Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs
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These Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs are perfect for an easy meal or appetizer. Make tender chicken meatballs and toss them in a sticky sweet and sour sauce.
Make some delicious sweet and sour meatballs for an east weeknight dinner
This recipe for sweet and sour chicken meatballs is my absolute favorite kind of weeknight dinner. It is easy, delicious and everyone loves it!
You can serve this for a simple weeknight dinner with rice, make a batch for meal prep or even make them into mini meatballs to serve as an appetizer. Place the mini meatballs in a crockpot and you have an appetizer that stays warm for the whole party.
This sauce is sweetened by pineapple juice and ketchup instead of the usual chili sauce and grape jelly. I personally like that this sweet and sour meatball recipe isn’t too sweet, but you can sweeten it up with some chili sauce or brown sugar.
Cooking tools
- Baking pan or sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons and liquid measuring cup
- Whisk and tongs
- Large skillet
This recipe is intended to be made in an oven and then on a stove top. If you would like to use a crock pot to keep the meatballs warm, prepare the sauce and meatballs as written and then toss them all in the slow cooker on warm.
Serving suggestions
I usually serve these sweet and sour chicken meatballs as an easy weeknight dinner with white rice and air fryer brussels sprouts. You can also make extra sauce and serve them with some rice noodles.
Sometimes I roll up mini meatballs and make crockpot sweet and sour meatballs for an appetizer. Chop up some green onion, sprinkle it over the top and serve the mini meatballs with toothpicks.
Can i make them ahead and freeze them?
If you want to make a big batch of these chicken meatballs ahead of time, you can cook a big batch and freeze them. Then when you are ready to eat them, allow them to defrost and warm up in the oven.
You can wait to prepare the sauce when you reheat the meatballs because it only takes a few minutes to make. Then, once the meatballs are reheated, toss them in the sauce and serve them. This is a great way to have a high protein meal prepared ahead of time.
Chicken meatball Ingredients
- Ground chicken
- Large egg
- Bread crumbs
- Ketchup
- Salt and pepper
Sweet and sour sauce ingredients
- Pineapple juice
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Sriracha
- Ketchup rice vinegar
- Cornstarch or arrowroot starch – optional for thickening
Ingredient Substitutions
To make these sweet and sour meatballs gluten free you can use almond flour in place of the breadcrumbs or find a gluten free bread crumb. You will also want to use tamari or coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce.
You can use any kind of ground meat that you like to make these meatballs. If you prefer turkey meatballs, use ground turkey. You could also use ground beef or a ground meat blend like a meatloaf mixture.
This recipe is a completely homemade version of sweet and sour meatballs. I prefer the taste and texture of homemade meatballs, but you could use store bought premade meatballs in order to cut down on cooking time.
The sauce is sweet from the pineapple juice and ketchup. If you like a very sweet sauce, stir in a few extra tablespoons of brown sugar. For a sweeter sauce you could also use some chili sauce in place of or in addition to the sriracha.
To make this a full stir fry meal, you can add some steamed broccoli and diced red bell peppers to the pan before tossing the chicken meatballs in the sauce.
Let’s make some Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs
Step 1: Prepare and bake the meatballs
To begin, preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, add meatball ingredients (ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp ketchup, salt, and pepper) to a large mixing bowl.
Mix thoroughly and use a scoop or spoon to scoop eighteen 1 tbsp meatballs on to a baking sheet. Then, bake at 400F for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the sauce
While the meatballs bake, prepare a sauce by combining pineapple juice, soy sacue, sesame oil, sriracha, rice vinegar, and ketchup in a small bowl.
When the meatballs are almost finished cooking, add the sauce to a frying pan and heat over medium-high heat until it bubbles. Then, educe to a simmer and simmer for 4 minutes
Next, remove the meatballs from the oven. Then, prepare a slurry of cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce.
Step 3: Mix the meatballs and sweet and sour sauce together and enjoy!
Increase the heat of the sauce to medium-high and pour the slurry into the pan. Next, mix vigorously to thicken the sauce and then reduce heat to low.
Finally, toss the meatballs in the sauce until they are coated and then remove the pan from the heat. Garnish with green onion and serve with rice or cauliflower rice.
storage and reheating
Once prepared, allow the meatballs to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top until just warmed through.
Check out these other delicious chicken meatball recipes!
Want to make a similar recipe but with shrimp? Check out these Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lettuce Wraps.
You can find the entire recipe down below. If you make my sweet and sour chicken meatballs, please leave me a comment down below or let me know on Instagram!
Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs
Delicious and tender chicken meatballs in a stick sweet and sour sauce
Ingredients
Chicken Meatballs Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken breast
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Sweet and Sour Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tbsp sriracha
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- Optional: 1/2 tbsp corn starch mixed with 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Add meatball ingredients (ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp ketchup, salt and pepper to a large mixing bowl)
- Mix thoroughly and use a scoop or spoon to scoop eighteen 1 tbsp meatballs on to a baking sheet
- Bake at 400F for 15 minutes
- While the meatballs bake prepare a sauce by combining pineapple juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, rice vinegar, and ketchup in a small bowl
- When the meatballs are almost finished cooking add the sauce to a frying pan and heat over medium-high heat until it bubbles
- Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 4 minutes
- Remove the meatballs from the oven
- Prepare a slurry of cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce
- Increase the heat of the sauce to medium-high and pour the slurry into the pan
- Mix vigorously to thicken the sauce and then reduce heat to low
- Toss the meatballs in the sauce until they are coated and then remove the pan from the heat
- Garnish with green onion and serve with rice
Notes
- To make these gluten free use tamari or coconut aminos in place of soy sauce and use 1/2 cup almond flour in place of the breadcrumbs
Jenn says
First off, this looks AMAZING! Can you substitute Tapioca flour for almond flour?
Madeline Tague says
Thank you! It might dry them out a bit so don’t use as much. Maybe a 1/4 cup or so.
Marissa says
I made this sweet and sour sauce for a shrimp, onion, and pepper stir fry and it was AMAZING!! Love this sauce so much. Will need to use on the meatballs but needed to say sauce is 10/10 with anything you want to put it on.
Madeline says
That is such a good idea!! I think I need to do just a regular chicken stir fry with this sauce!!
Karen says
Made these last night! Oh my! They were so yummy!!
Madeline says
Ah I am so glad you enjoyed!!
Lizzy says
I have a long work day so using my precious free time meal prepping is challenging. Spending the time and $ on almond flour was worth it. I’ve been snacking on these all week and they’re getting me through my day feeling nourished.
Madeline says
AW this made me smile! I agree that time is precious so if you’re going to use it and your money it better taste great!!!
Emily Britt says
Can’t wait to try this. I am allergic to Pineapples – do you recommend I sub this with anything specific?
Madeline says
Hi!! Orange juice would work great if you can have that ☺️
Nicole C. says
What do you recommend as a substitute for almond flour ? Would regular be okay ?
Madeline says
Yes! Regular flour will work!
Amanda says
YUM! This was delicious. Hubs says they are addictive. Thank you!
Madeline says
ah thats amazing!! I am so glad!
Emily says
Easy and delicious
Madeline says
awesome!!
Danielle says
Yum yum yum- I could eat these meatballs every day. My husband was skeptical when I told him about this dish- but the meatballs were so moist- even on reheat. The sauce is delicious and brought great flavor to the rice. Really great dinner that’s not even pricey! I appreciate the ingredients were all thinks I consider pantry staples.
Madeline says
Wonderful!! I really try to keep my ingredients straightforward so that makes me so happy!
Bethany Thomas says
This was such an easy recipe and the sauce is amazing! I made these for lunches this week but could see using the sauce with shrimp or other meats for a different meal. I used no sugar ketchup, which I honestly hate, and using in this recipe was perfect and the sauce is great. I’ll make this again to use up the ketchup and not waste it, so happy I found this recipe!
Madeline says
wonderful!! thank you so much!!
Abby says
Loved this recipe! Easy to make and delicious!
Madeline says
Thank you!!
Meghan says
This recipe was delicious! I made it with a side of basmati rice and roasted broccoli. The meatballs came out perfectly. I will definitely make it again.
Madeline says
That sounds lovely!!
Whitney says
These came together so quickly and were so flavorful. Looking forward to adding them to the rotation!
Madeline says
YAY! love to hear that!
Alden says
This recipe was so delicious! I am always looking for a new way to love meatballs and this tasted so fresh and was perfect for my round of Whole30. Had it over cauli rice with snow peas!
Madeline says
that sounds awesome!!
Devon says
This is SO GOOD. I had been meaning to try it for some time and was holding off because I dislike the extra effort involved in making meatballs, but this was SO EASY. I’m a medical student, and easy, quick, healthy and tasty is absolutely key because I have to meal prep a lot. I also love a good sweet and sour from a Chinese restaurant, and this is just as tasty if not better, and it’s cheaper and way easier for meal prepping.
I made a few very small tweaks and it was still absolutely delicious–I swapped bread crumbs for the almond flour as I’m not gluten free; I also added a splash more pineapple juice and a little more ketchup to the sauce, because I like that tangy taste to my sweet and sour sauce. It came out perfectly.
Madeline says
AMAZING!! so glad to hear that! tahnk you!
Emily says
These didn’t work out for us. Nothing in the recipe list could garner the color of the sauce that is indicated in the photos either. Not really sure what happened here. I ended up googling another sauce recipe.
Madeline says
Aw so sorry to hear that! Not sure what the issue was because i’ve made this recipe many times with a successful result, but hate to hear its not working for others
Emily R. says
So easy to make on a weeknight and perfect combo of flavors!! Lots of leftovers too
Madeline says
yay glad you liked it! love when theres leftovers.
Darlene Torgrim says
I have been looking for your recipe for Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup. Everyone Loves it.!!!!! Could you Please send it to my e-mail ? Thank You !!
Madeline says
https://madaboutfood.co/roasted-red-pepper-and-tomato-soup/