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Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

4.9 from 51 reviews

This Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe features tender homestyle meatballs slow-cooked with a colorful mix of vegetables and pineapple chunks, all coated in a tangy and flavorful sweet and sour sauce. It’s an easy, comforting dish perfect for a family meal, served best over rice or chow mein noodles.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 26 oz. frozen homestyle meatballs

Vegetables and Fruits

  • 20 oz. can pineapple chunks (drained)
  • 8 oz. can sliced water chestnuts (drained)
  • 14.5 oz. can baby corn (drained)
  • 2 bell peppers (one red and one green, cut into one-inch pieces)
  • 1 white onion (cut into one-inch pieces)
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)

Seasonings and Sauces

  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 14.5 oz. bottle sweet and sour sauce (Sunluck Brand recommended or Contadina Sweet and Sour Sauce as alternative)

Instructions

  1. Add meatballs: Place the frozen homestyle meatballs into the slow cooker evenly.
  2. Add pineapple and vegetables: Add the drained pineapple chunks, sliced water chestnuts, baby corn, bell peppers, and white onion pieces on top of the meatballs in the slow cooker.
  3. Add garlic and red pepper flakes: Sprinkle the minced garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes over the ingredients.
  4. Add sauce and stir: Pour the sweet and sour sauce all over the meatballs and vegetables, then gently stir to coat everything evenly with the sauce.
  5. Cook: Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or on LOW for 5 hours within the slow cooker, stirring occasionally to mix flavors.
  6. Serve: Serve the sweet and sour meatballs hot, ideally over steamed rice or chow mein noodles for a complete meal.

Notes

  • For a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes or add fresh chili peppers.
  • Ensure vegetables like bell peppers and onion are cut into uniform pieces for even cooking.
  • Can be prepared the night before and reheated for convenience.
  • Adjust cooking time depending on your slow cooker model for best results.
  • Pair with jasmine rice or egg noodles to complement the sweet and sour flavors.

Keywords: sweet and sour meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, easy dinner recipe, homestyle meatballs, pineapple meatballs, slow cooker sweet and sour