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:

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Recipe

A crockpot hawaiian meatballs recipe in a crockpot and topped with green onions.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 25 minutes
Save Recipe

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. 
  • 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: 315kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 12gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 776mgPotassium: 385mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 175IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

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

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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.

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Comments

  1. I’ve made these for work potlucks and they are always a hit. I usually do them in the Instant Pot but I can’t remember how long they cook, I think it’s somewhere between 8-10 minutes and would I quick release or natural release? I usually use Hawaiian BBQ Sauce. Holiday Potluck tomorrow but my recipe book is packed away due house renovations! TIA

  2. 5 stars
    Delicious and easy. I double-cheated and used frozen meatballs and premade BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s Original).

  3. Did you use the Italian style meatballs from costco in this recipe? I am worried about the conflicting flavors but am having a hard time finding regular meatballs that aren’t Italian flavored. Thanks for your help!!

    1. If I don’t have some homemade, I think the Costco ones are great. I think the flavors work, and they’re much higher quality than most store-bought brands.

  4. 5 stars
    Quick and easy. And taste great. I made this recipe for my grandson’s birthday party and everyone loved them. Especially my four year old grandson. Who is a picky eater.

  5. One helpful hint about these frozen meatballs. Don’t microwave them. I did that for a party that I was catering years ago and they became like golf balls. Slow cooker, oven or stove top only for these!

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