Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Dish up these Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs for a party appetizer or even dinner soon. Slow cooker meatballs that are paired with a homemade sweet and sour sauce, peppers, onions, and pineapple. Each bite is bursting with flavor. Serve on toothpicks for entertaining or over a bed of rice to make it into a dinner.

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Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor

This recipe is built around a few pantry staples and frozen meatballs, which means you don’t have to spend hours prepping or cooking. We’re talking about a bag of frozen meatballs (already cooked and ready to go), a can of pineapple chunks (with that sweet juice that’s key for the sauce), a couple of bell peppers, and a small onion. If you’ve got those basics, you’re halfway there.

Now, for the sauce, we keep it simple with brown sugar, granulated sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and a little cornstarch to thicken things up. That’s it. You don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients or complicated steps to make this dish stand out. The combination of sweet pineapple, savory meatballs, and tangy sauce brings everything together in one pot.

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The Magic Happens in the Crock Pot

Here’s the beauty of using a crock pot for this dish: You just throw everything in there and let it do its thing. First, toss those frozen meatballs into the crockpot. No need to thaw them. Then add your pineapple chunks (with the juice from the can), bell peppers, and onion. The peppers and onions will soften as they cook, adding flavor and texture to the dish.

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Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs: The Easiest Party Hit

When it comes to easy, crowd-pleasing recipes, nothing beats a good crock pot dish. And these Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs? They’re a total game changer. Whether you’re hosting a laid-back family gathering or bringing a dish to a potluck, these meatballs are sure to be a hit. The best part? You barely have to lift a finger. Seriously, even picky eaters will gobble up these sweet and sour meatballs. They are so easy to throw into the slow cooker, and let it handle the hard work of cooking them.

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Love meatballs? Check out my classic Italian meatballs, Dr. Pepper meatballs, or even my apple butter meatballs that are sweet and savory all in one.

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Reasons To Try Out These Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs

• Start with frozen meatballs and just a few other ingredients for an easy prep style dish you can make.
• The Crock Pot will cook low and slow all through the day for juicy and flavorful meatballs ready to dish up when you are ready.
• You get a sweet and savory flavor in each bite of these slow cooker meatballs.
• You can serve this up for your family or dish up and serve to a crowd. It is a recipe that everyone seems to enjoy.

Consider sipping on this refreshing blackberry margarita as you eat these meatballs!

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Ingredients You Will Need

Meatballs: Reach for a bag of homestyle frozen meatballs. You can find these in the freezer section at the grocery store.

Pineapple: Canned pineapple chunks work perfect for this recipe. Save the juice for the sauce.

Peppers and Onion: Red and green bell peppers were used as well as a small onion that you will chunk up.

Sugar: Brown sugar and granulated sugar are both used to help sweeten and create a sticky texture to the sauce.

Apple Cider Vinegar: This is going to be used as the base of the sweet and sour sauce. It adds tons of flavor.

Ketchup: Mix in some ketchup for a sweet and tangy base to the sauce.

Soy Sauce: You can use low-sodium soy sauce if you need or even Coconut Aminos if you prefer.

Cornstarch: This is going to create a thickening agent for the sauce.

Green Onions: Optional but used for garnishing and adding a bit more flavor to the end result.

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Variations to the Recipe

Here are a few ways to change up the flavors of these meatballs by using a twist in ingredients.

• Feel free to make homemade meatballs in place of frozen store-bought ones. Just cook them fully, and I suggest using frozen meatballs just as the recipe recommends.
• You can add a sliced jalapeno to the sweet and sour mixture for a kick of heat. Leave some seeds in or all the seeds for even more spice.
• Honey can be used as an alternative to granulated sugar as a sweetening agent.
• Swap the meatballs with a smoked sausage, such as Andouille or Kielbasa, for a similar finger food option.
• Feel free to leave out the onions, peppers, or pineapple if you prefer a mixture without added fruit and vegetables.

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Storing Leftovers and Freezing

If you do not eat all your meatballs right away, you can easily store them in the fridge in a sealed airtight container for 3-4 days. Then, you can warm them up in the microwave or heat them on the stovetop over low heat.

For freezing, you can freeze for 2-3 months. Then thaw in the fridge overnight the night before you plan to eat. Alternatively, you can defrost straight from the freezer and reheat using your preferred method.

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Tips For Success

• When mixing the sauce and pouring it over the meatballs, use a spoon to stir the sauce into the meatballs. That way you get an even cook and flavor on all the meatballs.
• If you find the sauce is not thickening, you can add another round of a cornstarch slurry into the meatballs during the last 30 minutes of cooking. This will help thicken it up even more.
• Ensure that you dice the peppers and onions into even pieces. You will eat these, so it’s essential to cut them into bite-sized pieces.
• Don’t overcook the meatballs, or they can burn the sauce and even dry out the meatballs as they cook.

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FAQs

Do I need to thaw the meatballs first?

No, you will place the meatballs directly in the crockpot and cook them from frozen. This is a recipe you want to ensure the meatballs are still frozen when you begin cooking. That way they slowly warm up and infuse all the flavors of the sauce.

Why do I save the juice from the canned pineapple?

You will use the juice from the can to add to the slow cooker, helping to enhance the pineapple flavor in your sauce. If you forget to save the juice, you will need to buy some pineapple juice at the store in addition to the canned pineapple.

How do I serve these sweet and sour meatballs?

Serve your meatballs over a bed of white or jasmine rice for a complete meal option. Or pair with toothpicks or small forks to create a fun party food that your friends or guests can serve themselves and eat alongside other finger foods.

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Garnish and Serve

Once your meatballs are ready, it’s time to garnish. Fresh chopped green onions on top bring a pop of color and a little freshness to balance out the richness of the sauce.

At this point, you’ve got options. Serve them as an appetizer on their own (they’re perfect for snacking during game day or a party), or go the extra mile and serve them over a bed of steamed white rice for a full meal. Either way, you’re in for a treat.

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Why This Recipe Works

This crock pot sweet and sour meatball recipe is the perfect blend of sweet, sour, and savory. The frozen meatballs make it a no-fuss dish, and the sauce is a fantastic balance of tangy pineapple, the warmth of the brown sugar, and the slight umami from the soy sauce. Plus, it’s the kind of dish that tastes even better after a few hours of slow cooking—everything just melds together in the most comforting way.

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So, next time you’re looking for a dish that’s going to impress without a lot of effort, this one’s a keeper. Set it and forget it, and let the crock pot do all the heavy lifting while you enjoy your day.

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