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Maria Mac's Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Hands down the very best sweet and sour meatballs you’ll ever taste. These meatballs work well as a dinner or a party buffet appetizer dish.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: beef
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef meatballs
Servings: 4
Calories: 449kcal

Ingredients

MEATBALLS

  • 1 lb very lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1-2 tbsp oil for frying

SAUCE

  • 1 cup sliced celery
  • 1 small red bell pepper cut in 1-inch cubes
  • 1 small green bell pepper cut in 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks drained
  • drained juice from pineapple plus enough water to make 1 1/2 cups
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar

THICKENER

  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

  • Mix together bread crumbs, onion and the 1/4 cup water. Let stand until water is absorbed by breadcrumbs.
  • Add the ground beef, salt and beaten egg and combine well. Form into meatballs about the size of a marshmallow (about 1.5-inches diameter).
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs on all sides, carefully turning them so they don't fall apart and are completely cooked. Remove from pan; set aside.
  • In the same skillet, saute the celery and bell peppers until crisp-tender; about 5 minutes.
  • Add the brown sugar, cider vinegar, pineapple and water/pineapple juice mixture. Heat till boiling.
  • Mix the thickener ingredients and add to the boiling sauce. Stir until thickened, reduce heat and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add meatballs back to pan and stir to coat them with sauce and heat through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1person | Calories: 449kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1053mg | Potassium: 869mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 1285IU | Vitamin C: 78mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 4mg