Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve perfected the balance of sweet and tangy. The result? Juicy, flavorful meatballs that’ll make your house smell amazing. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Cherry Tomato Salad with Mozzarella and Fresh Herbs and Classic Scalloped Potatoes with Cheddar Cheese Recipe.

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 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 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
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds

How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Mix well.
2. Step 2: Form mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
3. Step 3: Place meatballs in slow cooker. In a bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch mixture. Pour over meatballs.
4. Step 4: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally.
5. Step 5: Serve over rice or noodles. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

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: You can assemble the meatballs and sauce in the slow cooker the night before. Store in the fridge overnight, then cook as usual the next day.

Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months.

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 extra flavor, brown the meatballs in a pan before adding to the slow cooker.
• Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey for a leaner option.
• Make-ahead: You can assemble the meatballs and sauce in the slow cooker the night before.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes.

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

6-8 hrs

⏳

Total

6 hrs 15 mins

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free (use gluten-free breadcrumbs)

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 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

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Mix well.
2. Step 2: Form mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
3. Step 3: Place meatballs in slow cooker. In a bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch mixture. Pour over meatballs.
4. Step 4: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally.
5. Step 5: Serve over rice or noodles. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, brown the meatballs in a pan before adding to the slow cooker.
• Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey for a leaner option.
• Make-ahead: You can assemble the meatballs and sauce in the slow cooker the night before.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months.
• 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: You can assemble the meatballs and sauce in the slow cooker the night before. Store in the fridge overnight, then cook as usual the next day.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 280
• Protein: 20g
• Fat: 12g
• Carbs: 20g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 12g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sat. Fat: 5g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe FAQs

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!