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Sweet and savory Pineapple Meatballs are a perfectly easy appetizer for parties and get-togethers or a delicious side dish for dinner.

Pineapple Meatballs make the perfect party food for any occasion – a tasty variation of our BBQ Meatballs. Just add a few dips and desserts and you have quite the shindig! 

Pineapple Meatballs served on toothpicks.


Hawaiian Meatballs

Pineapple Meatballs are too easy and delicious NOT to try. We have several meatball recipes that we love (like Crockpot Meatballs and Swedish Meatballs). I’m happy to report that this Hawaiian Meatball Recipe is beyond simple and SO tasty!!

Enjoy these meatballs for dinner or as a side dish or appetizer. They’d be great for parties and get-togethers as well. Just add toothpicks and let everyone chow down!

Adding the pineapples enhances the sweet and salty flavor found in regular BBQ Meatballs. If you aren’t as much a fan of the sweet and spicy, omit the pineapple chunks, but trust me when I say they add so much flavor.

If you’d rather make Homemade Meatballs that are even tastier (instead of the frozen ones), try THIS RECIPE.

Frozen meatballs in a bowl.

Quick + Easy!

SAUCE. Add barbecue sauce and crushed pineapple to a medium pot. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.

BAKE. Add meatballs and stir until all coated. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8-10 minutes if meatballs are thawed or for 14-16 minutes if using frozen meatballs.

SERVE. Serve immediately. ENJOY!

Cook in a slow cooker: Combine the sauce ingredients, coat the meatballs in the sauce, and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours.

Recipe Tips + Variations

Homemade meatballs. Easily use Homemade Meatballs to make this recipe. You can also use any type of meat including ground beef, ground Turkey Meatballs, or vegetarian meatballs. Brown them before cooking.

Pineapple. Instead of using canned pineapple, cut up a fresh pineapple. The pineapple will cook up sweetly as the dish simmers. You may need to add a few tablespoons of water or pineapple juice to compensate for the lack of juice that would have come from the can of pineapples.

Variations:

  • use pineapple chunks instead of crushed
  • mix in diced bell peppers
  • add heat with crushed red peppers
  • top cooked meatballs with sliced green onion, chopped cilantro, or sesame seeds
  • sweeten the dish by adding a bit of brown sugar

We have so many tasty meatballs on our site: BBQ Meatballs, Asian Meatballs, Porcupine Meatballs, Italian Meatballs, and Grape Jelly Meatballs to name a few!

Storing Info + SERVING IDEAS

Make ahead freezer meal. Combine all of the ingredients in a Freezer Ziploc. Label and keep in the freezer. Thaw overnight before cooking. 

STORE leftover Pineapple Meatballs in an airtight container for up to a week and reheat them in the microwave until warmed through.

FREEZE Hawaiian Meatballs in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 1 month. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stove with some added BBQ sauce.

What to serve with Pineapple Meatballs?

These are great all on their own but also pair well with other foods to make a delicious dish.

Close up of Barbecue pineapple Meatballs served on a white plate.

For more meatball recipes, check out:

5 from 20 votes

Pineapple Meatballs Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Sweet and savory Pineapple Meatballs are a perfectly easy appetizer for parties and get-togethers or a delicious side dish for dinner.
Servings: 6 people
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Canned Crushed Pineapple (undrained)
  • 16 oz Meatballs
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Instructions 

  • Add barbecue sauce and crushed pineapple to a medium pot. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.
  • Add meatballs and stir until all coated. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8-10 minutes if meatballs are thawed or for 14-16 minutes if meatballs are frozen.
  • Serve immediately. ENJOY!

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 287mg, Potassium: 330mg, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 75IU, Vitamin C: 5.1mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 1mg

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

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
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Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!


About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




33 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love the taste of sweet and savory. This is one of the perfect recipes I’ve ever known! Thanks a lot for sharing!

  2. 5 stars
    I’m glad your commenters shared the crock pot info. It was my first question after reading the recipe. The addition of pineapple sound so delicious. I can’t wait to try it out

  3. 5 stars
    Easy and quick recipe. I tried this recipe and we all Loved it. This morning I am up preparing them again for a potluck at work. These are so delicious.

  4. 5 stars
    May i ask How you can make this for a crowd? I want to make it for 30 people, could i make the sayce and pour it over the meatballs in a larfe tray than simmer it in the oven? Would it cone out ok?

    1. You could just double or triple the recipe & cook the same. I have not tried the oven, but you could bake them, too.