Make takeout for cheap at home with these easy slow cooked, sweet and sour meatballs. The sauce cooks in the slow cooker and mimics the flavor of restaurant Chinese food.
Place the meatballs and pineapple chunks in the crock of a 3-quart slow cooker.
24 meatballs, 1 cup pineapple chunks
In a medium skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion and bell pepper and saute until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add this to the crock.
1 tablespoon neutral oil, ½ onion, ½ bell pepper (any color)
In a small dish, whisk together the pineapple juice, chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper. Pour this mixture into the crock.
⅓ cup pineapple juice, ⅓ cup chicken stock, ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Cover the slow cooker and cook 4 hours on high.
Remove the meatballs, pineapple, and vegetables with a slotted spoon. Cover to keep warm.
Whisk together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water. Add this mixture to the liquid in the crock, whisking until well blended. Cook until thickened, about 10 to 15 minutes.
2 tablespoon cornstarch
Add the meatballs, pineapple, and vegetables back to the crock. Stir gently to coat with the sauce. Serve with white rice and steamed vegetables.
To freeze: cool the mixture. Wrap, label, and chill well before freezing. Reheat before serving.
Notes
Nutritional values are approximate and are based on ¼ of the recipe. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use within 4 days.