Homemade Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Pineapple

Skip the frozen store-bought variety the next time you add meatballs to your meal plan and make this quick and easy freezer recipe instead! Homemade sweet and sour meatballs are topped with a sweet and tangy teriyaki inspired sauce to make this easy recipe. Prepare the dish ahead of time so it’s ready the next time you need a quick dinner or flavorful appetizer for a party!This recipe is homey in all the right ways. It’s a great family meal. By adding rice or cauliflower rice, you can have a complete dinner. Some of our other family friendly freezer to slow cooker meals include Beef and Barley Stew, Carne Guisada, and Chicken Cacciatore.

Homemade Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pounds ground beef, raw
• 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 2 tablespoons onion, minced
• 3 tablespoons MSG-free onion soup mix
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 can pineapple chunks
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/3 cup vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Assembly Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Add the ground beef, graham cracker crumbs, onion, onion soup mix, pepper, egg, and evaporated milk to a large bowl. Work the ingredients together until well combined, then form the mixture into balls.
3. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through.
4. While the meatballs are cooking, combine the pineapple chunks, green pepper, brown sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, and soy sauce to a large resealable freezer bag.
5. When the meatballs are finished baking, allow them to cool completely then transfer them to the bag with the sauce ingredients. Mix the sauce around the meatballs until they’re evenly coated.
6. Remove excess air from the bag and seal it closed.
7. Place the meatballs in the freezer until you’re ready to start cooking.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Transfer the meatballs to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
2. To prepare the meatballs in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour the contents of the bag into a baking dish and cover the pan. Bake for one hour.
3. To make the meatballs in the slow cooker, pour the contents of the bag into the bowl of the crockpot. Set the pot to cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours.

What Do You Put in Meatballs So They Don’t Fall Apart?

There’s nothing worse than taking the time to prepare meatballs only for them to fall apart as they bake! That’s why it’s important to make sure you have the correct ingredients mixed into your meatballs to keep them together while they cook.

The key to making the perfect meatballs is to use two essential binding ingredients in your meat mixture:

• Egg
• Breadcrumbs, including traditional breadcrumbs, graham cracker crumbs or even crushed crackers

The egg will provide moisture to your meatballs as they bake, while the breadcrumbs will help hold the meat together while it expands in the oven.

How Do You Store Meatballs with Pineapple?

This flavorful meatball recipe is sure to be a hit at dinner! That means you probably won’t have any leftovers to store! But if you do have a few left when dinner is over, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat them again. The meatballs will stay good for up to four days in the fridge.

To reheat the meatballs with pineapple, cook them in the microwave or heat them in a saucepan over medium low heat on the stovetop.

What to Serve with Homemade Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Pineapple?

Since this one-pot meal is made with meat, fruit, and vegetables, it’s a filling dinner all on its own. But there are a few side dishes you can serve with your meatballs to help round out the meal. Try adding these recipe ideas to your meal plan the next time you make this meatball dinner.

• White or jasmine rice
• Steamed vegetables, like broccoli or peas
• Side salads
• Mashed potatoes
• Cauliflower rice

Meatballs with Pineapple Recipe Ideas

You’re going to love how quick and easy this meatball recipe is! And with the help of these additions and substitution ideas, you can create an amazing meal that’s perfect for your family.

• Use frozen meatballs. Speed up the prep work of your dinner with the help of frozen meatballs. If you don’t have extra time on prep day, simply mix the sauce ingredients and add frozen meatballs to the bag. Store the mixture in the freezer until you’re ready to prepare this recipe.
• Try crushed pineapple. To add pineapple flavor to your sauce without large chunks of fruit, try mixing in crushed pineapple in place of pineapple chunks. Drain the crushed pineapple to remove excess juice, then mix it into the other sauce ingredients.
• Add some spice. This sweet and sour meatball recipe is perfect for families because of its mild flavor. But if you want to add some spice to the sauce, simply mix in some red pepper flakes. Start with one teaspoon and add more, as needed, until your desired spice level has been reached.

Print

Homemade Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: meatballs

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1/2 lbs. ground beef raw
• 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 2 Tbsp. onion minced
• 3 Tbsp. MSG-free onion soup mix
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• 15 oz. pineapple chunks drained
• 1 green bell pepper sliced
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1/3 cup vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.

2. Add the ground beef, graham cracker crumbs, onion, onion soup mix, pepper, egg, and evaporated milk to a large bowl. Work the ingredients together until well combined, then form the mixture into balls.

3. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through.

4. While the meatballs are cooking, combine the pineapple chunks, green pepper, brown sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, and soy sauce in a large resealable freezer bag.

5. When the meatballs are finished baking, allow them to cool completely then transfer them to the bag with the sauce ingredients. Mix the sauce around the meatballs until they’re evenly coated.

6. Remove excess air from the bag and seal.

7. Freeze.

Oven Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Preheat the oven to 350°. Pour the contents of the bag into a baking dish and cover. Bake for one hour.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Pour the contents of the bag into the crockpot. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours.