Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to tender, flavorful meatballs every time. The tangy, sweet, and sour sauce is irresistible. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump straight to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Spicy Deer Tenderloin Jalapeño Poppers and Fresh Mango Cucumber Salad with Blueberries and Avocado.

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
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds

How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

1. Prepare meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, ketchup, soy sauce, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
2. Cook meatballs: Place meatballs in the slow cooker. In a bowl, whisk together brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, pineapple juice, cornstarch, and water. Pour over meatballs. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

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 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.

Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Freeze cooked meatballs in the sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F 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 a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.
• Best substitution: Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or a mix of ground meats.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the meatballs and sauce up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water and stir it into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

6 hrs

⏳

Total

6 hrs 15 mins

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water

Seasonings

• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Prepare meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, ketchup, soy sauce, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
2. Cook meatballs: Place meatballs in the slow cooker. In a bowl, whisk together brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, pineapple juice, cornstarch, and water. Pour over meatballs. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.
• Best substitution: Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or a mix of ground meats.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the meatballs and sauce up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water and stir it into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs in the sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F 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 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 320
• Protein: 21g
• Fat: 16g
• Carbs: 22g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 18g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sat. Fat: 7g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe FAQs

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!