Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs
These crock pot sweet and sour meatballs cook low and slow in a flavorful homemade sauce, perfect for parties, potlucks, or busy days.
Equipment
- Slow cooker (at least 5-quart)
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 36 ounces meatballs (frozen)
- 20- ounce pineapple chunks (Canned pineapple reserved the juice)
- 1 small red bell pepper (cut into 1-inch chunks)
- 1 small green bell pepper (cut into 1-inch chunks)
- 1 small onion (cut into 1-inch chunks)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Sliced green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the reserved pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, granulated sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
- Add the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker, spreading them out in an even layer.
- Scatter the pineapple chunks, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onion evenly over the meatballs.
- Pour the prepared sauce over everything in the crockpot, making sure the meatballs and vegetables are well coated.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 5 hours, stirring once halfway through, until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce has thickened.
- Garnish with sliced green onions just before serving. Serve warm as an appetizer or spooned over white rice for a full meal.
Notes
- The sauce typically starts thickening around the 4-hour mark. If the meatballs are fully heated and you want a thicker sauce sooner, remove the lid and switch to HIGH for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- If you are planning to use these as appetizers, you can skip the pineapple, bell peppers, and onions. Replace the pineapple juice with ½ cup pineapple juice and ½ cup water to maintain the correct liquid amount.
- Plain frozen meatballs work best, such as homestyle, Angus beef, turkey, or chicken. Avoid heavily seasoned varieties like Italian-style meatballs, which can overpower the sauce.
- Homemade meatballs, fresh or frozen, also work well. If using fresh meatballs, cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours and check that the internal temperature reaches 160–165°F.
Nutrition
Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 23gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 397mgPotassium: 559mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 407IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg
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