Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Make mealtime stress-free with slow cooker sweet and sour meatballs. Bold flavors, tender meatballs, and a luscious sweet-sour sauce.
Looking for a stress-free dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor? These slow cooker sweet and sour meatballs are vibrant, tangy, and perfect for busy days. Made with juicy meatballs, sweet pineapple, colorful bell peppers, and a glossy sweet-and-sour sauce, this dish delivers big on flavor with minimal effort.
The slow cooker does all the work, letting the sauce thicken and the ingredients meld together beautifully. You can use a bag of your favorite frozen meatballs or make the dish with homemade meatballs. If you prefer homemade, use our recipe for Italian meatballs or these basic baked meatballs. You can make them a day or two in advance and refrigerate or freeze them for longer storage. It’s always nice to have homemade meatballs in the freezer!
Why You’ll Love It
Hands-off cooking. The slow cooker makes this meal virtually effortless—perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining.
Classic sweet-and-sour flavor. The combo of brown sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce gives the sauce a tangy, glossy finish.
Flexible and freezer-friendly. Works great with frozen meatballs or homemade—prep ahead and keep extras on hand.
Ingredient Notes
- Frozen meatballs: Use your favorite store-bought variety or make your own in advance.
- Pineapple chunks: Drained, with some juice reserved to thicken the sauce.
- Bell peppers: Use a mix of red and green for vibrant color and flavor.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens the sauce and creates that classic caramelized depth.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds tang to balance the sweetness.
- Soy sauce: Brings umami and saltiness to round out the flavors.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce to a luscious consistency.
Steps to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Add the frozen meatballs to your slow cooker along with the drained pineapple, bell pepper chunks, brown sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce. In a small bowl, whisk the reserved pineapple juice with cornstarch and stir it into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Then switch to high for 30 minutes to thicken the sauce. Stir occasionally if you’re nearby.
- Serve hot as a main dish over rice or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer at your next party or potluck.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy: Stir in chili flakes, sambal oelek, or a squirt of Sriracha.
- Honeyed: Replace part of the brown sugar with honey for deeper sweetness.
- Plant-based: Use vegan or vegetarian meatballs.
- Water chestnuts: Add sliced water chestnuts for crunch.
- Onions: Add sliced yellow onion or garnish with green onions for extra color.
- Protein swap: Try with turkey or pork meatballs for a lighter version.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve over steamed white or jasmine rice for a complete meal.
- Pair with chili garlic noodles, stir-fried vegetables, or sautéed bok choy.
- Offer as a party appetizer straight from a slow cooker with toothpicks on the side.
- Stuff into hoagie rolls for a sweet-and-sour meatball sub.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Freeze in a tightly sealed container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through, stirring occasionally to redistribute the sauce.
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs meatballs, frozen
- 20 ounces pineapple chunks, drained, 1/2 cup of juice reserved
- 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Put the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker with the pineapple chunks, bell pepper pieces, brown sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce. Whisk the cornstarch into the reserved pineapple juice.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours. Turn to high and cook for 30 minutes longer to thicken the sauce.
- Serve with rice or as an appetizer. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
