Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Yield: 4 servings
Active Time: 10 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours in slow cooker
Pre-made meatballs. Bell peppers. Sauce. Rice. Yes, it’s that simple

Ingredients for Single Meal

  • 1 - lb(s) precooked frozen meatballs
  • 1 - small white onion(s)
  • 1 - green bell pepper(s)
  • 1 - red bell pepper(s)
  • 1 - 15 oz. can(s) tomato sauce
  • 3 - Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 - cup(s) brown sugar
  • 1/4 - cup(s) cider vinegar
  • 1 - 20 oz. can(s) pineapple chunks
  • - Salt and pepper
  • 1 - Tbsp cornstarch**
  • Side: - rice**
  • 1 - gallon-size freezer baggie(s)
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Cooking Directions for Single Meal

  1. Dice onion. Seed and dice both peppers. Open and drain pineapple.
  2. To the slow cooker, add the precooked meatballs, diced onion pieces, diced green and red bell pepper pieces.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar and cider vinegar. Pour over the meatballs and veggies. Add the pineapple chunks on top of the sauce. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
  4. Set slow cooker on low and cook for 8 hours. With about 30 minutes left in the cooking cycle, whisk in the cornstarch to thicken the sauce around the beef and veggies.
  5. TIP: In a small bowl, whisk together the 1 Tbsp cornstarch with 1 Tbsp of warm water then pour into the sauce. This will prevent the cornstarch from clumping in the sauce.
  6. (Note: if your slow cooker “runs hot” and has dried out meat in the past, you might want to add ¼ cup hot water to keep the inside of the slow cooker moist.)
  7. Prepare rice.
  8. Serve Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs over rice.

Freezeasy Meal Prep Directions

  1. Open 2 cans of tomato sauce.
  2. Dice 2 green bell peppers and 2 red bell peppers.
  3. Dice 2 small white onions.
  4. Whisk together 2 - 15 oz. cans tomato sauce, 6 Tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 cup cider vinegar.
  5. Open and drain 2 cans of pineapple chunks.

To each gallon-size plastic freezer baggie, add the following ingredients:

  • 1 lb. frozen meatballs
  • Half of the diced white onions
  • Half of the diced green bell peppers
  • Half of the diced red bell peppers
  • Prepared sweet n sour sauce, half into each bag
  • 20 oz. can pineapple chunks, well drained
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Note: Do not add cornstarch to the freezer bag.

Remove as much air as possible and seal. Add label and freeze.

Freeze & Thaw Instructions

Put baggie in the freezer and freeze up to 6 months in fridge freezer or 12 months in a deep freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or a warm bowl of water for about 20 minutes, before transferring to the slow cooker and cooking on low for 8 hours.

Dairy-Free Modifications

Recipe is dairy-free when served with dairy-free sides.

Gluten-Free Modifications

Use a gluten-free soy sauce to keep the entire meal gluten-free.

Printable Label Recipe Title

Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Printable Label Instructions

Thaw and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Add cornstarch at end of cooking cycle, as directed on the recipe.
Serve over rice.