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These easy Crockpot Pineapple BBQ Meatballs combine frozen meatballs, sweet pineapple, and tangy BBQ sauce for a slow cooker appetizer or easy dinner idea served over rice.
Crockpot Pineapple BBQ Meatballs (With Frozen Meatballs)
These slow cooker pineapple bbq meatballs are the ultimate easy appetizer food or easy dinner idea for the family. Juicy meatballs simmer in a sweet, tangy pineapple BBQ sauce until they’re tender, flavorful, and completely irresistible.
With just a handful of simple, easy ingredient and 5 minutes of prep work – this slow cooker meatball recipe is perfect for holiday gatherings, game days, potlucks, or an easy family dinner served over rice.
If you love the combination of sweet and savory flavors, you’re going to love these pineapple barbecue meatballs. The pineapple adds a delicious tropical sweetness to the smoky BBQ sauce. while the slow cooker does all the work.
Why Your Family Will Love These Meatballs
- 🍍 Easy To Make : Just combine the ingredients and let your crockpot do the work.
- 🍍 Only A Few Ingredients : This recipe uses simple ingredients that you can easily find at the grocery store.
- 🍍 Perfect For Parties : Keep the meatballs warm in the slow cooker and let everyone serve themselves throughout the party.
- 🍍 Sweet and Savory : Pineapple and BBQ sauce create an irresistible flavor combination with the savory meatballs.
- 🍍Great For Busy Days : Frozen meatballs make this recipe especially convenient.
- 🍍 Easy To Customize : Use different flavors of BBQ sauce to create a custom flavor each time.
- 🍍 Easy Dinner Idea : For an easy dinner serve the sweet Hawaiian meatballs over cooked white rice, with extra sauce from the slow cooker, and garnished with green onions. My kids love this dinner!
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Barbecue Sauce : Use your favorite barbecue sauce! A sweeter bbq sauce pairs really nicely with the juicy sweet pineapple. The flavor of the barbecue sauce really shines through so use one you love – I love the Kinders brand. Use a sweet sauce, classic, spicy, or any other variety you love.
- Pineapple Chunks in 100% Pineapple Juice : Drain the juice but reserve ⅓ cup for the sauce. Pineapple tidbits could also be used, although, the pineapple chunks seem to hold up better in the crockpot during the longer cook time.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Soy Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Ground Ginger
- Frozen Fully Cooked Homestyle Meatballs
- Green Onions : Sliced thin for serving
How To Make Easy Pineapple BBQ Meatballs (Printable Recipe Card)
In a medium bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, reserved pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and ground ginger until combined.
Add the frozen meatballs and the drained pineapple chunks into a slow cooker (6QT to 8QT). Pour the pineapple barbecue sauce evenly over the top, then gently stir until the meatballs and pineapple are well coated.
Cover and cook on LOW heat for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH heat for 2 to 3 hours. The sauce should be glossy. Check several meatballs with an instant-read thermometer to make sure they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
Gently stir the meatballs before serving to coat them well in the sauce, then switch the slow cooker to WARM setting and this will help thicken the sauce and keep the meatballs warm for serving.
Sprinkle the sliced green onions over top the meatballs and serve as an appetizer, or spoon meatballs + sauce over rice for an easy dinner. Enjoy!
How To Store Leftover Meatballs
Store leftover pineapple BBQ meatballs in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 to 4 days.
Reheat them gently in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium-low heat until heated through.
Can I Make These Meatballs Ahead of Time?
Yes! Crockpot pineapple BBQ meatballs are an excellent make-ahead appetizer or dinner. Prepare and cook according to the recipe, then keep them warm in the slow cooker until you’re ready to serve them or for the duration of the party. The cooked meatballs do really well on the WARM setting for several hours.
If making them well ahead of time, refrigerate the cooked meatballs and reheat them thoroughly before serving. Reheat in a large pot over medium-low heat, or reheat them in the slow cooker on the LOW setting for several hours.
