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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chinese

    Sweet and Sour Meatballs

    Published: Nov 16, 2020 · Modified: Nov 3, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 57 Comments

    570 shares
    • 273
    Jump to Recipe

    These sweet and sour meatballs are made with lean and protein packed chicken meatballs and our homemade healthier sweet and sour sauce. Instead of reaching for the Chinese takeaway menu, try making this super easy and lighter alternative to a takeaway favourite.

    A bowl of meatballs and fried rice.

    We love ordering a takeaway, but we try to make our own versions as often as possible, and this is one of our favourites. Meatballs are total comfort food, and this is a nice twist on the usual spaghetti and meatballs. We love all things sweet and sour and are always looking for ways to use our homemade sauce and it goes perfectly smothered over these juicy and tender meatballs.

    If you are looking for more meatball recipes, then why not try our Albondigas (Spanish Meatballs), Air Fryer Meatballs, Meatball Pasta Bake or Greek Lamb Traybake?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love them
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Homemade chicken meatballs
    • Sweet and Sour Sauce
    • What to serve it with?
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love them

    • A delicious takeaway alternative
    • A twist on meatballs
    • Uses our homemade healthy sweet and sour sauce
    • Easy to adapt
    • Freezes well

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed to make this recipe al laid out on a wooden surface.
    • Chicken breast - this recipe uses homemade chicken meatballs, however you could use store bought meatballs if you wanted to save some time.
    • Shallots - these add a bit of extra texture to the meatballs, and some sweetness too. However you could swap it for half a small onion.
    • Chinese five spice -  this Asian seasoning is a mixture that consists of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. You could make it yourself, but we buy a good quality one to save time.
    • Garlic cloves - you could crush these fresh yourself, or use a spoonful of lazy garlic in a jar.
    • Ginger - if you find yourself always wasting ginger, then you could freeze it and then grate it frozen straight in to the dish.
    • Egg - this will help to bind the meatballs.
    • Panko breadcrumbs - breadcrumbs also help to bind the meatballs, however using panko also helps them to get nice and crispy. You could swap the panko for regular breadcrumbs though.
    • Green pepper - this adds a nice crunch to the whole dish, however you can use any colour bell pepper.
    • Pineapple - these adds lots of sweetness, and is a must in any sweet and sour dish. You can use fresh, or a can of pineapple.
    • Sesame oil - this adds lots of flavour to the dish, however you could use vegetable, sunflower or olive oil instead.
    • Sweet and sour sauce - we used our own homemade sweet and sour sauce, however you could use a good quality store bought one instead.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Grind the chicken breasts up. Add to a bowl with shallots, five spice, garlic, ginger, egg, panko and salt and pepper. Mix into meatballs. Refrigerate for 15 mins.

    Ground chicken, garlic, ginger and spices in a mixing bowl.
    Panko breadcrumbs and beaten egg added to the chicken mix.

    Two: Put on a baking tray and bake for 12-15 mins until cooked through.

    12 uncooked chicken meatballs on a silver baking tray.
    Twelve cooked chicken meatballs on a silver baking tray.

    Three: Heat oil in a pan and add the peppers and cook for 4 mins. Add cooked meatballs, pineapple and sweet and sour sauce. Heat through.

    Meatballs, chopped peppers and pineapple chunks cooking in a sweet and sour sauce.

    Homemade chicken meatballs

    You can go the easier route and use really good quality  ready made meatballs from the supermarket or butchers, however we really recommend making your own following this recipe, as the meatballs themselves have loads of extra flavour in them.

    Packed with Chinese five spice and plenty of garlic and ginger, these homemade meatballs pack a serious flavour punch. We have also added some panko breadcrumbs to make them a little bit crispy.

    Sweet and Sour Sauce

    If you love a Chinese takeaway, then you need to try making your own Sweet and Sour Sauce. It's is much easier than you think and in less than 10 minutes, using ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard, you have yourself a deliciously smooth sauce that you can use for so many recipes, or just as a dip.

    We use passata instead of ketchup and honey to sweeten it, so it is lower in salt and sugar than a store bought sauce. However, you could swap it for a really good quality store bought sweet and sour sauce if you would prefer.

    Meatballs on a bed of rice topped with sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.

    What to serve it with?

    There are lots of options when it comes to how to serve these sweet and sour meatballs. You could serve them up as mini meatballs with sticks in them for party food or if you want them as a main meal then they go well with noodles or rice.

    Why not try making our Healthy Egg Fried Rice to go with them?

    Meatballs and rice in a bowl next to a pair of chopsticks.

    FAQs

    Are sweet and sour meatballs healthy?

    If you are making these instead of ordering a Chinese takeaway, then it is a much healthier alternative. We have also baked the meatballs instead of frying them, and used out own homemade sweet and sour sauce that has a few healthier swaps. This recipe is also a good opportunity to add lots of vegetables.

    Can you freeze sweet and sour meatballs?

    Yes, you can freeze this recipe. Wait for it to fully cook and then store in an air tight container and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. It will also keep fresh in the fridge for 2-3 days.

    How to reheat

    You can either reheat this in the microwave or on the hob until heated through. You could also put them in a preheated oven for around 10 minutes.

    Can you cook sweet and sour meatballs in the slow cooker?

    Yes, this works really well in a slow cooker. You will need to fry the meatballs first, to brown the outside of them and then put them in the slow cooker with the sweet and sour sauce. Cook on high for 3 hours.

    Can you fry the meatballs instead of baking?

