These sweet and sour glazed meatballs are tender, flavorful, and oh-so-easy. Dress them up for a Hawaiian Luau style appetizer, or keep them simple for a weeknight dinner. Delicious served over fluffy white rice.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
It matters not that many years have passed since our cross country move away from family. Big family dinners are etched in precious stone, and I remember them well.
In fact, little has changed. Our big family meals are still bursting with loudness and good eats. The food is like no other. A mouthwatering array of both Asian and American dishes that everyone brings to the tables (plural), until there’s no more table left to be seen.
These sweet and sour meatballs remind me of food that’s simple yet celebratory, perfect for party appetizers yet devoured for dinner any busy night of the week.
Scrumptious appetizer for parties
One of my aunts is famous for bringing delectable appetizers that taste as delicious as they look. These sweet and sour meatballs, thickly glazed and tender, remind me of such fabulous finger food.
These tender, juicy meatballs are every bit as tasty as they look. They are the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy. Each bite delivers the succulent flavors of a Hawaiian Luau in a convenient cocktail meatball.
And, they are super easy to make. In fact, feel free to freeze baked meatballs for easy future meals.
Meatballs for Weeknight dinner
This is the appetizer that people will crowd around and eat more than their fair share of. Easy, delicious, and adored by adults and kids of all ages. I’m thinking these are also going to be a hit at someone’s next Game Day bash, too.
On the flip side, our family loves these sweet and sour meatballs over a bed of fluffy rice for dinner any busy night of the week.
Print
Hawaiian Luau Meatballs (Crock-pot)
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 40 1x
Description
These meatballs are the perfect blend of savory, sweet, and tangy. The flavors of a Hawaiian Luau in every bite. Tender, juicy, and crock-pot easy.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 cup dry plain bread crumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
- 4 TB orange juice
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 jars (12 oz each) Asian sweet and sour sauce
- 4 TB brown sugar
- Optional: add a sprinkle of chili powder to taste if you like extra kick. Toasted sesame seeds or diced pineapple can be added for garnish.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, kosher salt, orange juice, and ground onion. Form into 40 meatballs; place on large baking sheets. Bake about 20 minutes at 350F (at this point, you can opt to freeze cooked meatballs for future use.)
- If using slow cooker, combine sweet and sour sauce with brown sugar. Add meatballs, gently fold to coat with sauce. Cook on low setting for about 30 minutes or just long enough to warm up sauce (if sauce simmers for long, it will thicken too much.) Switch to warm setting and serve saucy meatballs straight from slow cooker.
- If using a large pan/pot, let meatballs and sauce mixture come to a simmer and remove from heat. Transfer to serving dish and garnish as desired.
Notes
Seasoned, frozen meatballs may be baked according to package instructions, and then mixed with sauce, per recipe (although homemade ones will yield best flavor.)
You can freeze these homemade meatballs after baking, for easy future use.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: appetizer
- Method: bake, slow cooker
- Cuisine: Asian American
Keywords: Hawaiian Meatballs, Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Recap. Have you Tried these?
Once you try these Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings, no other chicken wing will measure up:
And this luscious Brie en Croute? Sublime (and impressively easy!) party appetizer:
Don’t leave out the Buffalo Chicken Dip. And Sriracha. I mean Sriracha Buffalo Chicken Dip.
Thank you for sharing these delicious meatballs – I just love meatballs! I’m in Australia and have never heard of the Campbells Hawaiian packet sauce. Would you be able to tell me the sort of spices that would be in that by any chance? thank you for the inspiration
Hi, Food Fairy :). This sauce is similar to a sweet and tangy sauce you’d get in sweet/sour Asian dishes. Such as sweet and sour chicken or pork. In general, a common blend would include pineapple juice, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce/salt. Keep checking back, as I plan to have a sweet and sour chicken recipe post :). Thanks for visiting, and love your gravatar!
I’m thinking of making the Hawaiian Luau Meatballs. It calls for ground onion? Is it granulated onion powder or an onion that you grate on your grater? Thanks!
Hi! Yes, just ground onion powder. Enjoy, and glad you’re here. 🙂
These meatballs sound so good. Thank you.
Hi, these look great and I”m going to make them!
My only question is, can I make these meatballs ahead of time and then let them refrigerate overnight before adding them to the crockpot or should I just shape them and not actual bake them and leave them overnight to then bake them later and add to crockpot.
Sorry, I’m planning on making these for a party and would like to do the prep work beforehand.
Yes, you can definitely make them ahead and add to crockpot the next day! 🙂
where can I find the campbells slow cooker sauce (Hawaiiam Luau) in stores in Edmonton?
Oh, I’m not sure about Canada. I get mine at any local super market… My best guess would be to try your largest nearby super market, in the prepared soups aisles. I’m sure the employees could help you out also. Thanks for coming over, Holly! 🙂
Can coat the meatballs in the sauce in a half tray pan and cook them in the oven? It should come out the same right? If so, any idea on temperature and for how long? Thank you!
Lisa, you can absolutely do these in the oven, with sauce and all. I would try 350F for about 15 min, or just enough to thoroughly heat the meatballs. Once sauce is bubbly, it should be great. Enjoy!
Question… if I use frozen meatballs do I need to cook them before I put them in crockpot?
No, you don’t need to precook them. Hope you love this, Trisha! Enjoy and thanks for coming over 🙂
Hi there
If I’m usung frozen meatballs should I cut out the egg and bread crumbs?
Yes, Sylvia, if using frozen meatballs, omit egg and crumbs. Enjoy!
Hi!! I’m making these meatballs, right now, what size do I make the meatballs?
Hi, Shawn! I usually make mine about 1-1.5 inches diameter. Enjoy!
How about already made of
Meatballs ?
Yes, you can use pre-made meatballs 🙂
I have everything for this recipe because I think my son will love these!!! BUT I CANNOT find this Campbell’s Gawain luau sauce. Any suggestions? I checked target Walmart and KTA. and what’s a good side with these meat balls? Can’t wait to t eh them!!
It’s been discontinued. I’m trying to find a replacement….
Yes, I just discovered that as well :/ I’ve re-tested the recipe using classic Asian sweet and sour sauce instead, and it’s just as delicious. You can find sweet and sour sauce in most major grocery stores 🙂
When you say ground onions, what do you mean?
Ah, updated it to say onion powder. Thank you, Mary!