Why do my meatballs fall apart in the slow cooker?

One disadvantage to the slow cooker is that meatballs may fall apart if you put them in the pot raw . By partially cooking the meatballs before you put them in the slow cooker, you can ensure your meatballs do not fall apart.

What are sweet and sour meatballs made of?

ingredients For the meatballs. 1 lb ground beef. Worcestershire sauce, to taste. 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs. oregano, to taste. 1 egg, slightly beaten. salt and pepper, to taste. 1 clove garlic, minced. More items...

What is the secret to making tender meatballs?

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness . Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

What not to do when making meatballs?

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs Not seasoning the meat. Not adding any moisture to the meat. Over-mixing the meat. Not shaping the meatballs correctly. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs. May 1, 2019

What's a good sauce for meatballs in a crockpot?

Plain old-fashioned grape jelly and Heinz chili sauce are the secret to tangy, smoky, unstoppable meatballs. All you have to do is throw everything together and turn on the slow cooker. If you're using frozen meatballs, add them to the crockpot right out of the freezer.

What can I use instead of grape jelly for meatballs?

Tweaks You can also use 1 can of cranberry sauce instead of grape jelly! l.wanless459. ... Try this w/ red currant jelly instead of grape. (Or any other jelly you might like). ... Great recipe. ... I tried this using Lil Smokies and apricot/pineapple preserves as that is what I had on hand.

Why do people put flour in meatballs?

Filler ingredients like breadcrumbs or flour are important too because they stop the meatballs becoming dry . The breadcrumbs absorb the juices from the meat as it cooks, trapping them within the meatball. Again quantity is important here; too much and your meatball will be more like stuffing or a dumpling.

How to stop meatballs from falling apart?

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much . Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

How to stop meat falling apart in a slow cooker?

How to Avoid Dry or Tough Meat Choose the Right Cuts. The best cuts of meat for a slow cooker are well-marbled and fatty. ... Add Just Enough Liquid. ... Be Patient. ... Cook Low and Slow. Apr 16, 2020

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook?

Tenderizing the Meat: As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

How do I make sure my beef is tender in a slow cooker?

Simply add the meat to your slow cooker with aromatics, stock and sauces and cook either on High for 4-5 hours or on Low for 5-8 hours. How do you make meat tender in a slow cooker? Choosing a cut of beef best suited for low and slow cooking is the ideal way to get extra tender meat .

Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs ~ The Recipe Bandit (2024)

Home » Meal Ideas » Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs ~ The Recipe Bandit (1)

Appetizers and Sides· Meal Ideas

29Feb

This recipe for Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs is easy and delicious and does double duty as either a meal or as an appetizer!

Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs are tender, bite sized, and wrapped in a deliciously sweet sauce.

Served on a toothpick or a bed of rice, these little bites are delicious and super easy to make. The slow cooker literally does all the work and who doesn’t love a recipe like that?

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Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs ~ The Recipe Bandit (2)

All about the meatballs

I have all sorts of appreciation for frozen meatballs.Available at most grocery stores and at Costco (in a gigantic bag), they are one of the most versatile ingredients that you can have in your freezer!

The meal idea possibilities are infinite and making your own make ahead meatballs is a budget friendly alternative to buying the premade, more expensive ones.

For this recipe, you can use premade meatballs, homemade meatballs, thaw them out, or keep them frozen. Whatever works for you!

The slow cooker does the majority of the work and dinner is delicious. These also make a great appetizer. My favorite kind of recipe!

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About the Ingredients

Meatballs – Fresh, frozen, ground beef or turkey… whatever you want to do here is fine. I keep a bunch of make ahead meatballs in the freezer so this comes together quick and easy.

Peppers – This recipe is pretty with multicolored peppers but there is no need to make them with any specific color. I always like to cut up a few pieces into smaller pieces and save them to stir into the finished product. The pepper chunks in the slow cooker will cook down so adding a few small pieces of uncooked peppers at the end adds a nice crunch.

Vinegar – This recipe calls for rice wine vinegar (rice vinegar) or apple cider vinegar. I almost always have the seasoned rice vinegar available in my pantry but if you don’t have either of those, you could also substitute plain white vinegar.

Soy Sauce – It doesn’t matter if you use low sodium soy sauce or regular soy sauce to make this. Also, I often substitute coco aminos here because the flavor is the same and the product is allergy friendly, contains less salt and is a lot less expensive than soy sauce!

What to Serve With – As an appetizer, serve with toothpicks. As a dinner, serve over any kind of rice (absorbs the sauce) or over egg noodles (weirdly good).

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How to Make Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs

The convenience of the slow cooker is something that we are often thankful for. It makes feeding the family on busy weeknights so much easier, especially when everyone is coming and going.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs served over cooked rice makes a whole meal but can also be served as a great sharable party appetizer. Delicious and bite sized meatballs in a sweet, sticky sauce. Delicious and easy!

Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs ~ The Recipe Bandit (5)

Set the slow cooker to low heat and place a single layer of frozen meatballs evenly on the bottom.

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Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped peppers and minced garlic. Saute until tender, about 3-5 minutes until peppers are softened, stirring frequently.

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Add onion powder, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar and sesame oil and stir to combine.

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Drain the mandarin oranges, reserving 1/4 cup of the juice. Add the drained mandarin oranges to the saucepan. Increase the heat to medium-high and heat the sauce to a boil.

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In a small bowl combine the reserved 1/4 cup juice from the mandarin oranges with the cornstarch and mix until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.

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Add the cornstarch mixture into the sauce and stir.

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It will begin thickening immediately.

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Remove from heat and pour over the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 5-6 hours on low (or 2-3 hours on high) stirring occasionally.

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Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or over rice as a meal. Enjoy!

Other Slow Cooker Recipes You May Enjoy

Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew – Bite sized chunks of beef, tender potatoes, and all of your favorite vegetables slow simmered in a delicious beef gravy.

Crockpot French Onion Soup – Overnight French Onion Soup made easy!

Crockpot Taco Chili – Delicious dump, stir and walk away recipe. Dinner is ready.