Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Slow cooker sweet and sour meatballs

I think there are two words in the English language that excite me more than any others – slow cooker.

This recipe for sweet and sour meatballs is truly one of the best dishes you’ll ever make in your slow cooker!

Savory ingredients like soy sauce and red pepper flakes pair perfectly with the sweeter ingredients like light brown sugar and pineapple chunks.

Sweet and sour is one of my favorite flavor combos, and the tastiest way to enjoy those flavors is on these savory meatballs.

Whether you serve these meatballs over white rice for dinner or with toothpicks as an appetizer, you’ll be glad you used this recipe! The slow cooking time allows the meatballs to really absorb the delicious ingredients, making them SO flavorful.

I can promise you this – you definitely won’t be able to have just one! Perfect for game day, too!

Ingredients for sweet and sour meatballs

For the sauce, you’ll need:

• Apple cider vinegar
• Light brown sugar
• Ketchup
• Soy sauce
• Red pepper flakes
• Cajun seasoning
• Cornstarch
• Water

Here’s what you’ll need for the rest of the dish:

• Pre-cooked frozen meatballs
• Pineapple chunks
• Cilantro or parsley

Honestly, pineapple chunks from a can work just as well as freshly cut pineapple. Whichever way you go about adding pineapple, make sure that some of the juice gets added to the slow cooker, too. It gives the sauce the perfect amount of tangy sweetness!

What kind of meatballs should I use for sweet and sour meatballs?

While I use beef meatballs, there are definitely others you can choose from! Pork, chicken and turkey meatballs will all work well with this recipe.

Vegetarian friendly meatballs are also an option, but you may have to adjust the cooking time to be a little shorter.

How long will they stay fresh?

If you’re serving these as an appetizer at a party, I recommend keeping them right in the slow cooker on the warm setting. They should be tasty and fresh for the whole party!

If you end up with leftovers, these sweet and sour meatballs will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can I freeze them?

Absolutely! This dish is actually great for freezing if you’re planning ahead. Simply keep the meatballs and sauce in an airtight container and it’ll stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to serve them, allow the meatballs to thaw in the fridge overnight, then place them back in the slow cooker on the warm setting until they’re ready to serve.

More incredible meatball recipes:

Stuffed Cheesy Chicken Apple and Sage Meatballs

Asian Pork Meatballs

Mexican Meatballs

Moroccan Turkey Meatballs

Thai Baked Chicken Meatballs