Ingredients
Here’s everything you need to whip up a delicious batch of slow cooker sweet and sour meatballs:
🧾 Main Ingredients:
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen fully cooked meatballs (beef, turkey, or chicken – your choice)
- 1 cup pineapple chunks, drained (juice reserved)
- 1 large bell pepper, chopped (any color)
- 1/2 cup chopped onion (optional for extra flavor)
🥣 Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup reserved pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water (optional for thickening)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
🍳 Step 1: Mix the Sauce
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
- Brown sugar
- Vinegar
- Ketchup
- Soy sauce
- Pineapple juice
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
This creates a tangy-sweet, sticky glaze that will coat every meatball perfectly.
🥣 Step 2: Load the Slow Cooker
- Add the frozen meatballs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Top with pineapple chunks, bell peppers, and chopped onions.
- Pour the sweet and sour sauce over everything.
⏲️ Step 3: Cook Low and Slow
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or on HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce is bubbling.
🥄 Step 4: Thicken the Sauce (Optional)
If you’d like a thicker glaze:
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water).
- Let it continue to cook uncovered until the sauce thickens.
🧆 Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Stir gently to coat all the meatballs evenly. Serve hot with toothpicks for an appetizer, or spoon over rice or noodles for a full meal!
Serving Ideas
These versatile meatballs can be served in so many delicious ways:
- Appetizer: Use mini skewers or toothpicks and serve on a platter.
- Main dish: Serve over steamed rice, cauliflower rice, or egg noodles.
- Sandwiches: Pile into hoagie rolls with melted mozzarella.
- Meal prep: Pack with a side of rice and veggies for an easy lunch.
Variations and Substitutes
This recipe is totally adaptable to your taste and what you have on hand:
🍖 Meatball Options:
- Turkey meatballs for a leaner version
- Homemade meatballs (pre-cooked) if you want from-scratch flavor
- Chicken or even plant-based meatballs for a twist
🍍 Sauce Add-Ins:
- Add a splash of Sriracha or red chili flakes for a spicy version
- Swap ketchup for chili sauce for more heat
- Use maple syrup or honey instead of brown sugar for a different sweet note
🥦 Add Veggies:
- Bell peppers (red, yellow, green)
- Onion slices
- Carrots
- Snap peas or baby corn (add in the last 30–45 mins to avoid overcooking)
Why Use the Slow Cooker?
Using a slow cooker makes this dish unbelievably easy:
- Hands-off cooking
- No stirring or stove-watching
- Flavors have time to meld beautifully
- You can serve directly from the pot
Plus, it frees up oven and stovetop space if you’re entertaining.
Storage & Reheating
🧊 To Store:
Let leftovers cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
❄️ To Freeze:
Freeze cooked meatballs and sauce in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
🔁 To Reheat:
- Microwave: Heat in 60-second intervals, stirring in between.
- Stovetop: Warm in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Nutritional Info (Per Serving, Approx.)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 280–350 kcal |
| Protein | 14–18g |
| Carbs | 28g |
| Fat | 15g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 18g+ |
| Sodium | 600–750mg |
Note: Varies based on meatball type and brand of sauce ingredients.
Tips for Success
✔ Use high-quality meatballs – Whether frozen or homemade, better meatballs = better flavor.
✔ Don’t overcook – Especially if you’re using fully cooked meatballs, don’t let them dry out.
✔ Balance the sauce – Taste and adjust sweetness or tanginess with more sugar or vinegar to suit your preference.
✔ Use fresh pineapple – For an even juicier result with more bite.
✔ Stir gently – So the meatballs stay intact and tender.
Perfect For…
These sweet and sour meatballs are perfect for just about every occasion:
- Family dinners
- Potlucks and parties
- Game day spreads
- Holiday appetizers
- Quick weeknight meals
- Make-ahead lunches
They’re budget-friendly, easy to scale up, and always a crowd favorite!
Final Thoughts
These Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs are the kind of recipe you’ll keep coming back to—comforting, flavorful, and ridiculously easy. With just a few ingredients and a hands-off cooking method, you’ll end up with juicy, saucy meatballs that feel like a treat but take almost no effort.
Whether you’re serving them as a main course or lining them up on a party tray, expect them to disappear fast. Don’t forget to save some for yourself—they’re that good!