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    Home » Pork

    Sweet and Sour Pork Kabobs

    Published: Jul 10, 2019 · Modified: Aug 24, 2023 by Sula · This post may contain affiliate links · 30 Comments

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    Sweet sour pork kabob pin.
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    When I think of favorite takeout meals, sweet and sour pork will always make the list. This delightful combination of succulent pork, vibrant vegetables, and a deliciously tangy sauce creates a wonderful meal on any occasion.

    Using these flavors to make a summertime meal make it easy for me to enjoy whenever I want. These sweet and sour pork kabobs preserve all the wonderful flavors, including that delicious sweet sauce, while using the grill to do the cooking.

    Plus you get all the fun of kabobs - because everybody loves getting their meal on a stick!

    sweet and sour pork kabobs cooking on the grill.
    Jump to:
    • For the love of Chinese takeout
    • Ingredients Needed
    • How to Make Sweet and Sour Pork Kabobs
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Delicious Ideas
    • 📖 Recipe

    For the love of Chinese takeout

    The first formal cooking class I took (aside from Junior High Home Economics) was for Chinese cooking. It was the 1980’s and I worked at a hospital that offered sports leagues and enrichment classes to employees. What fun!

    My co-workers and I, all lovers of Chinese take-out, signed up to learn how to make it ourselves, and we had a blast. But the real winners were the guys playing basketball in the same building. They worked in various departments of the hospital, and felt comfortable showing up at the door the minute they smelled us cooking. Nice guys, just kind of…. sweaty. We were glad to have some test subjects for our marvelous creations. 😀

    From that class, I saved a couple of recipes. One of them was sweet and sour pork. Over the years I’ve adapted the recipe and now use it three different ways. One is for making kabobs, a great way to get your fix for Chinese and to grill at the same time.

    Ingredients Needed

    Ingredients: pork, soy sauce, vinegar, sherry, sugar, ketchup, cornstarch, carrots, onion, green pepper.

    Choose your cut of meat

    I’ve used different cuts of pork for this – pork loin from chops or a roast are lean and work well, but more recently I’ve been using country-style ribs. They require a little more trimming, but they freeze well so I always have some on hand. A quick “go to.”

    How to Make Sweet and Sour Pork Kabobs

    To start, cut the pork into one to two inch cubes and marinate in a simple mix of cooking sherry and soy sauce.

    cubes of meat marinating in a bowl.

    Drain a can of pineapple slices with the juice reserved for use in the sauce. Cut an onion and a green bell pepper into large chunks.

    Cut the carrots into chunks and pre-cook slightly in water using the microwave.

    bowl of carrots immersed in water.

    There are a couple reasons for this. First, large carrot pieces are needed to put on a skewer. Smaller pieces just fall apart. But large chucks of raw carrot will take forever to cook on a grill, plus it is almost impossible to push a bamboo skewer through them. Getting the cooking process started in advance solves both those problems.

    Make the sauce

    Once everything is prepped, it’s time to make the sauce. I like to put all the sauce ingredients in a small pan and, while it’s warming, use that time to assemble the kabobs on the skewers.

    Load the skewers

    There are a couple of ways to load the skewers. The classic and most visually appealing approach is to alternate the meat and vegetables. That produces a colorful looking meal all on one stick.

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    skewers loaded with alternating meat and vegetables.

    If you’ve ever made kabobs, you know it can be tricky. Invariably, at least one of the ingredients cooks much faster than the meat and either falls off the skewer or turns into a chunk of charcoal. For this combination, the problem ingredient is pineapple.

    The issues with grilling pineapple

    I swear, the canned pineapple chucks used to be bigger. The chunks fall off the skewer almost as soon as they get hot. Canned pineapple tidbits are even smaller. Then, I tried slices, but slices are too thin. I even tried to “stack” the slices to provide more structure and support.

    Sigh. These also fell apart.

    chunks of grilled pineapple falling apart in a glass pan

    I considered using a fresh pineapple to cut my own large chunks, but that would not provide enough juice for the sauce, plus it’s more expensive and more work.

