Sweet and Sour Crock Pot Meatballs (Printable)

Tender meatballs in a fruity peach-apricot sweet and sour sauce. Perfect effortless appetizer or main dish for gatherings.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together peach or apricot preserves, ketchup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, ground ginger, and black pepper until smooth.
02 - Place frozen meatballs in a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
03 - Pour prepared sauce over meatballs and gently toss to coat evenly.
04 - Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 1.5-2 hours, until meatballs are heated through and sauce is bubbly.
05 - Stir gently 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 Hints:

01 -
  • These meatballs magically disappear at parties while you get to actually enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • The sweet-tangy sauce creates this gorgeous glaze that clings to each meatball, making them impossible to stop eating after just one.
02 -
  • Dont lift the lid during cooking unless absolutely necessary, as each peek adds 15-20 minutes to your cooking time by releasing accumulated heat.
  • The sauce thickens beautifully as it cools slightly, so if it seems a bit thin when first done, just let it rest covered for 10 minutes before serving.
03 -
  • For an elevated presentation that takes zero extra effort, serve these in a shallow dish with the sauce pooled around rather than completely coating each meatball, then add a dramatic sprinkle of black and white sesame seeds.
  • The sauce recipe doubles as an incredible glaze for grilled chicken or salmon, so consider making extra to save for other meals during the week.
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