• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
freebie! download my top 8 dessert recipe ebook

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Erin Lives Whole

Healthy Eats + Delicious Treats

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Dessert
      • Soup
      • Sides
      • Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Sauces & Dips
    • Dessert Type
      • Bars & Balls
      • Breads & Muffins
      • Brownies
      • Cakes
      • Candy
      • Cookies
      • Frozen
      • Pie & Cobbler
      • Other
    • Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Nut-Free
      • Paleo Friendly
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Method
      • 30 Minute or Less
      • Air Fryer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • Meal Prep
      • No Bake
      • One Pot/Pan
      • Oven
      • Stove Top
    • Season
      • Fall
      • Holiday
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • All Recipes
  • Ebooks
  • Shop
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
  • Subscribe to receive latest recipes

    Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

  • Browse by Diet
    • Gluten-Free
    • Dairy-Free
    • Nut-Free
    • Paleo Friendly
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch & Dinner
  • Drinks
  • Snacks
  • Dessert
  • Appetizers
Home By Diet Dairy-Free

Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs

★★★★★ 9 Reviews Recipe Print
df nf
By: ErinPosted: 12/3/20Updated: 12/6/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

healthier sweet and sour turkey meatballs
healthier sweet and sour turkey meatballs

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.

sweet and sour meatballs

Sweet and sour just met a whole new level

Do you ever find yourself craving sweet and sour chicken from your favorite local restaurant? Something about that flavor combo is just ridiculously satisfying!

Well, make room for this new dish and you’ll see yourself craving it just as much as that chicken. And just think – you can make it right in your kitchen! What’s not to love about Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs?

This meatball recipe is savory, juicy, and obviously sweet and sour. It’s made with a turkey and onion base and topped with a delicious sauce consisting of pineapple juice, coconut sugar, and more!

These meatballs make the perfect dish for Game Day and are wonderful for taking to potlucks. Trust me, they’re sure to become a new crowd favorite.

sweet and sour meatballs

Ingredients included in these meatballs

We’re using two sections of ingredients for this recipe: the meatball fixings, and the sweet and sour sauce items. Only 12 ingredients in total… it’s gonna be good.

Meatballs:

  • Ground turkey: Ground turkey will work as the base of our meatballs. You’ll need about 2 pounds for this recipe.
  • Eggs: Next up, grab 2 eggs. These add to the flavor while also working as a binding agent.
  • Breadcrumbs: Next up, breadcrumbs will be used to thicken and form the meatballs. You can use whatever you have; I used crushed Simple Mills almond flour crackers.
  • White onion: Dice up 1/4 cup of white onion. Don’t be afraid to throw in a little extra!
  • Garlic: Add two cloves of garlic for flavor, obviously!
  • Salt: 1/2 tsp of salt will be just enough.
  • Pepper: Last but not least, add 1/4 tsp of pepper!

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

  • Arrowroot powder: 1 tbsp of arrowroot powder will help to thicken up the sauce.
  • Pineapple juice: Next up, achieve that desired sweetness with the addition of 1/2 cup of pineapple juice!
  • Coconut sugar: Add 1/2 cup of coconut sugar for extra sweet flavor.
  • Soy sauce: Add 2 tbsp of soy sauce, because what is sweet and sour sauce without soy sauce?!
  • Ketchup: 1/3 cup of ketchup will add a unique tanginess.
  • Garlic: Finally, add 1 tsp minced of mined garlic, and your sauce is complete!
sweet and sour meatballs in pan

Items you’ll need to make this meatball recipe

This recipe is simple and only requires about 7 kitchen tools (plus measuring cups). You’ll need items to chop your veggies, mix your meatball ingredients, warm your sauce, and measure everything out!

  • Cutting board
  • Chopping knife
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Sauce pan
  • Whisk

Finally, you’ll need the following sized measuring cups, 1/4 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.

How to make healthier sweet and sour meatballs

This recipe begins by mixing all of the meatball ingredients in a bowl. From there, just bake, coat in the sweet and sour sauce, and enjoy!

To begin, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix the turkey meatball ingredients with your hands. Roll the mix into balls and place them on a baking sheet. They won’t shrink too much, so make them the approximate size that you’re aiming for. My mix made 28 meatballs.

Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.

Remove any fat that may spill out.

While baking, heat all of the sweet and sour ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Let bubble and reduce the heat to medium, whisking often. Let simmer for at least 5 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened. It will continue to thicken as it sits.

