These Sweet and Sour Crockpot Meatballs are made with fresh or frozen meatballs and covered in the best pineapple sweet and sour sauce! An easy slow cooker meal!
See the full step by step video down in the recipe card.
Love slow cooker meals? You’ll also like this Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef, this Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup or these 30+ Easy Crockpot Meals!
Table of Contents
Let me tell you, we are big meatball lovers year round but there is just something about a cool day that make me crave them like crazy!
More often than not, it’s these Sweet and Sour Crockpot Meatballs that are hitting the table (no crockpot? Check out my stovetop Sweet and Sour Meatballs here!).
The sweet and sour combo is one that just never gets old around here, especially if they’re loaded with pineapple and peppers (if we throw some veggies in we can call it dinner, right??).
I also love how versatile meatballs are.
They can stand alone as an appetizer (one that leaves you free to enjoy the party!), or be served over rice or noodles or mashed potatoes — that sweet, sticky sauce is good on so many things!
Got pork? Try this Sweet and Sour Pork instead!
Some of our other favorite ways to serve up meatballs?
These Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs with a creamy gravy (I have a stovetop version here too!), classic Spaghetti and Meatballs or cook up a batch of Air Fryer Meatballs and munch them straight out of the basket!
I will usually try to stock up on lean ground beef when it’s on sale and make a giant batch of meatballs for the freezer so I know what’s going into our bellies, but sometimes, life is crazy and that just doesn’t happen.
Frozen, store bought meatballs to the rescue!
How to choose frozen meatballs:
- Read the ingredient list. I know it seems obvious, but I think a lot of people don’t. Meatballs, especially if they’re frozen, don’t need to include a lot of random, weird ingredients you can’t pronounce. Look for something made with the basics: meat, bread crumbs, seasonings. Grocery stores sometimes even sell their own variety made in store, which are often made with just ground meat.
- Go big. Even if you don’t use them all for this one recipe, buying a large bag will get you a better deal overall and you can stash the rest in the freezer for a crazy day down the road. We all know they’re coming!
- If you’re looking for healthier options, look for frozen turkey or chicken meatballs, or meatballs with lower sodium.
- Look for frozen meatballs without extra sauce, so you can add your own flavors and do them up however you want!
Tips for Cooking Frozen Meatballs in the Crockpot:
- Don’t thaw. It will be easier to stir them into the sauce if they are still firm and frozen, resulting in a better texture overall.
- Don’t stir — often. And this goes for fresh meatballs as well. If you stir too often, you are losing a lot of heat from the slow cooker, but you’re also going to end up mashing them and your meatballs won’t be balls anymore. You will have sweet and sour meat sauce.
- Don’t overcook. Meatballs, particularly if they’re precooked, really don’t need much cook time. If you overcook, you risk ending up with — you guessed it — sweet and sour meat sauce.
Variations on these Crockpot Meatballs:
- These Sweet and Sour Meatballs are naturally dairy-free and gluten-free provided that the meatballs you choose are gluten-free. Please double check all of your ingredients to make sure.
- You can use store bought or homemade meatballs for this recipe. This is our favorite homemade meatball recipe if you’re looking for one.
- You can use fresh or frozen meatballs for this recipe, and I’ve included approximate cook times for both in the recipe. I actually prefer to use frozen, because they hold together really well in the slow cooker, but either works just fine.
- If you’re not a fan of sweet and sour sauce (or pineapple, or peppers…) you can make some adjustments to the recipe to suit your tastes. Keep in mind that if you’re removing sweetness, or seasoning, you’ll likely want to replace it with something else.
- Try these Pineapple Brown Sugar Meatballs for a slightly different twist!
How to prep these Sweet and Sour Meatballs ahead:
- If you’re making homemade meatballs, that is a great thing to prep ahead of time and keep refrigerated or frozen until you need it, since it can be a time consuming process.
- The sweet and sour sauce can be stirred together and refrigerated for several days before using — just give it a good stir before adding to the crockpot!
- Earlier in the day or the night before, you can combine the sauce with the peppers in the slow cooker, and add in the meatballs just before cooking. If you’re using fresh refrigerated meatballs, you can let them hang out in the crockpot the day before, too.
- You can cook the entire meal ahead and simply reheat throughout the week — I don’t recommend reheating in the slow cooker as they may break apart quite easily.
