Description
These sweet and sour meatballs are everything you want in a cozy, satisfying dinner—sweet, tangy, and incredibly easy to pull together. Tender meatballs simmer in a glossy pineapple-vinegar sauce that clings to every bite. Serve it with rice or noodles for a fuss-free dinner win that feels like takeout without the wait. Great for quick dinners, easy meal prep, and slow cooker lovers looking for no-fuss comfort food. (Keywords: easy dinner, quick meal, slow cooker, sweet and sour, comfort food, meatballs, crockpot meal, family recipe)
Ingredients
32 oz frozen meatballs (beef or turkey)
1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks with juice
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
Instructions
1. In a bowl, mix together ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and garlic powder until smooth.
2. Add frozen meatballs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
3. Top with pineapple chunks and sliced bell peppers.
4. Pour the sauce over everything.
5. Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2–3 hours.
6. About 15 minutes before serving, stir in a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
7. Serve over rice, noodles, or in a hoagie roll.
Notes
Use store-bought meatballs to save time, or go homemade if you want to level up.
Stirring halfway through helps even cooking but isn’t essential.
Add a splash of water or pineapple juice when reheating leftovers to refresh the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: easy dinner, slow cooker, sweet and sour, meatballs