Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs

If you are an experienced cooked, you can have a lot of fun with this easy recipe, using it as a base.  You can make this recipe with beef mince, pork mince, lamb mince, or chicken mince - and it would not taste the same to the family.  Buy what is on special and use that.

The sauce is what makes this recipe sweet and sour.  So what other sauces can you make with a can of something - either a can of tomato puree and sprinkle of Italian spices or Moroccan seasoning, or a can of coconut cream and a spoon or two of curry paste.  At a pinch a can of mushroom soup with a can of sliced mushrooms would make a great sauce.  I'm sure you are getting the picture!  You know what your family will eat, so let that be your guide. 

Mince is never boring if you have a few ideas!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Meatballs
3/4 C breadcrumbs
2 Tblsp milk
2 large eggs, beaten with a fork
1/2 tsp garlic granules
1/2 tsp ground ginger
season with salt and pepper to taste

600-700g lean mince (beef, lamb, pork, chicken)

Sauce
400g can of crushed pineapple including juice
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup white vinegar
3 Tblsp soy sauce
1 Tblsp cornflour
1 Tblsp water

• To make the meatballs, put the ingredients except the mince into a large mixing bowl and mix to combine.
• Add the mince, mix to combine and shape into golf ball sized meatballs. (Have you ever used an ice cream scoop to help you do this?) Place meatballs into slow cooker.
• You can make the recipe to this stage the night before if you want to save time in the morning, put the meatballs on a plate and cover with plastic wrap, transfer to slow cooker in the morning.
• To make the sauce, put the first four ingredients into a saucepan on a medium heat, stir and bring to the boil.
• Add the cornflour and water to a small cup and stir to make a smooth liquid, stir mixture into boiling sauce, once sauce has thickened, pour over meatballs.
• Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.

Serve over rice with cooked carrots, beans, broccoli - whatever fresh or frozen vegetables your family likes with sweet and sour.  If they are not keen on veggies, spread the rice over the whole plate, cover the rice with the veggies then add the meatballs and sauce.  The sweet sauce should help miss or master fussy to eat them all up!

Get ready for a stack of clean plates and a round of complements!  Enjoy!

Have you tried my Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup or the very popular Slow Cooker Corned Beef recipe?  They are easy, tasty, popular family friendly, budget friendly recipes - extra good at this time of year!

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Find more slow cooker recipes for Kiwis, Aussies (and other cooks who use metric measurements) here at... Slow Cooker Recipes NZ - and check this out - the easiest way to see all my Slow Cooker Recipes!