    Ultimately, the best solution is the simplest: Ignore the skewers and place the pineapple slices right on the grill. They cook beautifully and stay together!

    pineapple slices cooking on the grill grates.

    Grilling the sweet and sour pork kabobs

    When grilling, use some of the sauce to baste the ingredients to give them that delectable sweet and sour flavor. Once everything is cooked, the rest of the sauce is served with the meal, either for dipping or poured over rice and the cooked ingredients.

    basting the pork kabobs on the grill with the sweet and sour sauce.

    Serving Suggestions

    Try serving the grilled sweet and sour pork kabobs with rice and sauce for a delicious, satisfying meal!

    2 sweet and sour pork kabobs served with rice and the pineapple slices.

    I hope you give these sweet and sour pork kabobs a try – it’s a crowd pleaser for all ages!

    Pin for sweet and sour pork kabobs.

    Recipe FAQs

    How do I know when the pork is fully cooked?

    Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork. Cook until the temperature reads at least 145F.

    Can I use bottled sweet and sour sauce instead of making my own?

    Of course! You'll lose out on some of the freshness, but if there's a bottled sauce you love by all means use it. I'm all for convenient solutions!

    Can I cook these kabobs indoors?

    Yes, just as I sometimes cook my beef kabobs in the oven, you can do so with these. Preheat the oven to 375F and place the pork kabobs on a baking sheet. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature is 145F.

    Plate of sweet and sour pork kabobs with rice, ready to eat!

    More Delicious Ideas

    Once you try these sweet and sour pork kabobs, you'll want to have them again! Try with Easy Pasta Salad!

    You can get even more Chinese taste from your grill with Chinese Chicken on a Stick.

    📖 Recipe

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    I'll email this post to you, so you can easily come back to it later!

    Sweet and sour pork kabobs cooking on the grill.
    5 from 48 votes
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    Sweet and Sour Pork Kabobs

    Grill your Chinese meal!
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Chinese
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 561kcal
    Author: Sula

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds pork loin or country-style ribs
    • ½ cup sherry
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 20 ounce can pineapple slices in juice
    • 1 green bell pepper cut into chunks
    • 2-3 large carrots peeled and cut into chunks
    • 1 large yellow onion peeled and cut into chunks

    Sauce

    • Reserved juice from canned pineapple
    • ⅓ cup ketchup
    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 1½ tablespoons vinegar
    • 1 cup water
    • 3 tablespoons cornstarch

    Instructions

    • Cut pork into 2 inch cubes and place into a bowl. Add ½ cup sherry and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
    • Important: If using bamboo skewers, pre-soak in water for at least 30 minutes.
    • Drain pineapple, reserving the drained juice for the sauce.
    • Peel and cut the carrots into large chunks. Place in a bowl, immerse in water. Microwave for 3-4 minutes to soften slightly.
    • Cut onion and pepper into large pieces.
    • In a small saucepan, add all sauce ingredients except cornstarch. Heat on low, stirring often, until smooth.
    • Increase heat on sauce and bring to a simmer. In a small jar or glass, mix 3 tablespoons cornstarch with about ¼ cup water. Add slowly to the sauce, stirring while adding. If desired, the amount of cornstarch can be adjusted to thicken the sauce to personal preference. Place about ¼ to ½ cup of the finished sauce in a small container to use for basting.
    • Place meat and vegetables on the skewers.
    • Heat grill to medium-high heat. Place skewers on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes each side, then turn. Use the reserve sauce to baste the skewers while cooking. Continue cooking and turning until all meat pieces are cooked (about 15-20 minutes total).
    • When the kabobs are half done, place the pineapple slices directly on the grill grates to cook. Brush lightly with reserved sauce. Cook for 5-8 minutes per side.
    • Remove the kabobs from the grill and cover with foil. Rest the meat for 5 minutes, then serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 561kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1063mg | Potassium: 761mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 3597IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sherry Ronning

      August 29, 2023 at 10:50 am

      5 stars
      I made your sweet and sour pork kabobs recipe and cooked them on my Blackstone Griddle along with my fried rice recipe. My family eat every last piece and asked me to make them again!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 02, 2023 at 2:27 pm

        Fried rice makes a great side with these pork kabobs!