Sweet and Sour Crockpot Meatballs
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup tomato ketchup
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 25 frozen beef meatballs
- 398 ml canned pineapple chunks with juice about 2 cups with pineapple and juice
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 1/2" chunks
- 1 green bell pepper cut into 1/2" chunks
Instructions
- Whisk together sugar, vinegar, ketchup, corn starch, soy sauce, garlic and ginger in a medium bowl.
- Place meatballs, peppers and pineapple with juice in a 4 quart slow cooker (anywhere from 3-6 is fine). Top with sauce mixture and stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or high for 2-3 hours, until meatballs are heated through and sauce is thickened and bubbly. Serve immediately over rice, noodles, or as an appetizer.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Amber says
If you make fresh meatballs do you need to cook them before adding them to this recipe?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Amber, you do not need to cook them before hand. They will be more delicate than cooked or frozen meatballs so keep that in mind when stirring them. Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Anna says
Hi – do you still have the old version of this recipe? I have made it several times and it was always a hit but I can’t find it now.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Anna! Please email us at thereciperebel@gmail.com and we will see if we can help you with this. Thank you!
Jade says
This sauce came out fantastic! It was a hit with my partner 🙂
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Jade! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
Ashcart says
Making this tomorrow night after prepping the veggies and sauce the night before.
Update: it took 4 hours to cook, fine by me, and it was DELICIOUS. I personally loved it, and I added a bit of crushed red pepper to the sauce for some heat, which my boyfriend requires with every meal. I personally like my meals saucy, but my bf gave it an 8.5/10, and said he’d eat it again if I made it! Thanks for this blessing of an easy recipe!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Ashcart! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this review!
Cheryl says
Made this yesterday, absolutely delicious the sauce is heavenly. Thanks very happy husband.
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad!
Tom says
Absolutely a 5 star rating. It was a awesome dish Friend’s absolutely loved. Thanks Ashley
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Tom!
Shanya says
This sauce sounds so amazing. I can’t wait to try
Sara B says
Very good! Was a little on the sweet side for us, may cut the sugar a little and add a little red pepper to spice it up! Thanks for the excelled recipe!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Sara! Thank you for this kind review!
Gail Herbest says
Would like to make this tomorrow and I see people keep asking about chicken broth and you are saying you fixed the recipe as written but I don’t see it there.
Ashley Fehr says
The recipe as written is correct
Sandy Hendershot says
I made these meatballs, started with frozen meatballs) in the crock pot and they were so good. Even better the next day.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sandy!
Maureen says
When do you put in the chicken broth I don’t see it in the instructions
Ashley Fehr says
You’re right! I have updated the recipe to include it
Mary Orbison says
how much Chicken broth do I use ????
Ashley Fehr says
There is no chicken broth in the recipe
David Friess says
its just me and my son…can leftovers be frozen for another time?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes! These meatballs and the sauce freeze great!
Boomer says
Hi, can it be split, put in bags and freeze, then cook in slow cooker in small batches?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, absolutely! That’s a great idea!
Shelly says
I can’t wait to try this with sausage also! Sounds delicious!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Shelly!
Rademay says
This was a big hit! Cooked it for a get together. It was gone before the party was over. It was really good and so easy to make . A big plus was that my husband loved it! I know I will be making this again. Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
It makes me so glad to hear that! Thank you!
lauren brubaker says
The video shows chicken stock, but the ingredients list does not…… how much stock do you use?
Ashley Fehr says
You’re right! So sorry about that! I’ve fixed up the recipe
Jamielyn Nye says
These are the perfect dinner! So delicious! Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad!
Becky Hardin says
This sauce sounds so amazing. I can’t wait to try.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Becky!
Kara says
I make my own meatballs in large batches and freeze them. Your sauce sounds delicious, so I can’t wait to try it! My mom makes homemade apricot jam, so I’ll have to “borrow” a jar from her.:)
Ashley Fehr says
Oh that is awesome! I love the sweetness it gives!
Natasha Kravchuk says
This is so saucy and scrumptious!! I’m thinking this is going to hit the regular rotation. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipe!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Natasha!
Kristyn says
Everything about this screams, delicious! I love meatballs & love anything Asian! They are so full of flavor!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kristyn!