Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs. Tender, flavorful meatballs cooked to perfection in a tangy, sweet, and sour sauce. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping them moist and juicy. Jump to Recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes and Easy Steak Cheese Quesadillas Recipe for Quick Dinner.
Why This Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Tender meatballs in a tangy, sweet, and sour sauce
- Easy, hands-off cooking in the slow cooker
- Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping
- Better than takeout taste at home
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 lb ground pork
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
- Optional: Green onions, chopped
- Optional: Sesame seeds
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: You can also use ground turkey or chicken.
- Breadcrumbs: Panko or regular breadcrumbs work fine.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Hands-off cooking for busy weeknights → See on Amazon
- Meat Thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked, juicy meatballs → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
- Prepare Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Cook Meatballs: Place meatballs in the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch mixture. Pour over meatballs.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the slow cooker. If you have too many meatballs, cook them in batches.
- Pro tip: For even more flavor, brown the meatballs in a pan before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Pro tip: Add a splash of water to the slow cooker if the sauce becomes too thick.
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 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare meatballs and sauce up to 24 hours ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to cook.
Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Freeze cooked meatballs 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 (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef and pork.
- Make-ahead: Prepare meatballs and sauce up to 24 hours ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water and cook for a few more minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
Meat Mallet — Ensures evenly sized meatballs for even cooking → Check price on Amazon
Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
Optional Toppings
- Green onions, chopped
- Sesame seeds
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Cook Meatballs: Place meatballs in the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch mixture. Pour over meatballs.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef and pork.
- Make-ahead: Prepare meatballs and sauce up to 24 hours ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water and cook for a few more minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare meatballs and sauce up to 24 hours ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 100mg
- 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
Yes, you can prepare the meatballs and sauce up to 24 hours ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to cook.
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry meatballs. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Yes, you can freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Yes, you can bake these meatballs at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Serve these meatballs over rice, noodles, or with a side of steamed vegetables. They're also great on their own as an appetizer.
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!
