Description
This Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe features tender frozen meatballs simmered in a tangy, flavorful sauce made from pineapple chunks, honey, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and ketchup. Slow-cooked to perfection, these meatballs are easy to prepare and perfect for serving over white rice, making a delicious and crowd-pleasing meal.
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
Meatballs
- 1 (32 oz) bag frozen homestyle meatballs
Thickener
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Garnish (optional)
- Sliced green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Spray the slow cooker insert with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: Add the canned pineapple chunks with their juice (do not drain), honey, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and ketchup into the slow cooker. Stir until all ingredients are well combined to create the sweet and sour sauce base.
- Add Meatballs: Place the frozen homestyle meatballs into the slow cooker. Stir gently to coat all the meatballs evenly with the sauce mixture.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set to LOW heat. Cook the meatballs for 4 to 6 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the meatballs to become tender.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the water and cornstarch until smooth. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker and stir gently. Continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. If a quicker thickening is desired, increase the slow cooker setting to HIGH.
- Serve: Sprinkle sliced green onions over the meatballs for garnish if desired. Serve the sweet and sour meatballs hot over a bed of cooked white rice.
Notes
- Do not drain the pineapple juice as it adds essential flavor and liquid for the sauce.
- For a thicker sauce, you can add more cornstarch slurry, but add gradually to avoid an overly thick consistency.
- These meatballs can be made ahead and reheated gently in the slow cooker.
- To turn this into a gluten-free dish, ensure the soy sauce is gluten-free.
- Frozen meatballs cook perfectly in the slow cooker, saving preparation time.
