Description
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs are a delicious fusion of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors that make for the perfect comforting dinner or crowd-pleasing party appetizer. Tender meatballs slow-cooked in a glossy, flavorful sauce with pineapple and peppers—served best over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
32 oz frozen meatballs
1 ½ cups pineapple chunks (drained, juice reserved if using canned)
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
¾ cup ketchup
½ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
Instructions
1. Place the frozen meatballs in the bottom of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Add pineapple chunks, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper over the meatballs.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce.
4. Pour the sauce mixture over the meatballs and vegetables.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours.
6. In the last 20–30 minutes, mix cornstarch with water to form a slurry and stir it into the sauce.
7. Allow the sauce to thicken, stirring gently once it’s glossy and rich.
8. Serve hot over rice, noodles, or as-is for a party appetizer.
Notes
You can substitute homemade meatballs—just brown them first to hold their shape during cooking.
For a spicier kick, add chili flakes or a bit of sriracha to the sauce.
This recipe is perfect for freezing—store in individual portions for easy weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 810mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: sweet and sour meatballs, crockpot meatballs, slow cooker dinner