    We naked the meatballs for a healthier twist, however there is no reason why they couldn't be fried - they would get nice and crispy that way. Just make sure to use a meat thermometer to make sure that they are cooked all the way through.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • You could make this spicier by adding a sprinkling of red chilli flakes before serving.
    • To make sure you have even sized meatballs (this will help them all to cook evenly), use an ice cream scoop to scoop out the mixture.
    • Once you have rolled the meatballs in to ball shape, put them in the fridge for 30 minutes - this will help them to keep their shape when they are baking in the oven.
    • You can swap the chicken breast for boneless and skinless chicken thighs when making the meatballs - they will be much juicier.

    If you’ve tried this chicken meatball recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Sweet and sour meatballs in a bowl with rice and chopped spring onions.

    Sweet and Sour Meatballs

    Instead of reaching for the Chinese takeaway menu, try making this super easy, and healthier, sweet and sour sauce and making these Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs.
    4.96 from 41 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Chinese, Fusion, Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Refrigerating time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cracked egg.
    Eggs
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    Gluten
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    Meat
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    Soya
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 480kcal
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    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 300 g Chicken breast - ground in to mince
    • 2 portion Homemade sweet and sour sauce
    • 3 Shallots - finely diced
    • 0.5 teaspoon Chinese five spice
    • 2 Garlic clove - crushed
    • 30 g Fresh ginger - grated
    • 1 Egg
    • 50 g Panko breadcrumbs
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • 1 Green bell pepper - chopped
    • 100 g Pineapple chunks
    • 1 tablespoon Sesame oil
    • sesame seeds - (for serving)
    • Spring onion (Scallion) - (for serving)

    Instructions

    • Grind the chicken breasts up. Add to a bowl with shallots, five spice, garlic, ginger, egg, panko and salt and pepper. Mix in to meatballs. Refrigerate for 15 mins. 
    • Put on a baking tray and bake for 12-15 mins until cooked through. 
    • heat oil in a pan and add the peppers and cook for 4 mins. Add cooked meatballs, pineapple and sweet and sour sauce. Heat through.
    • Serve over rice.

    Notes

    • You could make this spicier by adding a sprinkling of red chilli flakes before serving.
    • To make sure you have even sized meatballs (this will help them all to cook evenly), use an ice cream scoop to scoop out the mixture.
    • Once you have rolled the meatballs in to ball shape, put them in the fridge for 30 minutes - this will help them to keep their shape when they are baking in the oven.
    • You can swap the chicken breast for boneless and skinless chicken thighs when making the meatballs - they will be much juicier.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 677mg | Potassium: 1102mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 461IU | Vitamin C: 61mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 4mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris Collins

      November 18, 2020 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      I never thought of using meatballs with sweet and sour sauce! Looks so delicious!

      Reply
    2. Wayne

      November 16, 2020 at 8:38 pm

      5 stars
      My wife made this for dinner and it was so delicious! We loved this recipe! Can't wait to have this again!

      Reply
    3. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

      November 16, 2020 at 8:02 pm

      5 stars
      Sweet and sour is one of my favorite chinese dishes and your meatballs look so tender and flavorful! Can't wait to make this one!

      Reply
    4. Michelle

      November 16, 2020 at 7:49 pm

      5 stars
      Our family's favorite take-out in meatball form. You are genius!

      Reply
    5. Irina

      November 16, 2020 at 7:28 pm

      5 stars
      I am falling in love with this new favorite. I made it and cannot stop eating. The flavor and the taste are beyond delicious!

      Reply
    6. Beth

      November 16, 2020 at 2:18 pm

      5 stars
      My husband is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to give this a try! So excited!

      Reply
    7. Jen

      November 16, 2020 at 2:07 pm

      5 stars
      You’re definitely right about it being worth it to make your own meatballs. The flavor is just amazing!!

      Reply
    8. Kate

      November 16, 2020 at 1:51 pm

      5 stars
      Love all the flavours in these, great idea to make your own rather than reaching for the takeaway menu! Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    9. Jess

      November 16, 2020 at 1:18 pm

      5 stars
      I love that this sweet and sour sauce comes together in less than 10 minutes!

      Reply
    10. Gina

      November 16, 2020 at 11:37 am

      5 stars
      Sweet and sour sauce is my favorite Chinese takeout item! Love that you can get all that flavor at home in a healthier version!

      Reply
    11. Alison

      September 26, 2016 at 9:57 am

      5 stars
      This looks lovely. I never realized National Rice week was a thing. Will have to remember next year

      Reply
    12. Tandy I Lavender and Lime

      September 24, 2016 at 6:24 am

      5 stars
      I cannot eat that late at night. Hope you meet some great people at the antenatal classes.

      Reply
    13. Georgia

      September 23, 2016 at 10:44 pm

      5 stars
      Ooh this looks yummy, I will definitely be making this soon, we've got into such a rut with our meals and I need something that's a firm takeaway favourite! Fab recipe!

      Reply
    14. Anna @AnnaTheApple

      September 23, 2016 at 2:37 pm

      I used to eat sweet and sour chicken (from a jar) all the time when I was a child. I never get Chinese takeaways tho - it's always an Indian for me. But this sounds so fresh and tasty. Probably nothing like my oldschool dinners ;-)

      Reply
    15. Joanna

      September 23, 2016 at 2:33 pm

      These look delicous I love sweet and sour chicken

      Reply
    16. Sarah Ann

      September 23, 2016 at 7:16 am

      5 stars
      This sounds (and looks( so delicious! I love meatballs so need to try these. x

      Reply
    17. Rachel

      September 22, 2016 at 9:57 pm

      Wow. This looks delicious! I absolutly love sweet and sour chicken so I'll be making this! xo

      Reply
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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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