Description
These Cocktail Meatballs with Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce are a delicious appetizer perfect for parties or snacks. Made with a mix of ground beef and pork, seasoned with garlic, onion, and Worcestershire sauce, then baked to golden perfection. The meatballs are tossed in a tangy, sweet and sour sauce made from apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce, creating a perfect balance of flavors. Garnished with fresh chives for a fresh finish, this easy-to-make recipe is sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ onion
- 250 g / ½ lb beef mince (ground beef)
- 250 g / ½ lb pork mince (ground pork)
- 1 egg
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch
Sweet & Sour Sauce
- ¼ cup / 65 ml water
- ½ cup / 125 ml apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup / 100 g brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- ¼ cup / 65 ml tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Garnish
- Finely chopped chives
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (430°F) for standard ovens or 200°C (390°F) if using a fan/convection oven to ensure it’s ready for baking the meatballs.
- Prepare Onion and Breadcrumbs: Grate the onion into a large bowl using a standard box grater. Add the panko breadcrumbs and mix well to coat the breadcrumbs with the onion’s moisture. Let the mixture soak for a few minutes to absorb flavors.
- Combine Meatball Ingredients: To the bowl with the soaked breadcrumbs and onion, add beef mince, pork mince, egg, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and cornflour. Mix everything thoroughly using your hands until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Shape Meatballs: Use level tablespoons to portion out the mixture onto your work surface. Quickly roll each portion into smooth balls using your hands for even cooking and a nice shape.
- Prepare Baking Tray: Place a rack on a baking tray (optional but recommended to allow even cooking). Spray the rack generously with oil to prevent sticking, then place the meatballs on the rack spaced evenly.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until they are nicely browned and cooked through. Once done, remove the tray from the oven and transfer the meatballs immediately to a large bowl to prevent sticking.
- Make Sweet & Sour Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, tomato ketchup, and soy sauce. Whisk the ingredients to combine, then bring to a simmer. Continue stirring and whisking regularly and let it simmer for about 3 minutes until the sauce thickens to a syrupy consistency or thicker if preferred.
- Toss Meatballs with Sauce: Pour enough sauce over the warm meatballs in the bowl to coat them evenly. Gently toss the meatballs to ensure every piece is glazed with the sweet and sour sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the coated meatballs to a serving bowl or plate. Garnish with finely chopped chives. Serve immediately with toothpicks and the remaining dipping sauce on the side for extra flavor.
Notes
- Using a rack on the baking tray helps cook the meatballs evenly and prevents sogginess.
- You can adjust the sweetness of the sauce by increasing or decreasing the amount of brown sugar according to your taste.
- Ground beef and pork combination adds great flavor and moisture to the meatballs but you can substitute with just one type of minced meat if preferred.
- Make sure to coat the rack or baking surface well with oil to avoid the meatballs sticking during baking.
- Serving these meatballs with toothpicks makes them perfect for parties and easy to eat as finger food.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cocktail meatballs, sweet and sour sauce, party appetizers, baked meatballs, easy meatball recipe
