These Sweet & Sour Plant-Based “Meatballs” with Garlic Green Beans are a delicious, less-than-one-hour weeknight meal that’s made on a sheet pan!
Growing up, one of my dad’s signature dishes was sweet and sour meatballs with rice. When I went plant-based I resigned to the fact that I’d probably never have them again- Until now.
I made these “meatballs” using Impossible™ Beef Made From Plants, which I love since it can easily be integrated into any of your favourite traditionally beef dishes, since it cooks, grills, and bakes like it! You’ll see from the photos that it looks like it too. I love having options like Impossible Beef on hand for when I’m craving a meal I used to have in my childhood and want an easy, delicious way to replicate it!
To make this dish we use Impossible Beef to make super simple meatballs, drizzle over a homemade sweet and sour sauce, then bake the “meatballs” with garlic green beans. I also made couscous for a grain since it only takes 5 minutes to make!
This dish comes together in less than an hour, making it a great weeknight meal option- It also would be a great recipe to meal prep ahead of a busy week since all components keep so well in the fridge. I love that this recipe is balanced and nourishing, with lots of plant-based protein from the Impossible Beef, veggies from the green beans, fiber and energizing carbohydrates from the couscous. Plus, the sweet and sour sauce makes it so flavorful!
Main ingredients
Impossible Beef: Meat made from plants! It cooks like real meat, meaning it’s super simple to use and versatile. It’s a great source of protein and iron, too!
Sweet & sour sauce: We make this using orange juice, ketchup, lime juice, soy sauce, ground ginger and garlic powder!
Couscous: For a quick cooking grain!
Green beans: For color, fiber and lots of nutrients!
How to make these Sweet & Sour Meatballs with Garlic Green Beans
- Preheat the oven to 450 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss your green beans in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Make the chia or flax egg by combining the chia or flax seeds with 2.5 tbsp of water in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Whisk together the sweet and sour sauce and set aside.
- Combine all ingredients for the “meatballs”. With clean hands, roll into balls, using about 3 tbsp of the mixture per ball. You should be left with 12 meatballs.
- Add olive oil to a non-stick pan over medium heat. Once hot, place meatballs on the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes until lightly golden brown, flipping half way through.
- Pour 1/4 cup of the sweet and sour sauce mixture into the pan and use a spoon to pour over the meatballs. Let reduce for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the meatballs from the heat. Place them on the baking sheet with the green beans. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping everything half way through.
- Meanwhile, cook the couscous by placing the dried couscous in a bowl and pouring 1 1/4 cup boiling water over top. Let sit for 5 minutes to cook.
- Using the same pan to cook the meatballs, pour the rest of the sweet and sour sauce in the pan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until reduced and slightly thickened.
- Once the meatballs and green beans are done cooking, plate with the couscous and pour the sweet and sour sauce over top. Serve and enjoy!
How to store leftovers
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Recipe notes
- Feel free to adjust the portions of the sweet and sour sauce to suit your tastebuds.
- Rice, farro, or quinoa would also work great as grains in this dish.
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do! If you make it make sure to share with me on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest!
Sweet and Sour Plant-Based "Meatballs" with Garlic Green Beans
Ingredients
For the Sweet & Sour Sauce
- 1 cup orange juice
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 1 ⅔ tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
For the Impossible Meatballs
- 340 grams Impossible Beef or 12 oz
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 1/4 cup large flake oats
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp chia or ground flax seeds for the chia/flax egg
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
For the Garlic Green Beans
- 380 grams green beans
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
For the Couscous
- 1 cup uncooked couscous
- 1¼ cup boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss your green beans in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Make the chia or flax egg by combining 1 tbsp of chia or ground flax seeds in a small bowl with 2.5 tbsp of water. Set aside
- Whisk together the sweet and sour sauce and set aside.
- Combine all ingredients for the "meatballs", including the chia or flax egg. With clean hands, roll into balls, using about 3 tbsp of the mixture per ball. You should be left with 12 meatballs.
- Add olive oil to a non-stick pan over medium heat. Once hot, place meatballs on the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes until lightly golden brown, flipping half way through.
- Pour 1/4 cup of the sweet and sour sauce mixture into the pan and use a spoon to pour over the meatballs. Let reduce for 2-3 minutes.Remove the meatballs from the heat. Place them on the baking sheet with the green beans. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping everything half way through.
- Meanwhile, cook the couscous by placing the dried couscous in a bowl and pouring 1 1/4 cup boiling water over top. Let sit for 5 minutes to cook.
- Using the same pan to cook the meatballs, pour the rest of the sweet and sour sauce in the pan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until reduced and slightly thickened.
- Once the meatballs and green beans are done cooking, plate with the couscous and pour the sweet and sour sauce over top. Serve and enjoy!
This blog post is kindly sponsored by Impossible Foods.
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