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You will LOVE these Sweet and tangy Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs recipe made with pineapple, BBQ sauce, and frozen meatballs. Easy to make for weeknight dinner, as an appetizer for parties or for meal prep as an easy freezer meal recipe!
What to Make For Dinner Using Frozen Meatballs
If you’re looking for what to make for dinner tonight, something that’s easy and kid-friendly, these Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs are perfect! You can have dinner prepped in 10 minutes and then just let it cook! Serve with rice and veggies to sop up that delicious sauce!
Recipe Shortcut!
I use barbecue sauce instead of soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup. You see, in Hawaiian meatballs recipes most people add those ingredients with ketchup which is essentially just making your own barbecue sauce. Why put in extra effort? Just take a shortcut!
Why Readers LOVE Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs
Our family have always been obsessed with my meatball recipe. But I tire of the same thing every month, so I’ve come up with a few new recipes for meatballs. Have you tried our juicy Chicken Meatballs with Orzo? Gosh, I could eat bowl after bowl!!
This time I’ve gone tropical and easy by combining meatballs, chunks of pineapple, and a sweet, tangy sauce for the best family-friendly Crock Pot recipe!
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs
Frozen Meatballs: Fresh works too, we use ground beef meatballs but turkey meatballs would work too
Pineapple: Fresh chopped or canned works too
BBQ Sauce: Adds a depth of flavor to the sauce
Soy Sauce: Adds a touch of salt for flavor
Rice Wine Vinegar: Acid to balance the sweet and salty
Brown Sugar: A little sweetness
Ginger: Adds a little bite and depth of flavor
Garlic: Rounds out the sauce
How to Make Crockpot Hawaiian Meatballs
Dump: No need to thaw, just add the meatballs to the slow cooker.
Pineapple: Add the chunks on top of the meatballs.
Mix the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients.
Pour: Pour the sauce over the meatballs and pineapple chunks. Stir gently.
Cover and cook: on low for 5 to 6 hours, on high for 2 to 3 hours
Serve warm with toothpicks as an appetizer, or over white rice for the main dish for dinner.
Can You Use Frozen Meatballs?
Yes! That’s one of the best things about this recipe. Just add the frozen meatballs straight to your slow cooker — no need to thaw. If you’ve only got fresh, use that too, but I recommend browning first in a skillet.
Can You Bake Hawaiian Meatballs?
Instead of using a slow cooker, you can bake frozen meatballs in the oven. Heat to 350 and bake for 30 minutes.
How to Store and Freeze Leftovers
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop in a deep skillet or in the microwave until heated through.
Juicy, tangy, and full of flavor—these crockpot Hawaiian meatballs with pineapple make the ultimate easy family dinner.
Watch How to Make Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs
More of Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes:
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In a slow cooker, add frozen meatballs and pineapple chunks.
3 Pounds Frozen Meatballs, 2 ½ Cups Pineapple
In a medium-size bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and brown sugar.
2 Cups Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce, 1/4 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce, 1/4 Cup Rice Wine Vinegar, 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
Using a micro-plane, grate ginger in and add the garlic, whisking into the sauce.
1 Tablespoon Ginger, 4 Cloves Garlic
Pour the sauce over meatballs then gently toss to coat. Put lid on crock pot. Set to HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 5-6. Serve over rice with green onions.
2 Tablespoons Green Onions
Serving: 1.5cups, Calories: 512kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 98mg, Sodium: 898mg, Potassium: 612mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 174IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 55mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
