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.
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.
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Why should you try it?
- A delicious takeaway alternative
- A twist on meatballs
- Uses our homemade healthy sweet and sour sauce
- Easy to adapt
- Freezes well
What you will need
- 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.
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 in to meatballs. Refrigerate for 15 mins.
Two: Put on a baking tray and bake for 12-15 mins until cooked through.
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.
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.
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.
FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recipe
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
- 300 g chicken breasts ground in to mince
- 2 portion Homemade sweet and sour sauce
- 3 shallots finely diced
- 0.5 teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 2 garlic cloves 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 (scallions) (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.
Chris Collins
I never thought of using meatballs with sweet and sour sauce! Looks so delicious!
Wayne
My wife made this for dinner and it was so delicious! We loved this recipe! Can't wait to have this again!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
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!
Michelle
Our family's favorite take-out in meatball form. You are genius!
Irina
I am falling in love with this new favorite. I made it and cannot stop eating. The flavor and the taste are beyond delicious!
Beth
My husband is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to give this a try! So excited!
Jen
You’re definitely right about it being worth it to make your own meatballs. The flavor is just amazing!!
Kate
Love all the flavours in these, great idea to make your own rather than reaching for the takeaway menu! Thanks for the recipe.
Jess
I love that this sweet and sour sauce comes together in less than 10 minutes!
Gina
Sweet and sour sauce is my favorite Chinese takeout item! Love that you can get all that flavor at home in a healthier version!
Alison
This looks lovely. I never realized National Rice week was a thing. Will have to remember next year
Tandy I Lavender and Lime
I cannot eat that late at night. Hope you meet some great people at the antenatal classes.
Georgia
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!
Anna @AnnaTheApple
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 ;-)
Joanna
These look delicous I love sweet and sour chicken
Sarah Ann
This sounds (and looks( so delicious! I love meatballs so need to try these. x
Rachel
Wow. This looks delicious! I absolutly love sweet and sour chicken so I'll be making this! xo