Description
This Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe combines tender frozen meatballs with colorful bell peppers and pineapple chunks in a tangy, sweet sauce. Cooked low and slow, the flavors meld perfectly for an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner that's delicious served over white rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 (28 oz) bag frozen meatballs
- 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks
- 1 green bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions
- Prepare Pineapple Juice: Drain the pineapple chunks, reserving the juice in a cup or bowl to use for the sauce.
- Assemble Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker. Add the drained pineapple chunks and roughly chopped green and red bell peppers on top.
- Make Sauce: In the reserved pineapple juice bowl, whisk together brown sugar, white vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, and soy sauce until smooth and combined.
- Cook Meatballs: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the meatballs and vegetables in the slow cooker. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 5 hours to achieve tender meatballs with a thick sauce. Alternatively, cook on high for 3 hours if short on time.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the sweet and sour meatballs hot, ideally over cooked white rice for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use frozen meatballs for convenience and easy prep.
- Cooking on low for longer yields more tender meatballs and better sauce thickness.
- If sauce is too thin after cooking, stir and cook uncovered on high for 15-20 minutes to thicken.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
- Add chopped onions or garlic for extra flavor if desired.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
