Name: 3-Ingredient Hawaiian Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
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)

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These are the easiest Hawaiian Meatballs made with just 3 ingredients: frozen meatballs, BBQ sauce, and pineapple. They can be cooked in the slow cooker or on the stovetop an easy appetizer that disappears at every game day and party.

This easy Hawaiian Meatballs recipe is sweet, tangy, and addicting! Serve it over rice for a quick meal or as an appetizer for game day or parties!

Three Ingredient Hawaiian Meatballs

If you need a zero-effort appetizer that everyone loves, this these Hawaiian Meatballs recipe is it! The sweet-tangy combo of BBQ sauce and pineapple is absolutely addictive and I've watched people go back for “just one more” at least five times. Just toss everything in your slow cooker (I use these slow cooker liners, too, so there is zero mess or clean-up!). We love Hawaiian meatballs as an appetizer or quick 30-minute meal served over rice.

Don't miss my other appetizer recipes, like Sausage Balls, Crispy Baked Chicken Wings, Easy Homemade Salsa, Canapés, Bacon Wrapped Dates, and Crab Cakes.

How to make Hawaiian Meatballs:

Add Ingredients: Spray the bottom of your slow cooker with cooking spray (or use a liner) then arrange the frozen meatballs on the bottom. Pour homemade BBQ sauce and crushed pineapple over the meatballs.

Cook: Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. Serve warm garnished with chopped green onions.

The best Hawaiian Meatballs recipe is truly a dump and go recipe with just frozen meatballs, pineapple, and BBQ sauce for the best appetizer!

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4.98 from 184 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!

Prep: 10

Cook: 15

Total: 25

Servings:

Equipment

Slow Cooker

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

For Slow Cooker Meatballs:

Spray the bottom of your slow cooker lightly with cooking spray (or use a slow cooker liner). 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.

For Stovetop :

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, but a great frozen store-bought option is Costco's Kirkland brand Italian meatballs. If meatballs are not frozen, 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.

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I originally shared this recipe August 2017. Updated February 2021, August 2023 and February 2026.

4.98 from 184 votes (173 ratings without comment)

33 Comments

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Ellen

7 months ago

This recipe looks amazing! If using homemade frozen meatballs, do you precooked them before you freeze them?

Admin

Stacy Popham

Reply to Ellen

Yes! I fully cook the meatballs first before freezing. That way they reheat evenly in the sauce without needing extra cooking time.

Reply to Stacy Popham

Thank you! Will be making these this weekend 🙂

Jolene

2 years ago

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

SANDRA LEE CANNATA

These were a hit!!!

Val

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

Jessica

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!!

Author

Lauren Allen

Reply to Jessica

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.

Amy

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.

Debra

5 Stars . Everything is wonderful.

Mary

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!