Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs — tender, flavorful meatballs in a tangy, sweet sauce. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the balance of sweet and sour. The trick I discovered is using pineapple juice for natural sweetness. The result? A cozy, family-favorite dish that’s better than takeout. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Pancetta and Porcini Potato Gratin Recipe and Creamy Crockpot Chicken Tortellini Recipe for Easy Dinner.

What You'll Need for Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb frozen meatballs
• 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Red pepper flakes, optional
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds

How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

1. Step 1: Place meatballs in the slow cooker.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, mix pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3. Step 3: Pour sauce over meatballs. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Step 4: Serve over rice or noodles. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Storing & Reheating Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the sauce and meatballs the night before. Cook in the morning and enjoy all day.

Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Freeze cooked meatballs and sauce for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a deeper flavor, sear the meatballs before adding them to the slow cooker.
• Best substitution: Substitute pineapple juice with orange juice for a different flavor profile.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce and meatballs the night before. Cook in the morning and enjoy all day.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, cook it on the stovetop over medium heat until it thickens.

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

⏱

Prep

10 minutes

🍳

Cook

3-8 hours

⏳

Total

3-8 hours 10 minutes

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-Free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb frozen meatballs
• 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder

Seasonings

• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Red pepper flakes, optional

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place meatballs in the slow cooker.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, mix pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3. Step 3: Pour sauce over meatballs. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Step 4: Serve over rice or noodles. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a deeper flavor, sear the meatballs before adding them to the slow cooker.
• Best substitution: Substitute pineapple juice with orange juice for a different flavor profile.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce and meatballs the night before. Cook in the morning and enjoy all day.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, cook it on the stovetop over medium heat until it thickens.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs and sauce for up to 3 months.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• Make ahead: Prepare the sauce and meatballs the night before. Cook in the morning and enjoy all day.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 250
• Protein: 15g
• Fat: 8g
• Carbs: 28g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 18g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 60mg
• Sat. Fat: 2.5g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!