PALEO SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS

Sweet and sour meatballs are sort of an appetizer staple at any party. You can make the meatballs ahead of time and then just throw them into the pan with the sauce right before your guests arrive. If you want to keep the meatballs warm, you can use a crock pot set to low or warm and allow guests to grab them as they please.
Everyone likes different levels of sweet and sour in their sauce, so you should taste as you go and adjust the ingredient levels to your liking.
I usually make these as an appetizer, but they can also be served as a meal over cauliflower rice. If making as a meal, try adding some diced bell peppers and fresh diced pineapple to the sauce about 15 minutes before the meatballs are done cooking.
Everyone likes different levels of sweet and sour in their sauce, so you should taste as you go and adjust the ingredient levels to your liking.
I usually make these as an appetizer, but they can also be served as a meal over cauliflower rice. If making as a meal, try adding some diced bell peppers and fresh diced pineapple to the sauce about 15 minutes before the meatballs are done cooking.
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Ingredients:
FOR THE MEATBALLS:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 small onion, chopped small
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. bacon fat or coconut oil (for browing the meatballs)
FOR THE SAUCE:
- 1 cup grape jelly
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/8 cup raw honey, warmed (if you don't want your sauce overly sweet you can omit this)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (or more to taste)
- 1/4 tsp. allspice
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp. onion powder
Equipment:
- Cutting board
- Kitchen knife
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoon
- Large saucepan
- Kitchen tongs
- Stirring spoon
Directions:
FOR THE MEATBALLS:
1. Combine meatball ingredients (other than the bacon fat/coconut oil) into a large mixing bowl and combine by hand. Shape the meat into 1-inch balls.
2. Place a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the coconut oil or bacon fat. Gently brown the meatballs on all sides and set aside. Drain the fat from the pan.
FOR THE SAUCE:
1. Combine all of the sauce ingredients in the large saucepan over medium heat and stir to combine. Bring just to a boil, stirring frequently, and then reduce heat to low.
2. Taste the sauce and adjust the flavorings and seasonings to your taste. Add more raw honey to increase sweetness, and more vinegar to increase the sour flavor.
TO COOK THE MEATBALLS:
1. Add the browned meatballs to the large saucepan and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Stir the meatballs gently every so often.
2. Serve the meatballs with the sauce and some toothpicks. Enjoy!
FOR THE MEATBALLS:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 small onion, chopped small
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. bacon fat or coconut oil (for browing the meatballs)
FOR THE SAUCE:
- 1 cup grape jelly
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/8 cup raw honey, warmed (if you don't want your sauce overly sweet you can omit this)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (or more to taste)
- 1/4 tsp. allspice
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp. onion powder
Equipment:
- Cutting board
- Kitchen knife
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoon
- Large saucepan
- Kitchen tongs
- Stirring spoon
Directions:
FOR THE MEATBALLS:
1. Combine meatball ingredients (other than the bacon fat/coconut oil) into a large mixing bowl and combine by hand. Shape the meat into 1-inch balls.
2. Place a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the coconut oil or bacon fat. Gently brown the meatballs on all sides and set aside. Drain the fat from the pan.
FOR THE SAUCE:
1. Combine all of the sauce ingredients in the large saucepan over medium heat and stir to combine. Bring just to a boil, stirring frequently, and then reduce heat to low.
2. Taste the sauce and adjust the flavorings and seasonings to your taste. Add more raw honey to increase sweetness, and more vinegar to increase the sour flavor.
TO COOK THE MEATBALLS:
1. Add the browned meatballs to the large saucepan and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Stir the meatballs gently every so often.
2. Serve the meatballs with the sauce and some toothpicks. Enjoy!