Two meatballs in a white plate with a reddish brown sweet and sour sauce with fancy bamboo tooth picks sticking out of the meatballs with a white bowl in the background filled with more sweet and sour meatballs on a green place mat

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Tender baked meatballs simmered in a tangy sweet and sour sauce

This is one of those recipes that have been bouncing around my in-laws family for years and years

I first tried these 27 years ago (yes, I’m getting old)

Whether these were made by Grandma Mary, Aunt Liz or my wife, they are always a New Year’s Eve, Super Bowl or cocktail party staple

In fact I’m sure this recipe is one that my niece Megan and my daughter Marin will make for their families one day

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Best part?

They are pretty easy to make

Let’s start with the meat

Since this is a party appetizer we are using 3 pounds of ground turkey

You can certainly use whatever ground meat you choose or even a mix

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Next we will need 1 cup of breadcrumbs, 2 eggs whisked, 1 small onion finely chopped (we used a chopper), 1 tablespoon of Gravy Master,  about 1/2 cup of fresh chopped parsley and 1 teaspoon each of kosher salt and ground black pepper

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Add all of these ingredients to the ground meat

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Using your hands gently mix all the ingredients together

You can use more breadcrumbs if the mixture isn’t binding

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Preheat your oven to 350 F

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper sprayed with cooking oil

Start scooping the meatballs out using a cookie scoop

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Gently roll the meatballs between your palms to form them

This yielded 58 cocktail sized meatballs

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Place the meatballs into the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the meatballs are browned and firm to the touch

Remove and set aside

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While the meatballs are cooking we can get the sweet and sour sauce ready

We will need need 18 ounces of chili sauce and 16-18 ounces of grape jelly depending on how sweet you want it

We will also need 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire Sauce

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Add the ingredients to a saucepan

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Whisk everything together

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Bring the sauce to a light boil over medium low heat then reduce and simmer 10 minutes whisking occasionally until you form a rich smooth sauce

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Now this next step can be done right in the sauce pan

Add the meatballs to the pot and bring to a low simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes

You can also do this in a slow cooker which is what I’m going to do

I’m using my Instant Pot because I can saute the meatballs and store them in the pot to bring with me to our get together

I like to add some sauce to the pot, then meatballs then sauce, etc. to get an even coating

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Once they are all in gently fold them together

Turn on the saute function on low and bring the meatballs to a simmer

Cook for 20-25 minutes

At this point they are ready to serve or you can reheat them at a later time for serving

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Serve and watch these sweet and sour party meatballs just disappear!

Two meatballs in a white plate with a reddish brown sweet and sour sauce with fancy bamboo tooth picks sticking out of the meatballs with a white bowl in the background filled with more sweet and sour meatballs on a green place mat

Enjoy!!!

Simply Sundays! ~ Sweet & Sour Meatballs

  • Servings: 58 Meatballs
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Ingredients

For the meatballs

3 pounds of ground turkey

1 cup of breadcrumb (more as needed)

2 eggs whisked

1 small onion finely chopped

1/2 cup of fresh chopped parsley

1 tablespoon of Gravy Master

1 teaspoon each of kosher salt and ground black pepper

For the sauce

18 ounces of chili sauce

16-18 ounces of grape jelly

3 tablespoons of Worcestershire Sauce

Directions

For the meatballs

Place 3 pounds of ground turkey in a large bowl.  Add in 1 cup of breadcrumbs, 2 eggs whisked, 1 small onion finely chopped( we used a chopper), 1 tablespoon of Gravy Master,  about 1/2 cup of fresh chopped parsley and 1 teaspoon each of kosher salt and ground black pepper

Using your hands gently mix all the ingredients together.  You can use more breadcrumbs if the mixture is binding.  Preheat your oven to 350 F.  Line a sheet pan with parchment paper sprayed with cooking oil

Start scooping the meatballs out using a cookie scoop.  Gently roll the meatballs between your palms to form them.  This yielded 58 cocktail sized meatballs.  Place the meatballs into the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the meatballs are browned and firm to the touch.  Remove and set aside

For the sauce

In a saucepan combine 18 ounces of Chili Sauce, 16-18 ounces of grape jelly (depending on how much sweet you want) and 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire Sauce.  Whisk the ingredients together.  Bring the sauce to a light boil over medium low heat the reduce and simmer 10 minutes whisking occasionally until you form a rich smooth sauce

Now this next step can be done right in the saucepan.  Add the meatballs to the pot and bring to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes.  You can also do this in a slow cooker which is what I’m going to do.  I’m using my Instant Pot because I can saute the meatballs and store them in the pot to bring with me to our get together

I like to add some sauce to the pot, then meatballs then sauce, etc to get an even coating. Once they are all in gently fold them together.  Turn on the saute function on low and bring the meatballs to a simmer.  Cook for 20-25 minutes.  At this point they are ready to serve or you can reheat them at a later time for serving

Tools used to make this recipe

Cookie Scoop

Architec Carving Board, Gripperwood

KitchenAid 3-Speed Hand Blender

Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer

Mini Prep Glass Bowl

Pyrex Mixing Bowl

Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Paper

Wilton Recipe Right Non-stick Cookie Sheet Set, 2-Piece

© Simply Sundays 2016
All rights reserved

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