Sweet and Sour Meatballs [step by step VIDEO] - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

These Sweet and Sour Meatballs are made with homemade meatballs in a sweet and tangy sauce with pineapples and peppers! Serve over rice to soak up all of that delicious sauce!

See the step by step recipe video down in the recipe card.

These Sweet and Sour Meatballs are our last meatball recipe this month, and I couldn’t be more excited!

Earlier this month I shared:

• Easy Meatball Recipe
• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Swedish Meatballs

But sweet and sour sauce is always a favorite here!

This sauce is rich, tangy and full of flavor! It is similar to this Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken and these Sweet and Sour Slow Cooker Smokies, which are perfect for those days you’re going to be out!

There are a few steps to these Sweet and Sour Meatballs, but I promise you they’re worth the end result!

How do you make sweet and sour sauce from scratch?

I’ve made a lot of different sweet and sour sauce recipes through the years and it has taken me some time to hone in on my favorite.

This homemade sweet and sour sauce is rich, tangy, and full of flavor — and doesn’t include any ingredients I don’t normally have on hand!

For this sweet and sour sauce recipe I use:

• a can of pineapple chunks with juice — and the size is a little flexible here but I try to find a small one!
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Granulated sugar
• White vinegar
• Ketchup
• Soy Sauce (low sodium)
• Corn starch

Variations and Substitutions for this recipe:

• Meatballs: I’m no stranger to the dinner rush so I’m not going to tell you you can’t use store-bought frozen meatballs. But when you do have time, I beg you to try these homemade meatballs! They are so flavorful and juicy. If using frozen meatballs, you can throw them right in the sauce from frozen. (See my original meatball recipe post for more tips and substitutions for the meatballs)
• Canned pineapple: you can use pineapple chunks or pineapple tidbits, but I don’t recommend crushed pineapple. I don’t recommend leaving it out or substituting fresh pineapple, because the juice adds sweetness to the sauce that will be missed.
• Vegetables: I love peppers with anything sweet and sour, but you could leave them out or add in others.

Can I make these Sweet and Sour Meatballs in the crockpot?

Absolutely!

However, I still recommend cooking them first in the oven to ensure that the meatballs stay juicy and the sweet and sour sauce doesn’t become diluted with meat juices.

For best results, cook the sauce on the stove top until thickened and add with the browned meatballs to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 2-4 hours.

How to make these meatballs ahead:

You can prep these meatballs and cook completely, then cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat, simply place on the stove top on medium-low heat and cook, stirring, for 5-10 minutes until heated through.

Can I freeze Sweet and Sour Meatballs?

Yes, sort of.

You can freeze them and the meatballs and sauce will be delicious when they are thawed, but the peppers get mushy in the freezer.

If you want to make ahead and freeze for a busy day, simply skip the peppers and serve with veggies at dinner time.

What to serve with Sweet and Sour Meatballs:

• Instant Pot Brown Rice — our favorite way to eat these meatballs!
• Veggie Lo Mein

Since this sweet and sour is packed with flavor, we like to eat with something neutral that can soak it up!