Sugar-Free Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Elevate your dinner game with these Sugar-Free Sweet and Sour Meatballs, a guilt-free twist on a classic favorite. Packed with robust flavors from garlic, ginger, and unsweetened pineapple juice, these tender meatballs are made using ground beef or turkey, almond flour, and a no-sugar-added tomato-based sauce. Perfect for health-conscious eaters, this recipe eliminates refined sugars while delivering the signature tangy-sweet flavor you love using natural ingredients like apple cider vinegar and coconut aminos. Ready in under an hour, these baked meatballs are seared to perfection for extra texture before simmering in the luscious sauce. Serve them over cauliflower rice or alongside steamed veggies for an irresistible low-carb, gluten-free meal that’s big on taste and nutrition.
Log this recipe in SnapCalorie
Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
- 1 large Egg
- 0.5 cup Almond flour
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 0.5 cup Pineapple juice (unsweetened, from canned or bottled)
- 0.25 cup Tomato paste (no sugar added)
- 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Soy sauce or coconut aminos (for gluten-free option)
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch (or arrowroot powder for grain-free option)
- 2 tablespoons Water
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, almond flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined but do not overmix, as it can make the meatballs tough.
Form the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
While the meatballs are baking, prepare the sugar-free sweet and sour sauce. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the unsweetened pineapple juice, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce or coconut aminos, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
Place the saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a simmer.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch or arrowroot powder with water to create a slurry. Slowly whisk the slurry into the sauce until it thickens to your desired consistency. Lower the heat to keep the sauce warm.
Once the meatballs are done baking, heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs to the skillet and sear them for 1-2 minutes on each side for extra flavor and texture.
Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the meatballs in the skillet, ensuring all the meatballs are well coated. Let everything simmer together for 3-5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve the meatballs hot, garnished with chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired. They pair wonderfully with steamed vegetables or over a bed of cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1971 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 151.0 g | 194% | |
| Saturated Fat | 44.1 g | 220% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 582 mg | 194% | |
| Sodium | 4295 mg | 187% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 57.2 g | 21% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 9.1 g | 32% | |
| Total Sugars | 21.8 g | ||
| Protein | 101.4 g | 203% | |
| Vitamin D | 2.1 mcg | 11% | |
| Calcium | 252 mg | 19% | |
| Iron | 14.6 mg | 81% | |
| Potassium | 2381 mg | 51% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
