Description

This Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe offers a deliciously tangy and savory dish perfect for easy weeknight dinners. With tender homestyle meatballs simmered in a flavorful sauce made from pineapple chunks, honey, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar, this recipe combines sweet and sour notes in a slow-cooked comfort meal that’s ready in just over five hours. Garnished with fresh green onions and ideal for serving over steamed white rice, it’s a crowd-pleaser requiring minimal prep time.

Ingredients

Scale

Sauce Ingredients

1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks in 100% juice (do not drain)
½ cup honey
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon ketchup

Main Ingredients

1 (32 oz) bag frozen homestyle meatballs
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Optional Garnish

Sliced green onions

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Instructions

Prepare the Slow Cooker: Spray the slow cooker insert with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and effortless cleanup. Add the canned pineapple chunks along with their juice, honey, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and ketchup into the slow cooker. Stir well until all ingredients are combined to form the sweet and sour sauce.
Add Meatballs: Place the frozen homestyle meatballs directly into the slow cooker. Stir carefully to coat the meatballs thoroughly with the prepared sauce to ensure full flavor distribution.
Cook Slowly: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW heat setting for 4 to 6 hours, allowing the meatballs to become tender and absorb the sauce flavors deeply.
Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix water and cornstarch with a fork until smooth. Pour this mixture into the crockpot and let it cook for an additional 30 minutes to thicken the sauce. If the sauce needs faster thickening, increase the heat to HIGH as necessary.
Garnish and Serve: Once thickened, sprinkle the meatballs with sliced green onions if desired, and serve the sweet and sour meatballs hot over a bed of cooked white rice for a complete meal.

Notes

Do not drain the pineapple chunks or their juice, as the juice is a key part of the sauce.
If in a hurry, increasing the slow cooker to HIGH heat can reduce cooking time slightly but check meatballs for doneness.
Use non-fat or low-fat meatballs to reduce fat content if preferred.
This recipe pairs well with steamed rice or cooked noodles for a wholesome meal.
The sauce can be made spicier by adding a splash of chili sauce or red pepper flakes.