Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs

A Fan Favorite for Weeknight Meals

Here are just a few raving reviews we’ve received for this recipe since sharing it online in 2013.

“I LOVED these. I never eat leftovers, but there’s no way I was going to let these go to waste. This recipe is definitely going in my favorites! And it was easy too!” – Lauren

“Tried these for dinner last night. This is a “do again” recipe! Very easy and very yummy.” – Wendy

“I’m not sure, if 5 stars, is enough for this recipe. It’s freaking amazing. ❤️❤️❤️❤️” – Barbie

I couldn’t agree more! This Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs, aka Hawaiian Meatballs, is one my family has enjoyed for years – especially on busy weeknights. The recipe came from the Williams Family way back when our blog began. Cooking the meatballs in the crock pot gives the meatballs time to soak up all the sweet and sour flavors.

I doubled the sauce recipe in the recipe card. This is because my family loves to eat the sauce over rice and we love lots of sauce. If you aren’t a big sauce fan, feel free to halve the sauce part.

Ingredients for Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs

MEATBALLS: Ground beef is the base ingredient for the meatballs. Ground turkey or Impossible ground beef can be used for a healthier meatball. You will add cracker crumbs, finely chopped red bell pepper, red pepper flakes, chopped onion, milk, kosher salt, black pepper, an egg, and ginger to the beef for the meatball mixture.

PEPPERS AND PINEAPPLE: In addition to the meatballs, pineapple tidbits are added to the crock pot. Purchasing canned pineapple tidbits is convenient and cost efficient, but fresh pineapple can also be used. For the peppers, make it colorful! Green and red bell peppers not only add color, but also crunch and flavor.

SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE: The sweet and sour sauce is the star of the show in this dish! It is absorbed by the meatballs as they slow cook and creates a tangy topping for rice or noodles. The sauce starts with mixing cornstarch and brown sugar together, then whisking in pineapple juice, soy sauce, white vinegar, and ketchup. The sauce is poured over the meatballs, chopped green bell pepper and red bell pepper, and pineapple tidbits in the crock pot.

Pouring sweet and sour sauce in a crock pot of meatballs, pineapple, and bell peppers.

Homemade Meatballs vs Frozen Meatballs

This recipe for meatballs is delicious with the sweet and sour sauce, but I will admit I have substituted the frozen turkey meatballs at Costco on days I’m short on time. You can also use the frozen Italian meatballs from Costco. They also taste great. I just feel less guilty eating the turkey meatballs and my kids don’t even know the difference! I just pour in the meatballs with the sauce, veggies, and pineapple and dinner is DONE. It is one of those great fix it and forget it Crockpot meals.

What to Serve on the Side

Of course these delicious sweet and sour meatballs go great with rice on the side, but there are other options to consider. A slightly healthier alternative to white rice is quinoa. While still carrying carbohydrates, quinoa packs high protein and fiber into every bite, while decreasing the calorie count by 40 per cup. If you want to go even healthier, consider cauliflower rice, which has roughly 2.5 grams of carbs per cup (compared to 45 grams of carbs per cup for white rice).

Plate of Crock pot of sweet and sour meatballs over rice. Fork is stabbing into a meatball.

Questions About Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Is it better to bake meatballs or cook them in sauce?

We like to brown them on the stovetop or in the oven to get that crispy outside, and then cook them the rest of the way in sauce for flavor!

How do you thicken sweet and sour sauce in a crock pot?

The cornstarch mixed with the wet ingredients in the sauce will thicken as the crock pot heats the sauce. If the sauce isn’t as thick as you want it to be after cooking, make a cornstarch slurry by mixing a tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water in a small bowl. Make sure the cornstarch is completely dissolved in the water. Stir the slurry into the sauce in the crock pot, replace the lid, and let it cook for 15-20 more minutes.

How do you keep meatballs from falling apart in a crock pot?

The key to keeping meatballs from falling apart in a crock pot is browning the meatballs before adding them to the crock pot. You can brown the meatballs in a skillet on the stove top, or bake them in the oven.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Store leftover meatballs and sauce in an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a sauce pan on the stovetop. The sauce and meatballs can also be frozen and kept in the freezer in a freezer safe container or resealable freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat in the microwave or on the stove.