Description
Cocktail Meatballs with Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce are a perfectly balanced appetizer featuring juicy beef and pork meatballs baked to golden perfection and tossed in a tangy, sweet, and savory homemade sauce. Soaking the breadcrumbs in grated onion adds extra moisture and flavor, creating irresistible tender meatballs. This recipe is ideal for gatherings, easy to prepare ahead, and best served with toothpicks for convenient dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ onion, grated
- 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
- ½ cup / 100 g brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- ¼ cup / 65 ml tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Finely chopped chives for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C / 430°F for a standard oven or 200°C / 390°F if using a fan/convection oven to ensure ideal baking conditions.
- Prepare Breadcrumb Mixture: Grate the onion into a large bowl using a box grater. Add the panko breadcrumbs and mix well to coat the breadcrumbs with onion moisture. Allow this mixture to soak for a few minutes to keep the meatballs juicy.
- Combine Meatball Ingredients: Add the beef mince, pork mince, egg, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and cornflour to the soaked breadcrumbs and onion mixture. Use your hands to mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly combined.
- Shape Meatballs: Using level tablespoons, scoop out portions of the mixture and place them on a work surface. Roll each portion quickly into a smooth, round meatball.
- Prepare Baking Tray: Place a rack on a baking tray (optional but recommended to promote even cooking). Generously spray the rack with oil to prevent sticking. Arrange the meatballs on the rack, ensuring they are spaced out.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the meatballs are browned and cooked through. Remove from the oven and immediately transfer the meatballs into a large bowl to prevent sticking on the tray.
- Make and Toss with Sauce: Drizzle enough of the prepared sweet & sour dipping sauce over the hot meatballs to coat them evenly. Gently toss the meatballs to combine the flavors thoroughly.
- Serve: Transfer the tossed meatballs to a serving bowl or plate. Garnish with finely chopped chives. Serve with toothpicks and the remaining dipping sauce on the side for easy enjoyment.
Notes
- These meatballs reheat exceptionally well, making them perfect for gatherings or make-ahead meals.
- Using a combination of beef and pork adds flavor and juiciness to the meatballs.
- Soaking breadcrumbs in grated onion is a clever technique borrowed from classic meatball recipes to keep them tender and moist.
- Serving the meatballs with toothpicks makes them convenient finger food at parties.
- You can use a rack on the baking tray to help the meatballs cook evenly and avoid sticking, but this is optional.
- Adjust the brown sugar in the sauce to suit your preferred sweetness level.
- For best results, serve the meatballs immediately after tossing with the sauce to enjoy their full flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 meatballs (approx. 60 g)
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
