Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
12 Comments May 04, 2024
Updated May 17, 2024
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Make a complete meal with a bag of meatballs! This recipe for Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs has so much flavor and is terrific over rice.
If you love Asian-inspired recipes, also try my Slow Cooker Black Pepper Chicken, Orange Chicken Drumsticks, Beef Chow Mein, Slow Cooker Mongolian Chicken or Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken recipes.
Table of Contents
Why You Should Try Sweet and Sour Meatballs in Your Crock Pot
One of my favorite meals to order at Chinese restaurants in sweet and sour chicken or pork. I thought why not try sweet and sour sauce on frozen meatballs! The combination of the sweet sauce, pineapple and bell peppers can not be matched. Wonderful over rice! Or if you want you can serve these as an easy appetizer.
Made right in the crockpot, this main course requires quick prep time and moderate cooking time.
Recipe Ingredients
- Meatballs – Frozen homestyle meatballs. You can also use homemade meatballs. If you go the homemade route, use lean ground beef and cook them first. We also use these meatballs in our honey garlic meatballs recipe.
- Sweet and Sour Sauce – Look for a jar of Sun Luck brand, P.F. Changs brand. Or a can of Contadina Sweet and Sour Sauce. I find these in the Asian section of the store.
- Pineapple – Use pineapple chunks, not tidbits, if possible.
- Bell Pepper – One red bell pepepr and one green bell pepper.
- Baby Corn – Find these in the Asian section of the store. Drain well.
- Water Chestnuts – You will find these in the Asain section as well. Drain well. This adds crunch to the meal.
- Seasonings – Freshly minced garlic and red pepper flakes. (The full recipe is in the recipe card below the images).
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Place frozen meatballs into the slow cooker.
Step Two – Next, add the pineapple, green peppers, and other vegetables. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes.
Step Three – Pour sauce over everything. Stir to coat the meatballs and vegetables in the sauce.
Step Four – Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or low for 5 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve and enjoy! (They can simmer until you’re ready to serve them for dinner.)
How to serve:
- Serve with rice or chow mein noodles and enjoy.
- You can also enjoy these crock pot sweet and sour meatballs over mashed potatoes.
- They make a delicious party appetizer served with sliced veggies and toothpicks for easy grabbing.
Recipe FAQs
If you prefer not to use a jarred sweet and sour sauce, you can use my easy sweet and sour sauce recipe (dye-free). All you need is:
1 1/2 cups apricot preserves or grape jelly
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
Yes! Broccoli florets, cut asparagus, snow peas, and squares of cabbage are all classic additions to a recipe like this.
Store any leftover sweet and sour meatballs in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed throughout.
More meatball recipes for your slow cooker:
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Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
- 26 oz. frozen homestyle meatballs
- 20 oz. can. pineapple chunks, drained
- 8 oz. can sliced water chestnuts , drained
- 14.5 oz. can baby corn, drained
- 2 bell peppers (I use one red and one green), cut into one-inch pieces
- 1 white onion, cut into one-inch pieces
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 14.5 oz. bottle sweet and sour sauce, (I use Sunluck Brand) Or use a can of Contadina Sweet and Sour Sauce
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker.
- Next, add the pineapple and vegetables.
- Add the garlic and red pepper flakes.
- Pour over the sweet and sour sauce. Stir to coat the meatballs and vegetables in the sauce.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or low for 5 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with rice or chow mein noodles and enjoy!
How to Video
Sarah’s Notes
- 1 1/2 cups apricot preserves or grape jelly
- 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
- Broccoli florets
- Cut asparagus
- Snow peas
- Squares of Cabbage
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Is there a way to do frozen chicken nuggets instead of meatballs? Would I just need to cook the nuggets first or cook the whole thing longer?
I think you’d want to brown them first. The texture may be bad other wise.
Made this today and it was a big hit! We absolutely loved it! Thank you for sharing
Can you use canned corn instead of baby corn?
Yes, should do fine!
What would be a good side dish!!
Can I use different frozen meatballs?
Yes, any will work just fine!
Can you substitute pork or chicken?
Yes, though I would cook longer.
Hello, thank you for sharing your recipe. I will try this tonight. The way you presented it looks like so easy to follow. I really appreciate that step by step procedure. but, I have one question though:
Question, do I still need to fry the meatballs?
Thank you.
No, you don’t need to fry them.