This post contains affiliate links.

Whether you serve this Hawaiian Meatballs recipe as an easy party appetizer or as a main dish over rice, it's sure to be hit! All you need is pineapple, BBQ sauce and meatballs, and you can cook them in the slow cooker or on the stovetop.

Want more 30-Minute meals? Try Chicken Taquitos, Taco Salad, or Spaghetti Pie!

A crockpot hawaiian meatballs recipe in a slow cooker and topped with fresh chopped green onions.

Why I love this recipe:

  • Versatile – I love serving these as a delicious appetizer at a party, or serving them as a main dish over rice. Either way, they are a crowd pleaser every time!
  • 30-Minute Meal – So quick and easy to throw together. These easy Hawaiian Meatballs can be cooked on the stove in under 30 minutes, or thrown into a slow cooker.
  • The BBQ Sauce – If you've never made my homemade bbq sauce, I encourage you to try it with this simple recipe! It takes this dish to a whole new level!

How to Make Hawaiian Meatballs:

Slow Cooker Method:

Add Meatballs: Spray the bottom of your slow cooker lightly with cooking spray then add frozen meatballs to the bottom of pot.

Frozen meatballs in a slow cooker easy Hawaiian Meatballs.

Add Sauce: Pour homemade bbq sauce and crushed pineapple over meatballs. 

BBQ Sauce and diced pineapple dumped in a slow cooker on top of frozen meatballs for a Hawaiian meatballs sauce.

Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours then serve crockpot Hawaiian Meatballs warm garnished with chopped green onions, if desired.

3 ingredients Hawaiian Meatballs in a crockpot and one meatball being lifted with a toothpick.

Stovetop Method:

  • Add homemade bbq sauce and crushed pineapple to a medium pot.
  • Add meatballs and stir to coat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, 
  • Cook for 8-10 minutes for thawed meatballs, or 14-16 minutes for frozen meatballs.
  • Serve warm garnished with chopped green onions, if desired.

More Appetizers:

5 from 182 votes

3-Ingredient Hawaiian Meatballs

Author: Lauren Allen
This Hawaiian Meatballs recipe combines tangy BBQ sauce and sweet pineapple with meatballs for the ultimate sweet and savory appetizer that's always a hit at parties! Whether you make them in the slow cooker or on the stovetop, these juicy meatballs are guaranteed to disappear fast!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 10

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

  • 50 – 60 pre-cooked frozen meatballs, *, store-bought or homemade
  • 2 1/2 cups homemade BBQ sauce, (store-bought can be used, but homemade is highly recommended!)
  • 1 cup pineapple, fresh, diced, or use crushed pineapple from a can, slightly drained

Instructions 

Slow Cooker Meatballs:

  • Spray the bottom of your slow cooker lightly with cooking spray. Add frozen meatballs to the bottom of pot. Pour pineapple and bbq sauce over meatballs. 
    50 – 60 pre-cooked frozen meatballs, 1 cup pineapple, 2 ½ cups homemade BBQ sauce
  • Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. Serve warm garnished with chopped green onions, if desired.

Stovetop Instructions:

  • Add meatballs, pineapple and bbq sauce to a large pot and stir to coat. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low simmer.
  • Cover and cook for about 10 minutes for thawed meatballs, or 15+ minutes for frozen meatballs, or until warmed through. 

Notes

Meatballs: Homemade frozen meatballs will taste best, or our favorite frozen store-bought meatballs are Costco's Kirkland brand Italian meatballs. If meatballs are thawed, reduce cook time. 
Stovetop Method: Add meatballs, pineapple and bbq sauce to a large pot and stir to coat. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low simmer. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes for thawed meatballs, or 15+ minutes for frozen meatballs, or until warmed through. 
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 776mg, Potassium: 385mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 175IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 36mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Text me new recipe ideas!

Simple, tasty ideas sent once a week. No spam.

Text Signup

Follow Me

Get recipe ideas weekly!

I originally shared this recipe August 2017. Updated February 2021 and August 2023.

Related Posts

Share Recipe

About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

5 from 182 votes (173 ratings without comment)
Subscribe
Notify of

29 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
edavids1068@gmail.com
5 months ago

These were amazing! I ran out of BBQ sauce so I found some Sweet & Spicy Ginger Chile Sauce in my fridge and used half of that and half of the BBQ sauce and it was to die for!