Description
This Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe combines tender frozen meatballs with a vibrant sauce made from pineapple, bell peppers, and a tangy sweet and sour mixture. Perfect for an easy and flavorful meal, it requires minimal prep and slow cooks to perfection, making it an ideal dish for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs and Vegetables
- 1 (28 oz) bag frozen meatballs
- 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks
- 1 green bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions
- Drain and reserve pineapple juice: Open the can of pineapple chunks and drain the juice into a separate bowl or cup for later use.
- Prepare the slow cooker: Place the frozen meatballs into the slow cooker. Add the drained pineapple chunks and roughly chopped green and red bell peppers on top.
- Mix the sauce: To the reserved pineapple juice, add the brown sugar, white vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, and soy sauce. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and the cornstarch is fully dissolved.
- Combine and cook: Pour the sweet and sour sauce evenly over the meatballs and vegetables in the slow cooker. Cover with the lid.
- Slow cook: Cook on low heat setting for 4-5 hours or on high heat for 2-3 hours, until meatballs are heated through and sauce has thickened.
- Serve: Serve the sweet and sour meatballs hot, ideally over steamed white rice or your favorite side dish. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute frozen turkey or chicken meatballs for a lighter option.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix slightly more cornstarch with water and stir in during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Adding chopped onions or garlic to the slow cooker can enhance the flavor.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings; adjust cooking time accordingly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
