Sweet and sour venison meatballs are super simple to make, they taste amazing and are really healthy too.
This is one of our family favorites.
I mean who doesn’t just love meatballs? Right?
This recipe is great with fresh venison and perfect for using stored frozen venison mince.
You can make the sweet and sour venison meatballs as a main meal or as an appetizer by simply adjusting the size of the meatballs.
There are 2 simple cooking methods:
- Low and slow venison meatballs in a crockpot.
- Quick venison meatballs baked in the oven. Perfect if you have a hungry family ready to eat
Sweet & Sour Venison Meatballs Ingredients
1. Meatballs
- 2lbs ground venison
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp minced garlic (sub garlic powder)
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons onion flakes (or powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Vegetable or Canola oil
2. Sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (sub garlic powder)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions
- 1 can (20z) pineapple chunks and juice
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
Making Your Sweet & Sour Venison Meatballs
Whenever I see recipes with preparation and cooking times for some reason it always takes me longer!
So here are the approximate times it takes me to make these delicious sweet and sour venison meatballs.
A little longer if the kids are helping to roll out the venison meatballs which they love to do!
- Prep Time:- 30mins.
- Cooking Time:- 3 hrs crockpot. OR 30 mins oven.
- Serves:- 4 -6 people depending on how hungry your are!
1. Make The Venison Meatballs
In a large bowl mix all of the meatball ingredients above. You can beat the eggs first but to be honest I do not bother with this. Use your hands and fingers to combine well.
- Tip: If you are grinding your own Venison see this review on The Best Deer Meat Grinders.
2. Roll Into Balls
Roll the mixture into balls around 1.5 inches. You can use an ice cream scoop to assist with this. Again I just use my hands. If you are making these for an appetizer roll them smaller about bite size.
- Tip: Wet your hands before rolling the venison meatballs.
- Tip: Do not worry too much about exact size they can really be any size that suits you. The important thing is to keep them all approximately the same size so they cook at the same time.
- Tip: I put my meatballs in the fridge while preparing the sauce. this helps the egg combine and set the meatballs so they do not split when browning in the skillet
3. Brown The Venison Meatballs
Brown the venison meatballs in a heavy skillet with some vegetable or canola oil. Turn gently as you are cooking.
Transfer to your crockpot or if baking in the oven put them in a greased casserole or baking dish.
(I simply grease with some canola oil)
- Tip: The venison meatballs should be well browned but it is not necessary to cook them all the way through.
4. Make The Sweet & Sour Sauce
There are 2 ways I cook my sweet and sour venison meatballs.
Either in a crockpot or if I want them quicker in the oven.
- Tip: The only real difference is when using the crockpot method I don’t cook the sauce first. When using the oven method I make the sauce first, before pouring over the meatballs.
5. Sauce Method: Venison Meatballs Crockpot
Mix all of the sauce ingredients above. (Except the pineapple pieces and pineapple juice).
Stir well so they are all combined.
Pour over the venison meatballs.
Cook on high for 2 hours in the crockpot.
Stir every 30 mins.
You can cook the venison meatballs for another hour or even 2 if you would like the sauce thicker.
Add pineapple pieces and juice for the last 30mins of cooking and stir through.
6. Sauce Method: Baked Venison Meatballs In Oven
Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all the sauce ingredients and stir well so they are all combined.
Heat slowly in a saucepan stirring as you go. Do not boil.
Pour over the meatballs and cook in the oven for 30 mins.
- Tip: You can take one out and cut in half to check its cooked through. If not leave for another 10 mins.
Serving Your Sweet & Sour Venison Meatballs
We like to have out sweet and sour venison meatballs served simply with fluffy Jasmine rice and some fresh vegetables on the side.
If you are making small appertizer sized venison meatballs simply put a toothpick in each cooked meatball.
Cooking Equipment
- Teaspoon, Tablespoon, Cup
- Mixing bowls
- Heavy skillet
- Cooking tongs
- Mixing spoons
- Saucepans
- Crockpot
- Oven baking or casserole dish
- Rice cooker (optional)
- Venison meat grinder (optional)
Enjoy
The family is sure to love these sweet and sour venison meatballs. So easy to make and delicious to eat. If there are any leftovers I think they taste even better the next day.
Venison is full of great health benefits. See this Wild Game Meat Nutrition Chart. Venison is a very lean meat and a great alternative to beef.
And by the way these meatballs also taste great if you are using beef!!
I hope you and your family enjoys these sweet and sour venison meatballs. You can find some more great Wild Game Meat Recipes By Clicking Here.
Some recipes you should definitely try are:
Homemade Elk Sausages; Elk Chili and 3 Easy Venison Breakfast Sausages Recipes.
So go on try it.
Get some venison and get meat-balling.