Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Teresa Ambra

Gluten Free Living – 2016

Sweet and Sour Meatballs are awesome. 😮 This tasty entree makes an easy main dish that can be served over rice or noodles. I love meatballs and I have some great recipes for Swedish Meatballs, Melt-In-Your-Mouth Meatballs, Pizza Meatballs, Waikiki Meatballs and Meatballs for spaghetti sauce. And, for those of you who are meatball lovers like me, you will love this recipe! The sweet and sour sauce is savory and delicious. It’s just one of those dishes you can’t get enough of.

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This recipe comes from a collection of recipes from a friend of mine who now lives in Black Mountain, North Carolina. I used to attend church with her family in Florida back when we were first married. She was a great cook and was always serving us great meals whenever we went to their home for dinner. She still has an extraordinary gift for hospitality.

This was one of those recipes I typed up for her cookbook back in 1984 when having your own personal computer was just starting to be affordable. I’ve found and tried many interesting and creative recipes from Mimi over the years–many that have become family favorites.

I’ve made Sweet and Sour Meatballs with bell peppers, pineapple and sliced water chestnuts which provide flavor and texture. But if you want it a little spicier then I recommend a few drops of Sriracha sauce. If you want to toss in a few other veggies for the sauce like sugar snap peas and celery then you can certainly add those changes without much problem. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can decrease the amount of water used in the recipe and make the sauce thicker, as you desire. .

I chose to use gluten free bread crumbs for the meatballs and served it over hot, cooked rice to keep the recipe gluten free. I love meatballs so this is one way I can eat them and enjoy them without sluggishness afterwards. Plus regular bread crumbs are usually filled with HFCS and other preservatives that I’m better off not eating. I also used a gluten free, low sodium soy sauce.

When I initially published this recipe in October 2016, I thought the recipe lacked a little oomph. It was tart enough, but not sweet enough. It also didn’t have any veggies or fruits other than pineapple. There was too much sauce in proportion to the meatballs. I decided to beef up this recipe (April 2018) by adding bell peppers, water chestnuts and sweetened up the sauce. Wow, the difference was amazing.

This time I loved the sauce! Plus, the extra veggies provided the crunch necessary to take this entree up to the next level. The initial recipe seemed to have an awful lot of sauce in comparison to the meatballs and pineapple. Now, with the extra bell peppers and water chestnuts, the sauce isn’t overwhelming. All-in-all this Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe is fantastic. It’s terrific for weeknight dinners since it really doesn’t take all that long to prepare. Enjoy.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Sweet and Sour Meatballs is an awesome main dish meal.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

This entree has a delicious sweet and sour sauce that penetrates all the veggies and meatballs. It’s so delicious.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Sweet and Sour Meatballs is so delicious you’ll want to put this on your regular menu rotation.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

While I usually serve this over rice (I used a rice/quinoa blend), you can also serve this over noodles.

Here’s what I did.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

I used these ingredients. 

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Place hamburger meat in a large mixing bowl. Add bread crumbs, onions, salt and pepper. If you want meatballs with more zip you can add a half teaspoon of Montreal Steak Seasoning or Sriracha sauce.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delightful way to serve #meatballs. I used #glutenfree breadcrumbs and served over #rice. #beef

Mix ingredients with your hands until all the bread crumbs are worked into the ground beef.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Add avocado oil to skillet and heat to medium heat. Roll meat into balls and place in skillet.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Continue turning meatballs over until meatballs are no longer pink on any side.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, garlic, apple cider vinegar and soy sauce. 

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Stir ingredients to combine.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Add bell peppers. Saute 3-5 minutes.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Add pineapple.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Add water chestnuts.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Add soy sauce mixture.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Stir ingredients to combine and heat through.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Combine cornstarch and water.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

To thicken sauce, mix cornstarch with water and stir until no lumps remain. Add cornstarch mixture to skillet.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Stir to combine and cook until thickened–a few minutes. 

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

If you enjoy meatballs this is a delightful recipe.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

These meatballs are wonderful comfort food.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Serve Sweet and Sour Meatballs over hot, cooked rice.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Every bite will have you drooling!

Here’s the recipe.

SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS

(Recipe adapted from Mimi Pownall, Black Mountain, NC)

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Teresa Ambra
Sweet and Sour Meatballs are cooked in a zesty and delicious soy sauce mixture. Also includes pineapple chunks, bell peppers and water chestnuts. Terrific served over rice and made for weeknight dinners. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Beef Main Dishes
Cuisine Asian
Servings 6
Calories 568 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 large stock pot with lid to boil rice
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. 93% or 96% lean ground beef
  • 1/4 cup onion finely diced
  • 3/4 cup 4C Gluten Free Italian bread crumbs or use regular bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp. pink Himalayan sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp. avocado oil or coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp. low sodium, gluten free soy sauce
  • 13.5 oz. can pineapple chunks reserve juice
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced in strips
  • 1 orange bell pepper sliced in strips
  • 1 can water chestnuts sliced and drained
  • 2 cups hot, cooked rice

Instructions
 

  • Combine beef, bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl; mix thoroughly with your hands.
  • Form into 1” balls.
  • Brown meatballs in hot oil in skillet over medium heat.
  • Cook meatballs thoroughly until no pink remains turning meatballs frequently.
  • Combine pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce and garlic in a small mixing bowl with a whisk.
  • Set aside.
  • Add bell peppers to skillet with meatballs and saute about 3-5 minutes.
  • Add pineapple chunks and water chestnuts.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Add soy sauce mixture to meatballs in skillet and heat through about 5 minutes.
  • Mix cornstarch and water.
  • Stir cornstarch mixture into sauce in skillet to thicken.
  • Heat through about 5 minutes until sauce thickens appropriately.
  • Serve over hot, cooked rice.

Notes

NOTE: Preparation time does not include time required to cook rice.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 568kcalCarbohydrates: 101gProtein: 24gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 660mgPotassium: 624mgFiber: 5gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 1275IUVitamin C: 58mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg
Keyword beef, gluten free, main dish, meatballs, pineapple
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Serve with a side salad or hot bread.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

If you like to add a little of this or a little of that to recipes, you can add bell peppers, celery and matchsticks carrots to the sauce for a little variety in texture. If you like a spicier sauce, consider adding a dash of Sriracha sauce.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Sweet and Sour Meatballs are gluten free when you use a gluten free soy sauce and gluten free bread crumbs.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Waikiki Meatballs

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs

Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this favorite #meatballs recipe includes grape jelly & #SweetBabyRays #BBQ sauce! It's fabulous for #tailgating, #NewYearsEve or #SuperBowl parties. So easy, too! #appetizer

Porcupine Meatballs

Porcupine Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kichen
Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #meatball entree is awesome! It's made with a delicious sweet & sour sauce & filled with bell peppers, #pineapple & water chestnuts. Served over #rice, this is the perfect weeknight meal. #beef #glutenfree

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Teresa Ambra
Sweet and Sour Meatballs are cooked in a zesty and delicious soy sauce mixture. Also includes pineapple chunks, bell peppers and water chestnuts. Terrific served over rice and made for weeknight dinners. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Beef Main Dishes
Cuisine Asian
Servings 6
Calories 568 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 large stock pot with lid to boil rice
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. 93% or 96% lean ground beef
  • 1/4 cup onion finely diced
  • 3/4 cup 4C Gluten Free Italian bread crumbs or use regular bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp. pink Himalayan sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp. avocado oil or coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp. low sodium, gluten free soy sauce
  • 13.5 oz. can pineapple chunks reserve juice
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced in strips
  • 1 orange bell pepper sliced in strips
  • 1 can water chestnuts sliced and drained
  • 2 cups hot, cooked rice

Instructions
 

  • Combine beef, bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl; mix thoroughly with your hands.
  • Form into 1” balls.
  • Brown meatballs in hot oil in skillet over medium heat.
  • Cook meatballs thoroughly until no pink remains turning meatballs frequently.
  • Combine pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce and garlic in a small mixing bowl with a whisk.
  • Set aside.
  • Add bell peppers to skillet with meatballs and saute about 3-5 minutes.
  • Add pineapple chunks and water chestnuts.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Add soy sauce mixture to meatballs in skillet and heat through about 5 minutes.
  • Mix cornstarch and water.
  • Stir cornstarch mixture into sauce in skillet to thicken.
  • Heat through about 5 minutes until sauce thickens appropriately.
  • Serve over hot, cooked rice.

Notes

NOTE: Preparation time does not include time required to cook rice.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 568kcalCarbohydrates: 101gProtein: 24gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 660mgPotassium: 624mgFiber: 5gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 1275IUVitamin C: 58mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg
Keyword beef, gluten free, main dish, meatballs, pineapple
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

2 Comments

  • Anonymous

    January 16, 2019 at 1:46 pm

    To much info. Please make “skip to recipe”an option. Not everyone wants to go through all the story to get to recipe. Sounds like a good recipe. Just wish u posted a shorter get to the point recipe

    1. Teresa

      January 16, 2019 at 5:20 pm

      Sorry you don’t like to read the story behind each recipe. You can scroll down to the bottom of the page to get the recipe. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.

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