Cover the meatballs with sauce. You can pour it over or brush it on.

Serve immediately.

sweet and sour meatballs with dip

Ingredient swap options

Have a few items that you’d like to use instead? Check this list for easy substitute options!

Ground turkey
Looking to use something other than turkey? Easy! Use whichever ground meat you’d like. Chicken and beef will both work, and you can also use plant-based ground meats.

Breadcrumbs
For breadcrumbs, I mentioned that I used almond flour crackers, but you can use whichever type you have! Toasted, fresh, panko… they’ll all work!

White onion
I love white onion in this recipe, but you can use yellow or red too.

Coconut sugar
Finally, you can use any sugar you’d like in the sweet and sour mix, including white sugar.

Preparing this recipe ahead of time

This is a great prep-ahead recipe for use at a later date. Just mix the meatball ingredients, form, and then store in the freezer.

When the day comes and you’re ready to enjoy them, just remove from the freezer, thaw, mix your sweet and sour sauce, and then cook everything as directed!

How to store healthier sweet and sour meatballs

Keep any leftover meatballs in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days. Don’t forget to make sure the container is nice and sealed!

More meatball recipes to try

It’s football season, which means meatballs are a must! Here are some more mouth-watering variations to try out next Football Sunday.

  • Thai Turkey Meatballs with Peanut Sauce
  • Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
  • Easy Turkey Meatballs (Gluten-Free)
sweet and sour meatballs with dip

Recipe by Erin Morrissey + Photos by Quarter Soul Crisis

sweet and sour meatballs with dip
★★★★★ 5 from 9 reviews

Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs

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.

Prep: 10Cook: 20Total: 30 minutes
Yield 28 meatballs 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 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

Sweet and Sour Sauce

  • 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

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together all turkey meatball ingredients with hands. Roll into balls and place on baking sheet. Meatballs don’t shrink too much, so make them the approx. size you want. Mine made 28.
  3. Bake for 16-18 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165F.
  4. Some fat may spill out (white) but just trim it off/wipe it away from the meatballs.
  5. While baking, heat all sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Let bubble and reduce heat to medium, whisking often. Let simmer for at least 5 minutes or until mixture has thickened. It will continue to thicken as it sits.
  6. Cover meatballs with sauce, you can pour it directly on or you can brush it on.
  7. Serve immediately. Store in fridge.
Author: ErinCategory: holiday, dinner, side dish, appetizerMethod: ovenCuisine: AsianDiet: Gluten Free
sweet and sour meatballs with dip

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

erinliveswhole

There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

You May Also Like...

  • Thai Turkey Meatballs with Peanut Sauce
  • easy turkey meatballs in a skillet
    Easy Turkey Meatballs (Gluten-free)
  • healthy sweet potato casserole
    Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Crispy Baked Chili Lime Sweet Potato Fries
free ebook

get my free top 8 desserts ebook!

A dessert lover’s heaven – six healthier sweet treats all made with six ingredients or less!

download now

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Previous Post
Next Post

Primary Sidebar

Hey there!

I’m Erin. Creator of Erin Lives Whole, a food blog with delicious and easy healthy recipes that will leave you feeling good. We’ve got everything from wholesome baked goods to comforting savory dishes. I can’t wait to see what you whip up! Read More...

Shop My Grocery Downloads

Do you head to the grocery store and feel overwhelmed with all of the options? Well, I've created FIVE downloadable and printable grocery lists from five different and popular grocery stores. All of my absolute must haves from Whole Foods, Target, a regular grocer, Trader Joe's, and Costco!

Shop Now

Popular Posts

chickpea brownie on a tray

Chickpea Brownies

bite out of healthy cookie dough ball

Healthy Cookie Dough Balls

cauliflower wings on plate

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

pouring syrup on stack of oatmeal blender pancakes

Oatmeal Blender Pancakes

get my free top 8 desserts ebook!

A dessert lover’s heaven – six healthier sweet treats all made with six ingredients or less!

Download Now

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Trending Recipes

banana bread muffin on a rack

Paleo Banana Bread Muffins

cinnamon roll on plate

Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls

stack of baked blueberry oatmeal cups

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal Cups

cauliflower wings on plate

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Featured On

Get latest updates To your inbox!

Back to Top
© 2021 Erin Lives Whole
  • Privacy Policy
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled