Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Easy and comforting, these Sweet & Sour Meatballs are a perfect quick dinner!

These meatballs are tender and melt-in-your-mouth. I love that they don't fall apart like many other super soft meatballs. They stay together while being tossed with the delicious sauce. 

Of course, you can double this recipe and coat them all in sauce. Freeze half for another day! They're just as good. 

If you don't have rice vinegar on hand, lime juice is delicious with this! Of course, any other mild tasting vinegar, such as apple cider, works too.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Makes about 40 meatballs

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• olive oil
• Sweet & Sour Sauce, recipe below

Sweet & Sour Sauce (Makes a lot of sauce; can be halved to not be too saucy)

• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 to 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (lime juice is a delicious substitute)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard
• hot sauce, to taste (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 F

Add a thin layer of olive oil to a skillet. Heat over medium heat and add onion and garlic. Cook until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. 

Pulse oats in a blender/food processor quickly until broken up slightly, but not powdery. Add to a large bowl. Add egg, milk, spices (garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper) Stir to combine. Add the cooled onion and garlic mixture along with the ground beef. Stir until just combined. 

Scoop by the tablespoon onto a foil-lined cookie sheet and roll into balls. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until cooked through. 

Add all sauce ingredients to a large sauce pan or skillet. Bring to a boil for about 2 to 3 minutes, then reduce to medium heat. Cook for about 2 minutes or until thickened slightly. Turn off the heat then add meatballs and toss to coat. Serve and enjoy!