Easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs (Printable Version)

Tender meatballs in tangy fruity sauce, effortless slow cooker meal ready in hours.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 2 pounds frozen fully cooked meatballs

→ Sauce

02 - 1 cup peach or apricot preserves
03 - 1/2 cup ketchup
04 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
05 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
06 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Garnishes

10 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
11 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

# Steps:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together peach or apricot preserves, ketchup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, ground ginger, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
02 - Place the frozen meatballs into a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker bowl.
03 - Pour the prepared sauce over the meatballs and gently toss to ensure even coating throughout.
04 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or on HIGH for 1.5 to 2 hours, until meatballs are heated through and sauce is bubbly.
05 - Gently stir the meatballs before serving. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve warm as an appetizer with toothpicks, or over rice as a main dish.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • These meatballs have saved me from countless hangry moments when I need something substantial but have zero energy to cook from scratch.
  • The sauce creates this gorgeous sticky glaze that makes everyone think you spent hours in the kitchen, when really your slow cooker did all the work.
02 -
  • Do not stir these meatballs too aggressively or they will break apart, especially toward the end of cooking time when theyre tender and hot.
  • The sauce continues to thicken after cooking, so if it looks perfect in the pot, its actually going to be a bit thicker on the plate.
03 -
  • For a glossier finish, brush the meatballs with a bit of warmed preserves just before serving, especially if theyre being presented at a party.
  • Keeping the crock pot on the warm setting after cooking lets guests serve themselves throughout an event without the sauce breaking or meatballs drying out.
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