You can’t go wrong with a good meatball recipe and this one has a great twist on flavor! Try Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs for a tangy combination of pineapple, peppers, and onion in a delicious, glazed sauce.

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs served on a bed of rice

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What’s To Love About This Recipe

This is an easy, dump-and-go meal that is perfect for busy weeknights or parties.
With this recipe, you get the perfect balance of flavors – sweet, tangy, and savory! It’s difficult to find a picky eater who won’t eat these. The whole family will enjoy!
Sweet and sour meatballs are a hearty appetizer option, or you can make a full meal by serving over rice or pasta.
No complicated steps in this recipe! Use simple pantry ingredients and preformed meatballs so you can add everything to the slow cooker in a few steps.
Choose the meatballs you love for this recipe! Jazz up store-bought frozen meatballs, or make a plain homemade batch and customize with flavor when ready to cook.

Ingredients Needed

Frozen meatballs – To begin, you’ll want to use homestyle meatballs, which are already slightly sweet or have a more neutral flavor. It’s up to you if you want to make your own meatballs ahead of time to store in the fridge or freezer or buy a frozen, store-bought version.
Bell peppers – Any kind of bell peppers add color and a little crunch to the meatballs and sauce. The peppers pair well with sweet and savory flavors, similar to traditional Asian or Hawaiian dishes.
White onion – White onion adds an aromatic element and deepens the flavor of the dish.
Canned pineapple chunks in juice – Nothing goes to waste here! Use both the pineapple and the canned juice to sweeten the recipe and add some tanginess.
Brown sugar – Brown sugar adds a caramelizing element to the sauce and balances the savory ingredients.
Rice vinegar – Rice vinegar is slightly sweet, and the acidity balances the sweetness.
Ketchup – Add a hint of tomato and thickness to the sauce. Choose a sugar-free or even a spicier version if you like.
Soy sauce – Get the umami element with soy sauce, tying everything together! (If you need a gluten-free option, use tamari or coconut aminos).
Cornstarch – Use a bit of cornstarch to create a slurry that thickens the sauce, allowing it to fully coat the meatballs.

2 pounds frozen meatballs 2 bell peppers, any color ½ white onion 20 oz can pineapple chunks in juice ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup rice vinegar ¼ cup ketchup 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons cornstarch all laid out on counter

How To Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs in the Slow Cooker

Add meatballs to the slow cooker.

Remove ribs and seeds from the peppers and chop them into chunks, then add them to the slow cooker.
Peel the onion, cut into chunks, and add to the slow cooker.

Frozen Meatballs and chopped red and green peppers laid on top inside of slow cooker

Frozen Meatballs and chopped red, green peppers, and chopped onions laid on top inside of slow cooker

Drain juice from the pineapple and set aside.
Add pineapple chunks to the slow cooker.

Frozen Meatballs and chopped red, green peppers, onions, and diced pineapples inside of slow cooker

Whisk together reserved pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce.

Whisking reserved pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup and soy sauce

Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth, then whisk the slurry into the pineapple juice mixture.

Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water until smooth then whisk into the pineapple juice mixture

Pour this mixture over the meatballs in the slow cooker.

Pouring mixture of sweet and sour sauce over the meatballs in slow cooker

Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours until fully heated through and the sauce has thickened.

Cooked in Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Pro Tips

Frozen meatballs do not need to be thawed first – they can go directly into the slow cooker.
If you use homemade meatballs, browning them first will help them hold together in the slow cooker.
Trader Joe’s, Costco, and even Aldi have great premade meatball brands. Go for a homestyle meatball instead of Italian style.
If the sauce isn’t thick enough at the end of cooking, whisk in a little extra cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water) and cook on high for 15 more minutes.
To make gluten-free, check all labels to determine if items are safe for use, or choose appropriate gluten-free swaps.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Frozen meatballs work perfectly in this recipe and make quick work at prep time! If you can find a brand you love, I highly recommend this option.
If you want to try your hand at homemade meatballs, check out my recipe for Freezer: Make-Ahead Italian Meatballs (and simply leave out the Italian seasoning). My best tip for making homemade meatballs is to use a combination of breadcrumbs and eggs to help them hold together in the slow cooker.
I used beef homestyle meatballs in this recipe, but you can try ground turkey, chicken, or pork meatballs.
Canned pineapple is the easiest choice, but fresh pineapple works if you cut it into small chunks. If you prefer using pineapple tidbits, they will mix into the sauce more, and pineapple chunks will give bigger bites of tangy flavor.
Use any color of bell peppers for variety, and add carrots, snap peas, or water chestnuts for crunch.
To change up the flavor, add a dash of sriracha or red pepper flakes for spice. Use hoisin sauce instead of ketchup for a richer, more complex flavor.
Can’t forget the garnish! Sprinkle with sesame seeds or sliced green onions.

Close up of Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs with a tooth pick inside of meatball

How To Serve Sweet and Sour Meatballs

I’m here to tell you – there is no wrong way to enjoy sweet and sour meatballs! Whether a snack, appetizer, or main dish, these are easy to enjoy.

The sauce and veggies make this a great option to pair with white rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice. If you need a lower-carb option, serve with cauliflower rice or quinoa.

The sweet, sticky sauce also makes the meatballs a fun option to toss with lo mein or ramen-style noodles. Use tongs to lightly mix the noodles, sauce, and meatballs together for a heartier meal! Or, make up Sweet and Spicy Asian Noodles to serve as a filling side.

For an easy party snack, simply skewer them with toothpicks and add a piece of pepper and onion too, if you like!

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs served on bed of rice

Storing and Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezing is not recommended since the sticky texture may change.

To reheat, warm the meatballs over low heat on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth if needed to thin the sauce. Or, heat in short intervals in the microwave stirring between each.