The Best Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Servings: 30
Yield: 30 servings

Description

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.

Ingredients

5 pounds bulk Italian sausage
2 (8 ounce) cans water chestnuts, drained and chopped
2 bunches green onion, chopped
1/2 cup soy sauce
3 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 1/2 cups fine dry bread crumbs
1 1/4 cups white sugar
6 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup ketchup
soy sauce to taste

Directions

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