Pro Tips From The Test Kitchen
- Customize and change-up this recipe with different variations of BBQ sauce. I think a sweeter barbecue sauce pairs really nicely with the sweeter pineapple. I love using the Kinders brand either in brown sugar or a honey barbecue sauce. There are also Hawaiian barbecue sauces that are really yummy in this frozen meatball recipe. For some spice make sure you use a spicy or hot barbecue sauce.
- If you’re able to, stir the meatballs one to two times during the cook time to make sure they stay coated in the sauce.
- Make sure you are using pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple rather than in heavy syrup – the juice works better because it gives the sauce pineapple flavor without making it excessively sweet with the heavy syrup.
- Use homestyle meatballs and not the Italian style meatballs – you can also use chicken meatballs or turkey meatballs if wanted.
- This is an easy crockpot appetizer when served with toothpicks for guests to grab a meatball with. Leave the crockpot on the WARM setting for several hours to keep the meatballs warm for serving.
- I make these slow cooker pineapple meatballs for an easy dinner recipe served alongside cooked white rice, or fried rice, and then garnish with extra sauce from the slow cooker and top with sliced green onions.
- If you prefer sweeter meatballs then add some light brown sugar in with the ingredients; 1 tablespoon up to ¼ cup works fine depending on sweetness preference.
More Meatball Appetizer Recipes
More Easy Dinner Recipes That Use Frozen Meatballs
- Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs
- Crockpot Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Crockpot Orange Chicken Meatballs
- Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Enchilada Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
- EASY Crockpot Meatball Marinara
- Easy Swedish Meatballs
Crockpot Pineapple BBQ Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (18 oz) barbecue sauce
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice (drained but reserve juice)
- ⅓ cup reserved pineapple juice (from draining the can)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen, fully cooked homestyle meatballs
- sliced green onions optional garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, reserved pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and ground ginger until combined.1 bottle (18 oz) barbecue sauce, ⅓ cup reserved pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- Add the frozen meatballs and the drained pineapple chunks into a slow cooker (6QT to 8QT). Pour the pineapple barbecue sauce evenly over the top, then gently stir until the meatballs and pineapple are well coated.1 bag (32 oz) frozen, fully cooked homestyle meatballs, 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice
- Cover and cook on LOW heat for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH heat for 2 to 3 hours. The sauce should be glossy. Check several meatballs with an instant-read thermometer to make sure they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Gently stir the meatballs before serving to coat them well in the sauce, then switch the slow cooker to WARM setting, this will keep the meatballs warm for serving.
- Sprinkle the sliced green onions over top the meatballs and serve as an appetizer, or spoon meatballs + sauce over cooked rice for an easy dinner. Enjoy!sliced green onions
Notes
- Customize and change-up this recipe with different variations of BBQ sauce. I think a sweeter barbecue sauce pairs really nicely with the sweeter pineapple. I love using the Kinders brand either in brown sugar or a honey barbecue sauce. There are also Hawaiian barbecue sauces that are really yummy in this frozen meatball recipe. For some spice make sure you use a spicy or hot barbecue sauce.
- If you’re able to, stir the meatballs one to two times during the cook time to make sure they stay coated in the sauce.
- Make sure you are using pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple rather than in heavy syrup – the juice works better because it gives the sauce pineapple flavor without making it excessively sweet with the heavy syrup.
- Use homestyle meatballs and not the Italian style meatballs – you can also use chicken meatballs or turkey meatballs if wanted.
- This is an easy crockpot appetizer when served with toothpicks for guests to grab a meatball with. Leave the crockpot on the WARM setting for several hours to keep the meatballs warm for serving.
- I make these slow cooker pineapple meatballs for an easy dinner recipe served alongside cooked white rice, coconut rice or fried rice, and then garnish with extra sauce from the slow cooker and top with sliced green onions.
- If you prefer sweeter meatballs then add some light brown sugar in with the ingredients; 1 tablespoon up to ¼ cup works fine depending on sweetness preference.
Nutrition
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