Mom’s Best Oven-Baked Sweet and Sour Meatballs

This sweet and sour meatball recipe is very near to my heart because it transports me back to a million warm gatherings at in my mama’s kitchen – baby showers, New Year’s Eves, birthdays. So many cozy times around my that well-loved family dining table. See, some incarnation of sweet and sour meatballs are always on the menu when mom hosts parties, along with her to-die-for dry garlic ribs.

I partnered with Tropicana Canada to bring you this recipe. I used Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice as the base for the sauce (it has nothing but the yummy juice of fresh oranges – only one ingredient).

I made them recently for my book club (which I call “cook club” because I’m unapologetically there for the food – and company, of course – but not so much the literature) and everyone loved them.

Hand-picked: Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

We had them again for dinner the next day and I’ve made them twice again since. It makes a large batch, big enough for a party, but the meatballs are equally wonderful at home on the dinner table (more on this later).

Feel free to halve the recipe, but I recommend you make the whole thing and freeze leftovers. Future you will be very happy you did.

How to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs

When it comes to making sweet and sour meatballs, there are two main camps: those who are die-hard crockpot/pressure cooker fans, and those who use the stovetop to heat their sticky sweet and sour sauce to perfection.

I prefers the latter.

Here’s how to make the most heavenly sweet and sour meatballs:

1. Add ingredients for meatballs to a bowl and combine
2. Form meatballs and bake in the oven on a parchment-lined sheet
3. Simmer sweet and sour meatballs sauce 
4. Bring sauce a boil, reduce heat and add meatballs

How to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs Sauce

Using the direct heat of the stovetop really coaxes some beautifully rich flavours out of the onion, garlic and ginger.

This makes for a sweet and sour sauce with more depth and full flavours than you’d achieve in the slow and low environment of a crockpot.

Here’s how to make sticky, flavourful sweet and sour meatballs sauce: 

1. Sautee onions, garlic and ginger in a heavy saucepan, seasoning with salt to pull water from the onions and deepen the flavour
2. Add orange juice, ketchup and brown sugar and bring sweet and sour sauce to a simmer
3. Whisk cornstarch into sauce until smooth to thicken
4. Bring sweet and sour sauce to a boil, then simmer for another 10 minutes until thickened 
5. Taste and season accordingly

What to Serve with Sweet and Sour Meatballs

For Entertaining

Planning to entertain a crowd with a spread of tempting appetizers? These delicious sweet and sour meatballs would be just stellar alongside any one of my favourite finger foods:

Easy Sour Cream Spinach Dip

Heavenly Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip

Baked Brie with Cranberry-Ginger Chutney

Mini Mozzarella Sticks with Jalapeno Ranch

For Dinner

Throwing these sticky sweet and sour meatballs together for an easy weeknight meal? They are delicious served atop steamed rice, noodles or mashed potatoes with a side of veggies or crisp salad.

However you choose to serve this recipe, I truly hope you enjoy! From my kitchen to yours.