The Best Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs

Water chestnuts and green onions give an Asian twist to our family's sweet and sour meatballs. This recipe has been a closely guarded family secret for over 20 years, we make them every Christmas and they're always a hit. I've decided they're too good not to share.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 288 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups white sugar
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• ½ cup soy sauce
• 1 cup ketchup
• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 2 bunches green onion, chopped
• 2 cups white vinegar
• soy sauce to taste
• 5 pounds bulk Italian sausage
• 2 (8 ounce) cans water chestnuts, drained and chopped
• 2 ½ cups fine dry bread crumbs

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Place the sausage in a large bowl and mix in the chestnuts, green onion, 1/2 cup of soy sauce, eggs, garlic powder, and breadcrumbs. Roll the mixture into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls and place on a broiler pan. Bake in the oven for 1 hour. When done, place the meatballs in a slow cooker.

Step 3

While meatballs are cooking, prepare the sweet and sour sauce by stirring together the sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Pour in vinegar, pineapple juice, ketchup, and soy sauce to taste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until thickened. Pour sauce over meatballs, and keep warm in the slow cooker.