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Quick Sweet and Sour Meatballs

These sweet and sour meatballs are quick to make it on the table for a 20 minute dinner and are a family favorite. This easy dinner is filled with turkey meatballs, green peppers, pineapples, and covered in a tasty, tangy sauce.

sweet and sour meatballs cooked and in a skillet

Quick sweet and sour meatballs

We are in a season of 3 little kids at home and evenings can be a bit chaotic. This recipe is so great to have the ingredients on hand to pull out in a pinch. The meatballs can be stored in the freezer, can of pineapple chunks in the pantry, and the other items in the fridge. These sweet and sour meatballs are quick to prepare and to clean up.

Ingredients in sweet and sour meatballs

  • Turkey Meatballs (frozen)
  • Ketchup
  • Brown Sugar
  • Can of pineapple chunks (you will use the pineapples and juice)
  • Bell Pepper, Diced
  • Minced Garlic
  • Cornstarch
  • Water

Why you will love this recipe

This dinner is so quick! A perfect weeknight dinner in less than 30 minutes. It is packed full of protein, vegetables and a fruit. A little bit of everything for everyone. The sauce is one of my favorite parts. It is thick, creamy, and a bit sweet. The sweetness and the savory flavor of the meatballs pairs perfectly together.

How to make quick sweet and sour meatballs

  1. Separate the pineapples and the juice. Place the juice in a small bowl for the sauce
  2. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients (ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce) to the pineapple juice. Stir to combine
  3. In a medium sized skillet over medium heat, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant
  4. Pour in the sauce to the skillet and bring to a low simmer
  5. Add in the cornstarch and water mixture. Stir in to begin thickening the sauce
  6. Add in the green peppers and meatballs
  7. Cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
  8. Add in the pineapple chunks and cook for 1 minute
  9. Enjoy!
  10. Optional – Serve over rice

How I served this for my kids

This is what the dinner plates for my 2 and 4 year old looked like! They both tend to prefer all their food separate.

A kids plate filled with sweet and sour meatballs, pineapples and rice

Materials Needed

Medium sized skillet

Reheating and storing

You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Throw leftovers back into a skillet and warm over medium high heat for about 5 minutes.

What to serve this dish with

I love serving this dish over rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice.

Sweet and sour meatballs served in a bowl over rice
Sweet and sour meatballs cooked and served in a skillet

Quick Sweet and Sour Meatballs

These quick sweet and sour meatballs make it on the table in less than 30 minutes and are a family favorite.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dinner, Egg Free
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 393 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Turkey Meatballs (frozen, you will use half of a 32 oz. bag or about 30 meatballs)
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 32 oz. can of pineapple chunks (you will use the pineapples and juice from the can)
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch (mixed in water to work as a thickener for the sauce)
  • 1 tbsp. of water (for mixing with cornstarch)
  • 1 tsp. of minced garlic

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the sauce: Separate the pineapple chunks and the juice, placing the juice in a small bowl for the sauce (it should be about 1 cup of juice)
  • Add the rest of the sauce ingredients (ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce) to the pineapple juice. Stir to combine
  • In a medium sized skillet over medium heat, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant
  • Pour in the sauce to the skillet and bring to a low simmer
  • Mix cornstarch and water in a separate container (it is 2 tsp. of cornstarch and 1 tbsp of water to serve as a thickener). Stir it in the sauce to begin thickening.
  • Add in the green bell pepper and meatballs
  • Cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
  • Add in the pineapple chunks and cook for 1 minute
  • Enjoy!
  • Optional – Serve over cooked rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice

Notes

Store in the fridge for up to 4 days
Keyword meatballs, one pot meal, quick dinner, sweet and sour

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