Making a crowd-pleasing dish has never been easier with our Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot recipe. With hints of fresh garlic and savory soy sauce, the flavors of sweet pineapple tidbits and tangy BBQ sauce meld together in the slow cooker, resulting in a mouthwatering glaze for the meatballs.
We have added this meatball recipe to our repertoire for game days and gatherings where we want to serve an incredibly tasty, simple, hands-off appetizer. The slow cooker infuses each meatball with so much flavor, and we can never resist spooning on extra sauce. With minimal ingredients and prep, what is not to love about this Sweet and Sour Meatball recipe?
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot Recipe
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Frozen Meatballs in the Crockpot
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store Crockpot Frozen Meatballs
- What to Serve with Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot
- Top Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions About Frozen Meatballs in a Crockpot
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot Recipe
This was inspired by my Cooked Perfect Meatballs recipe, and pairs well with our Meatball Sliders recipe.
Why You Will Love This Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot Recipe
- Easy: We love making homemade meatballs but we also love a shortcut, and this is where store-bought frozen meatballs come into play.
- Minimal Ingredients: Using only a handful of ingredients, you can create something delicious. We love it when things aren't overcomplicated.
- Crowd-Pleasing: Making a big batch allows you to feed a crowd, and we're sure they'll disappear fast!
- Sweet and Savory: Sweet pineapple and BBQ flavors are a match made in heaven.
- Versatile: These meatballs can be served alone as an appetizer, on a bed of rice, or on a bun to make a sandwich. We love our Meatball Sliders recipe.
- Budget-Friendly: This recipe uses pantry staples you may already have at home.
- Hands Off: When you are looking to put something delicious together without a lot of effort, the Crockpot is the perfect solution. You can walk away while it works its magic.
Ingredients
Here is what you will need to make these Sweet and Sour Meatballs.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Pre-Cooked Frozen Meatballs: Using pre-made frozen meatballs makes this recipe even simpler.
- BBQ Sauce: Adds a sweet and smoky flavor to your sauce.
- Pineapple Tidbits or Chunks: Adds sweetness.
- Soy Sauce: We use low sodium.
- Dark Brown Sugar: Gives your sauce a slightly sweet, caramelized flavor.
- Fresh Garlic: In a pinch you can use garlic powder, but fresh packs unparalleled flavor.
For this recipe, you'll want to have on hand measuring cups and spoons, a slow cooker, and a spatula.
Substitutions and Variations
Love this recipe but want to make it your own? Here are some helpful ideas for you to change these Sweet n Sour Meatballs Crockpot.
- BBQ Sauce: Our go-to sauce to use is Sweet Baby Ray's, but substitute with your favorite variety.
- Meatballs: We used angus beef meatballs, but this can easily be changed to the meat of your choice.
- Pineapple Tidbits: Use canned pineapple chunks or rings if you prefer. If you have fresh pineapple on hand, it would be just as delicious.
- Asian-Inspired: For a more asian-inspired flavor, use Teriyaki and/or hoisin sauce.
- Sweetness: Adjust the amount of dark brown sugar in this recipe to your preferences. Alternatively, you can use light brown sugar, or even maple syrup to give your sauce a different flavor profile.
- Spicy: Add your favorite hot sauce variety or chili flakes to give your meatballs a kick.
- Veggies: Add a boost of fresh color with the addition of onions and bell peppers.
How to Make Frozen Meatballs in the Crockpot
Check out how quick and easy it was to make these Sweet and Sour Meatballs in just a few simple steps. Let's get cooking!
Lightly grease the base of a crockpot and add in all ingredients.
Set on LOW for 4 hours, stirring once or twice throughout.
Garnish with green onions if desired and serve.
Hint: If you are serving Sweet and Sour Meatballs for a party, turn your slow cooker onto the "Keep Warm" function to keep the meatballs fresh once everything finishes cooking.
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How to Store Crockpot Frozen Meatballs
If you have leftovers or are making these meatballs ahead, here is how to store them.
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, place in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Store in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or stovetop on low heat until warmed through.
- Make Ahead: Since the ingredients are so minimal and there is virtually no prep time, we recommend assembling everything the day you will be serving it.
What to Serve with Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot
- Toothpicks: If you're feeding a crowd, serve meatballs on a large platter with toothpicks.
- Rice: When your meatballs are almost finished cooking, make a batch of your favorite rice variety to serve alongside them.
- Steamed Vegetables: Add a side of steamed veggies for a well-rounded meal.
- Hawaiian Roll or Brioche Bun: We love serving these meatballs as sliders. Check out our Meatball Sliders recipe for more inspiration.
- Mashed Potatoes: Toss these on a fluffy pile of our Idahoan Mashed Potatoes or try the version with Yukon gold in our Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes recipe.
- Greens: Round out your meal and serve these our Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots or Maple Brussel Sprouts.
Top Tip
Instead of HIGH heat, cooking these meatballs and sauce low and slow in the Crockpot is the way to go. Cooking on LOW for 4 hours will ensure that your meatballs are cooked to perfection, and have enough time to be infused with the sweet and tangy flavors of the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions About Frozen Meatballs in a Crockpot
Do you have questions about Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot?
Cook the meatballs and sauce in the crockpot on LOW for 4 hours, until meatballs are fully heated throughout and sauce is well combined.
Of course you can! If you have homemade meatballs, you can substitute them here. Be mindful of their cooking time, and be sure to stir them gently since they may be more fragile and prone to breaking apart more easily than a frozen meatball.
There is no thawing required — meatballs go straight into the crockpot fully frozen. This is part of why we love this recipe so much!
They can be served on toothpicks, over a bed of rice, fluffy mashed potatoes, with your favorite veggie sides, and even on a slider. There are so many delicious possibilities!
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Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot Recipe
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Slow Cooker
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 3 pounds frozen meatballs pre-cooked
- 2 cups BBQ sauce
- 1 19- ounce can pineapple tidbits or chunks
- ⅓ cup soy sauce low sodium
- 50 grams dark brown sugar about ¼ cup
- 2 tablespoon fresh garlic minced
Instructions
- Lightly grease the base of a crockpot and add in all ingredients.
- Set on LOW for 4 hours, stirring once or twice throughout.
- Garnish if desired and serve.
Notes
- There is no thawing required — pre-cooked meatballs go into the crockpot fully frozen and are cooked to perfection on LOW.
- We love using Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce, but feel free to choose your favorite variety.
- Meatballs can be served on toothpicks, over a bed of rice, fluffy mashed potatoes, with your favorite veggie sides, and even on a slider.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Eva Filer says
It is great how simple this recipe comes together. Such great flavor and versatility. We make this as an appetizer when hosting events, but love leftovers to put towards meals for the week.
Sherry says
Deliciously Easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs!
I recently made Sweet and Sour Meatballs in my Crockpot, and they turned out absolutely amazing! The slow cooking process allowed the pineapple flavor to blend beautifully, creating a perfect balance of tangy sweetness. The sauce was rich and flavorful, coating the meatballs in a glossy, irresistible glaze.
What I loved most was how effortless this recipe was—just toss everything in, set it, and forget it! The meatballs came out tender and juicy, absorbing all the delicious flavors as they simmered. It’s the perfect dish for busy days, potlucks, or even a cozy family dinner.
Served over rice or as an appetizer, these meatballs were a hit with everyone! I’ll definitely be making them again. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a simple yet delicious comfort meal.
Eva Filer says
It is great to hear you love the hands off approach as much as we do. Especially with busy daily lives, it is nice to set and forget it. Thank you, as always for your kind reviews.