Lana's Pineapple Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs
Lana's Pineapple Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs deliver juicy beef meatballs coated in a tangy-sweet glaze of pineapple, brown sugar, and vinegar. Bell pepper and carrot add bright crunch and color, making this a balanced crowd-pleaser. Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks or as a cozy dinner over steamed rice when you want something nostalgic yet lively.
- Prep35 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lana's Pineapple Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 37 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 55 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 24
- Heart Health
- 50
- Metabolic
- 19
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 35
- Performance
- 28
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a large rimmed baking sheet.
- 2
Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, mix ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, ginger, and pepper until fully combined. Shape into 1-inch meatballs and arrange them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- 3
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven; the meatballs will not be fully cooked.
- 4
Make the sauce: Pour pineapple juice into a 1-cup measuring cup. Add 1/4 cup water, or enough to make 1 cup total liquid. Set the pineapple chunks aside.
- 5
Pour the pineapple juice mixture into a large pot over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, 1/3 cup water, vinegar, and soy sauce, then stir in cornstarch, ginger, and seasoning salt. Cover and cook until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
- 6
Add the pineapple chunks, bell pepper, and carrot; gently stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce. Simmer, uncovered, until the meatballs are cooked through, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should register at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
- Calories 483.66 kcal High 24%
- Protein 23.95 g Good Source 48%
- Carbohydrate 41.45 g 15%
- Total Fat 24.76 g High 32%
- Saturated Fat 9.7 g High 49%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 139.0 mg High 46%
- Sodium 347.51 mg Moderate 15%
- Dietary Fiber 1.76 g Low Source 6%
- Total Sugars 20.59 g --
- Added Sugars 0.81 g Low Source 2%
- Calcium 46.59 mg Low Source 4%
- Iron 3.36 mg Moderate 19%
- Potassium 184.4 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 16.23 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 12.22 mg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin D 0.24 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Soy 🌱
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Lana's Pineapple Sweet and Sour Meatballs is made with 17 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, Brown Sugar, and Cornstarch. Each serving provides about 483.66 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lana's Pineapple Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, Brown Sugar, Cornstarch, Diced Carrots. The full list of 17 is above.
- How long does it take to make Lana's Pineapple Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs?
- About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 35 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 483.66 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lana's Pineapple Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Lana's Pineapple Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs healthy?
- Lana's Pineapple Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs has an easyChef Pro health score of 31/100. Per serving, it provides 483.66 calories and 23.95 g of protein, or 48% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 347.51 mg (15% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.7 g (49% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Corn and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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