Name: Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs ground turkey; 2 eggs; 1 cup breadcrumbs (I used crushed Simple Mills almond flour crackers); 1/4 cup finely diced white onion; 2 cloves garlic; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1 tbsp arrowroot powder (or cornstarch); 1/2 cup pineapple juice; 1/2 cup coconut sugar; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1/3 cup ketchup; 1 tsp minced garlic

Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs are tender baked turkey meatballs coated in a sticky homemade sweet and sour sauce made with pineapple juice, coconut sugar, soy sauce, and ketchup. They're ready in 30 minutes and work as a party appetizer or an easy dinner over rice, just like my Thai turkey meatballs with peanut sauce and cranberry turkey meatballs.

A Quick Look

Recipe Name: Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ready In: 30 minutes
Serves: 28 meatballs
Main Ingredients: Meatballs, ground turkey, eggs, breadcrumbs, finely diced white onion, garlic, salt, pepper
Why You'll Love It: Satisfy all of your flavor cravings with these Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs! Made with turkey and a delicious pineapple juice, coconut sugar, and soy sauce glaze.

Jump to:

Easy Baked Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients Needed To Make These Sweet and Sour Meatballs
How to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Erin's Expert Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Storing leftovers
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Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Easy Baked Sweet and Sour Meatballs

These meatballs always disappear first at parties, and they make a fantastic weeknight dinner too! Ground turkey keeps them lean and tender, and they bake right on a sheet pan, so there's no frying or messy stovetop splatter. While they're in the oven, the sauce simmers on the stove in just a few minutes.

The homemade sweet and sour sauce is what makes them so addictive. Pineapple juice, coconut sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, and garlic cook down into a glossy, tangy glaze that's lighter than store-bought jarred sauce. If you love saucy meatballs, my healthy buffalo chicken meatballs are another crowd favorite.

Serve them with toothpicks for game day and holiday parties, or spoon them over rice with veggies for an easy dinner. And if you need more easy meatball recipes like this one, you're going to LOVE my Easy Turkey Meatballs or my Butter Chicken Meatballs!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Lean and juicy. Ground turkey keeps them light, with 9 grams of protein per meatball.
Baked, not fried. They cook on one sheet pan for easy cleanup.
Homemade sauce. A quick sweet and sour glaze made with pineapple juice and coconut sugar.
Ready in 30 minutes. The sauce simmers while the meatballs bake.
Party or dinner. Serve them as an appetizer with toothpicks or over rice for a full meal.

Ingredients Needed To Make These Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Here's a little bit about everything that goes into these sweet and sour meatballs:

Ground turkey: Keeps the meatballs lean and tender. Ground chicken or beef work too.
Breadcrumbs: I love using crushed Simple Mills almond flour crackers for a gluten-free option, but regular or panko breadcrumbs work too.
Eggs: Hold the meatballs together so they keep their shape while baking.
White onion: Finely diced for flavor and moisture in every bite.
Pineapple juice: The "sweet" in sweet and sour, with a bright, tropical tang.
Coconut sugar: A less-refined sweetener that gives the sauce a rich, caramel-like flavor.
Soy sauce and ketchup: Add savory depth and that classic tangy sweet and sour flavor.

How to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix the ground turkey, eggs, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper by hand, roll into about 28 meatballs, and bake until cooked through.

While the meatballs bake, whisk the sauce ingredients together in a saucepan and let them simmer until thick and glossy. Toss or brush the warm meatballs with the sauce and serve them right away!

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients by hand. Roll into about 28 meatballs and place them on the baking sheet.

Step 3: Bake for 16-18 minutes, until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

Step 4: While the meatballs bake, add the sauce ingredients to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to medium and whisk often for at least 5 minutes, until thickened.

Step 5: Trim away any rendered fat from the meatballs.

Step 6: Pour or brush the sauce over the meatballs until coated. Serve right away.

erin antoniak in the kitchen giving expert tips on how to make her recipes

Erin's Expert Tips

Mix by hand. It's the best way to evenly combine everything without overworking the turkey, which keeps the meatballs tender.
Size them how you want them. These meatballs don't shrink much while baking, so roll them to your desired final size.
Let the sauce simmer. Give it at least 5 minutes to thicken. It will keep thickening as it cools.
Wet your hands. Slightly damp hands keep the mixture from sticking while you roll.
Use a meat thermometer. Pull the meatballs once they hit 165°F so they stay juicy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some common questions about these sweet and sour meatballs.

This homemade sweet and sour sauce is made with pineapple juice, coconut sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, and arrowroot powder or cornstarch to thicken it.

Yes! Ground chicken, beef, or a plant-based ground meat all work in place of turkey.

Yes. Bake the meatballs first, then add them to a slow cooker with the sauce and keep them on the warm setting. It's a great way to serve them at parties.

Yes! Mix and roll the raw meatballs, freeze them, then thaw and bake as directed. Make the sauce fresh when you're ready to serve.

They can be! Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed almond flour crackers, and swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.

Serve them as an appetizer with toothpicks, or make it a meal with white rice, cauliflower rice, and steamed broccoli or snap peas.

Storing leftovers

Store leftover sweet and sour meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat them in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or pineapple juice if the sauce has thickened too much. To get ahead, you can mix and roll the raw meatballs, freeze them, then thaw and bake as directed.

If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!

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Erin Antoniak