Shakin & Bakin Foodie Blog

During this time of the year we are all super busy. We've got the holidays upon us and don't have time to be spending hours upon hours in the kitchen preparing food. One of the things I like to utilize as much as possible during these busy weeks in my slow cooker (crockpot) to make delicious foods for my family and/or party guests.

Today I am going to share with all of you my favorite recipe for Crockpot Sweet & Sour Meatballs. When I make this recipe I buy bags of the fully cooked beef meatballs at my local dollar discount store. Yes, you read that right, the dollar store! They sell 12 oz. bags of fully cooked & seasoned beef meatballs for $1.00 per bag!

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

10 oz. jar sweet and sour sauce
1⁄4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
1⁄2 tsp. ground black pepper
2 1⁄2 lbs. frozen beef meatballs (fully cooked
1/4 to 1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
20 ounce can pineapple chunks, drained
I use the largest slow cooker that I own which I think holds 5 quarts. Pour the sweet & sour sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, salt, ground black pepper and finely chopped green bell pepper into the base of the slow cooker and stir. Gently add in the frozen beef meatballs and the drained can of pineapple chunks. Stir to combine all ingredients.

Place the lid on the slow cooker and turn the heat up to the HIGH setting for one hour. Reduce heat to the low setting for 4-6 hours or until done. Once done...you can use the warm setting to keep them warm while serving them at a party or enjoy them right away. Refrigerate any leftovers and reheat in your microwave oven on 50% power until they are heated through.

Note: I find that this freezes well too! I will often make big batches and freeze it for later use. I let it cool completely and then spoon everything into a freezer-safe plastic container (make sure you spoon a lot of the sauce into the container) and FREEZE for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat right before serving time.