple into chunks. Mince garlic. Set aside.
Stir Fry:
- Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat.
- Add bell peppers and onion chunks to the skillet and stir fry for 2 minutes until crisp tender.
- Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the sweet and sour sauce to the pan and cook until sauce comes to a boil and it thickens and turns glossy, stirring frequently, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add cooked meatballs and pineapple chunks to the skillet.
- Stir to combine and until everything is heated through, 1-2 minutes.
- Serve over a bed of cooked rice.
Did You Make This?
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John 6:35
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