Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Sweet and Sour Meatballs: tender meatballs simmered in a tangy sweet & sour sauce. Make them in the crockpot or on the stovetop; they're easy & so delish!
Servings: 48 1-inch diameter meatballs (approx.)
Calories: 45kcal
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef, ground turkey, or meat loaf mix
- 1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 1 egg (large)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper, to taste
For the Sweet & Sour Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups orange juice
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
For garnish (optional)
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
To make the Meatballs
- Place the ground meat, bread crumbs, milk, onion, egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and stir together until combined.
- Mist the crock pot insert with non-stick spray, roll 1-tablespoon sized balls of the mixture between your palms, and place in a single layer at the bottom of the slow-cooker.
- Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the meatballs, and cook (covered) for 1 to 2 hours on high heat, or for 3 to 4 hours on low heat.
To make the Sweet & Sour Sauce
- In a smaller bowl, whisk the brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, and orange juice together, and pour it over the meatballs.
- About 30 minutes before serving, whisk the cornstarch and water together and stir into the sauce.
- Cover and continue to cook until the sauce has thickened.
- Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition
Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 56mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.3mg