Sweet and Sour Ground Beef is a quick and easy dinner recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes. It’s hearty and delicious!
I love simple skillet meals like this one. Less dishes to wash is always a bonus. Black Bean Salsa Chicken and One Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff are two more of our favorite busy night dinner recipes.
I always love an easy recipe for a main dish that can be thrown together in one pot. This sweet and sour beef recipe fits the bill. I got it years ago from a co-worker, and it kind of got lost in my recipe book. Thankfully, I discovered it a few months ago and whipped it up. It was a bit hit with my family!
This meal is great for busy nights, because it is easy to keep warm or reheat if your family is running all different directions. It also makes great leftovers the next day. Hooray for easy meals!
If you like sweet and sour meatballs, you should give this recipe a try. It has similar flavor, but is much quicker to make. 🙂
How to Make Sweet and Sour Ground Beef
Ingredients needed:
- ground beef (I like to use lean)
- medium sized onion
- green pepper
- can of pineapple tidbits or chunks (I like tidbits if they are available)
- ketchup
- brown sugar
- tomato sauce
- condensed tomato soup
- rice
The rice actually takes longer to cook than the sauce, so I start it first.
You’ll be happy to know that rest of the dish is made all in one skillet. Brown the beef and onion, then drain off any grease. Pour in the rest of the ingredients and simmer for a few minutes. That’s it!
VARIATIONS:
-If you like your green peppers soft, add them before simmering. If you like them crunchy (like I do), stir them in right before serving.
-Feel free to use yellow or red peppers if that’s what you have. I like the color contrast of the green peppers, but all of them taste great. You can even use a combination if you prefer.
-We usually serve this over white or brown rice, but you could also serve it over hot cooked pasta or quinoa if you prefer.
How to store Sweet and Sour:
-Leftovers will keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I like to store the rice and meat mixture in separate containers, then add them to plates and heat up in the microwave.
-You can freeze the sauce, but I think it’s best to freeze it before adding the green peppers. They tend to turn a bit mushy in the freezer. Still edible, but not quite as fresh tasting. You can store it in an airtight container or freezer ziplock bag for up to 4 months.
MORE EASY BEEF DINNER RECIPES:
Ground Beef Sweet and Sour Recipe
Sweet and Sour Ground Beef
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 green pepper chopped
- 1 15 oz can pineapple chunks reserve juice
- ⅓ cup reserved pineapple juice
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 10 oz can condensed tomato soup
- 3 cups hot cooked white rice
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet with onion over medium high heat. Drain off any grease.
- Add remaining ingredients except rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Serve over hot cooked rice.
Notes
Nutrition
(originally published 9/23/13, updated December 2019)
See all my MAIN DISH RECIPES.
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I did this with some changes and I was blown away. Thank you for this recipe.
I set aside the meat after draining it.
I cooked chopped zucchini in a pan with a little oil for a minute and added the tomato sauce, tomato soup, ketchup, pieapple juice, and chunks. Once the sauce is ready, I then add the meat and cook it in slow. It was so glossy.
I’m excited to do it on other meat!
I love the idea of adding other vegetables – thanks for sharing your adaptation!
Made this for our seniors potluck. Received many compliments. But, my wife says her recipe is better LOL.
Haha, you’d probably better agree with your wife! 😉
This is amazing! So easy and flavorful! Perfect for weeknights!
Love that this is made with ground beef..it’s a nice change! SO many delicious flavors, that I could seriously eat every week!
Love it so simple and flavorful. Thanks for making my world easier.