        Reply
    2. Claire

      August 28, 2023 at 10:58 pm

      5 stars
      Sweet and Sour pork (or chicken) is a family favorite when we order takeout! So I was excited to try these.
      They turned out fabulously! Really delicious and so easy to cook.
      The only change I made was using red bell peppers instead of green as I cannot stand the taste of green ones 🤷🏻‍♀️
      Other wise I made exactly as your wrote it and it was fabulous! Definitely making this again

      Reply
      • Sula

        August 29, 2023 at 7:57 am

        I'll bet the red peppers were yummy!

        Reply
    3. Gerrit

      August 27, 2023 at 4:09 pm

      5 stars
      Kabobs are my favorite! The marinate with Sherry sounds absolutely delicious, I wouldn't have thought about that. Can't wait to try.

      Reply
      • Sula

        August 28, 2023 at 6:21 am

        I've been making these for years and they are truly delicious. I hope you try them soon.

        Reply
    4. Debra

      July 26, 2020 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks....love a quick and easy recipe for the grill in the summer.

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 27, 2020 at 7:49 am

        Yes, me too. And its a kid pleaser as well!

        Reply
    5. Chef Dennis

      July 25, 2020 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      Those tasty kabobs are definitley going on my menu this weekend. Thanks for sharing your recipe with us

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 25, 2020 at 10:19 am

        You're welcome, enjoy!

        Reply
    6. Marina

      July 25, 2020 at 8:00 am

      5 stars
      Love sweet and sour flavours, great recipe!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 25, 2020 at 8:03 am

        Thank you, we love them too!

        Reply
    7. Amy

      July 25, 2020 at 3:14 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Everyone really enjoyed it. I loved grilled pineapple! Just makes such a difference to dishes.

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 25, 2020 at 6:39 am

        Agreed, there's something a little magical about grilled pineapple!

        Reply
    8. Alexandra

      July 24, 2020 at 7:01 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great meal! Love serving with rice 🙂

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 25, 2020 at 6:39 am

        Oh yes, that's the perfect accompaniment

        Reply
    9. Kathryn's Kitchen blog

      July 24, 2020 at 5:24 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is even better than take out! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 25, 2020 at 6:38 am

        Thanks, it a favorite here for sure!

        Reply
    10. Leslie

      July 24, 2020 at 12:37 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Thank you for adding the pineapple tips as well! So helpful!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 24, 2020 at 4:43 pm

        Thank you, and you're welcome!

        Reply
    11. Emily Flint

      July 24, 2020 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      These pork kabobs were so delicious and the homemade sauce was perfect! Thanks for all of the great tips, we will definitely be making these again!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 24, 2020 at 4:43 pm

        Thanks, it's a family favorite at this house!

        Reply
    12. Estelle Forrest

      July 24, 2020 at 9:56 am

      5 stars
      This is perfect summertime food! Make it on the grill and enjoy!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 24, 2020 at 4:44 pm

        Exactly!

        Reply
    13. andréa Janssen

      July 24, 2020 at 8:41 am

      5 stars
      Sweet and sour pork is one of my favorite recipes. It's so flavorful!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 24, 2020 at 8:54 am

        Mine too!

        Reply
    14. Vincit

      August 24, 2019 at 6:40 pm

      5 stars
      Mmm. What a great meal!

      Reply
      • Sula

        August 31, 2019 at 6:48 pm

        Thank you, I'm glad you liked it!

        Reply
    15. Mitby Connor

      July 10, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      Fantastic recipes!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 10, 2019 at 2:26 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    5 from 48 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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