These Asian inspired Sweet and Sour Meatballs can be served as a main dish over rice or as an appetizer with picks for casual parties and snacking. Simmer these pork meatballs in a crockpot or finish them on the stovetop for a busy day meal.

Easy Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

These handmade Asian inspired pork meatballs are flavor packed. The sweet and spicy sauce can be thickened to suit your fancy depending on how you intent to serve them. How to make crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

Prepare Pans – Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or heavy duty foil sprayed with cooking spray.
Make Meatball Mixture – Mix together the ground pork, bread crumbs, eggs, garlic, ginger, green onions, sesame oil, salt, black pepper and chinese 5 spice until well combined.
Divide and Form into Balls – Divide the mixture into around 1 1/2 Tbsp portions rolling them into balls using your hands. Place on the prepared pan leaving at least one inch between.
Cook – Bake for 15-20 minutes or just until the tops are lightly golden.
Crockpot Instructions: Spray the liner of a crockpot with cooking spray. Transfer cooked meatballs to the crockpot.
Pineapple – Pour the pineapple chunks (and juice) over the meatballs.
Make the Sauce – Whisk together the sweet chili sauce, ketchup, beef stock, hoisin, soy sauce and vinegar. Pour the sauce over the meatballs, then gently stir to combine.
Lock the lid in place and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 5-6 hours. At the end of cooking uncover and gently stir the meatballs.
Thicken the Sauce: (Optional) To thicken the sauce whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until dissolved. Pour into the slow cooker while stirring, then increase the heat to high. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or just until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Repeat the cornstarch slurry, if desired.
Serve immediately over cooked rice as a main dish or with picks as an appetizer garnished with sesame seeds.
Stovetop Instructions: Follow the recipe for preparing the meatballs in the oven. Add the sauce ingredients to a 5 or 6 quart heavy bottomed saucepan with the pineapple chunks. Simmer over medium heat, then add the cooked meatballs. Gently stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce. Simmer uncovered over medium-low heat for 20-30 minutes or just until heated through and the sauce has thickened slightly (follow Step #9 for thickening the sauce further). Serve immediately.

How to Make the BEST Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Sweet and Sour Meatballs: Fresh ground pork, panko breadcrumbs, large eggs, medium cloves garlic, fresh ginger, green onions finely chopped, Asian style sweet chili sauce, sesame oil, salt, black pepper, chinese 5 spice, canned pineapple chunks and sesame seeds for garnishing.
To make the Sweet and Sour Sauce: Asian style sweet chili sauce, ketchup, beef stock, hoison sauce, teriyaki or soy sauce (low sodium) and rice wine vinegar. Cornstarch for thickening the sauce.
Kitchen tools you’ll need: 6 quart or similar slow cooker OR 5-6 quart saucepan, sheet pans, medium bowl, sharp knife and cutting board, measuring cups and spoons.
The sweet chili sauce used in this recipe includes crushed red pepper flakes for kick. It’s usually found on the aisle with the Asian products. If you prefer less spice, you could substitute a classic red chili sauce such as Heinz brand and add crushed red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
You can use 1 pound pork with 1 pound ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey for the meatballs for two pounds total.
You can use a meatball scoop to divide the mixture evenly, if you have one on hand.
The meatballs can be fully cooked in advance and then frozen. Add them frozen to a crockpot per the recipe with the pineapple chunks and the sauce and cook until thawed and fully heated through.
You can also make the sauce in advance and then pop it into the refrigerator until assembling the dish.
Store Sweet and Sour Meatballs chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in single serving portions in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat.

More Meatball Recipes to Make

Italian Meatball Bites are a delicious appetizer for casual gatherings.
Homemade Meatball Pizza.
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs hit all of the same flavor points as buffalo wings.
Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs is comfort food any day of the week.
Asian inspired Teriyaki Meatballs.
Vintage Swedish Meatballs never get old.
My Jamaican Jerk Meatballs are a fan favorite!
Spanish Meatballs with manchego cheese.
Mediterranean Meatballs from Food Network.

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