Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs – Tender, flavorful meatballs simmered in a tangy, sweet and sour sauce. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping the meatballs from falling apart. The result is a comforting, family-friendly dish that’s better than takeout and perfect for busy weeknights. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Rhubarb Cream Cheese Bars Recipe for Spring Desserts and Quick Spicy Pork Brussels Sprouts Bowls for Dinner.
Why This Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Tender, flavorful meatballs
- Tangy, sweet and sour sauce
- Easy, hands-off cooking
- Better than takeout taste
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 ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 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 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder
- Ground ginger
- Optional: Green onions, chopped
- Optional: Sesame seeds
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: You can also use a mix of ground beef and pork.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Hands-off cooking for busy weeknights → See on Amazon
- Meat Thermometer — Ensures meatballs are cooked to perfection → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
- Prepare meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Cook meatballs: Place meatballs in the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, mix pineapple chunks (with juice), ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and ginger. Pour over meatballs.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally.
- Serve: Serve meatballs over rice or noodles. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
- : To prevent meatballs from falling apart, make sure to mix the ingredients well and form them tightly.
- Common mistake and fix: If your sauce is too watery, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir it into the sauce. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- : For a thicker sauce, you can remove the lid during the last hour of cooking.
Storing & Reheating Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the meatballs and sauce up to a day ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to cook.
Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: You can substitute ground turkey for the ground beef.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If your meatballs are still falling apart, you may need to add more breadcrumbs or egg to the mixture.
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Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 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 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder
- Ground ginger
Optional Toppings
- Green onions, chopped
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Cook meatballs: Place meatballs in the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, mix pineapple chunks (with juice), ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and ginger. Pour over meatballs.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally.
- Serve: Serve meatballs over rice or noodles. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: You can substitute ground turkey for the ground beef.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If your meatballs are still falling apart, you may need to add more breadcrumbs or egg to the mixture.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the meatballs and sauce up to a day ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 22g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 80mg
- Sat. Fat: 5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the meatballs and sauce up to a day ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to cook.
To prevent meatballs from falling apart, make sure to mix the ingredients well and form them tightly. If they're still falling apart, you may need to add more breadcrumbs or egg to the mixture.
Yes, you can freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.
If your sauce is too watery, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir it into the sauce. Cook for an additional 10 minutes. For a thicker sauce, you can also remove the lid during the last hour of cooking.
These meatballs are delicious served over rice or noodles. You can also serve them with a side of steamed vegetables or a crisp salad.
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!
