These Hawaiian meatballs are easy, tasty and always a crowd pleaser. Meatballs are cooked in BBQ sauce with pineapple and ginger for the perfect appetizer or main dish.

Hawaiian meatballs in a bowl with rice.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Table of Contents

Hawaiian Meatballs Recipe

Any meatball recipes are family favorites in our house and get devoured in a matter of minutes! We love this Hawaiian version, as well other saucy ones like Asian meatballs, sweet and sour meatballs and teriyaki meatballs!

These Hawaiian meatballs are another variation of my grandpa’s famous crock pot meatballs and are similar to grape jelly BBQ meatballs however I used pineapple juice instead of grape jelly to give them a Hawaiian flavor.

The taste of the Hawaiian meatball sauce is sweet, tangy and addicting. Serve them over rice topped with green onions for a meal or serve them plain for a game day appetizer.

Recipe Ingredients

These Hawaiian meatballs only require 3 simple ingredients and are prepped in just 5 minutes!

Hawaiian meatball ingredients on counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Frozen meatballs: To keep this super simple, I use frozen premade meatballs but you can use homemade meatballs with ground beef.
  • BBQ sauce: Choose your favorite BBQ sauce to make these meatballs truly your own.
  • Bell peppers: I like to use red and orange that I cut into chunks.
  • Pineapple chunks: I love the sweetness of the pineapple and I like to add a little bit of the juice, as well.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Pineapple: I used a can of pineapple chunks that I had on hand, but you could use fresh pineapple if you prefer or crushed pineapple slightly drained.
  • Meatballs: You could also use homemade meatballs if you’d rather not use frozen. For Hawaiian meatballs on the lighter side, use turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs.
  • Ginger: Add ground ginger or freshly grated ginger to enhance the taste and flavor even further.
  • Saucier: Extra saucy meatballs add up to 1/4 cup each brown sugar, rice vinegar and soy sauce.

How to Make Hawaiian Meatballs

Showing how to make hawaiian meatballs in a 4 step collage.
  • Add meatballs to slow cooker and pour BBQ sauce on top.
  • Then add sliced pineapple, bell peppers, and pineapple juice.
  • Cook for 2 to 3 hours on high.
  • Top with more pineapple and sliced green onions if desired.
starstarstarstarstar

“Oh yum! I’ve made meatballs a lot but never this way
and now we are hooked on them! So good and such good flavor.”

Jessica

Ways to Serve

These crock pot Hawaiian meatballs are not only an appetizer but also a delicious crockpot meal as well! Below are a few of our favorite ways to serve them.

  • Place toothpicks in the top to make a fun Hawaiian appetizer.
  • Serve over rice pilaf, coconut rice or cooked noodles.
  • Serve Hawaiian meatballs in a roll to make a mini slider.
  • Sandwich between French bread to make a Hawaiian meatballs hoagie.
  • Serve directly out of the slow cooker for parties.
  • Serve with sliced green onions and sesame seeds to dress them up.
  • Feel free to add more veggies too, like more green or red bell peppers and onions.
Hawaiian meatballs in a crockpot with a spoon.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these on the stovetop?

Yes! Add BBQ sauce, pineapple and peppers to a medium sized pot. Add meatballs and combine. Bring to a boil then simmer for 8-10 minutes if your meatballs are thawed or up to 16 minutes if meatballs are frozen.

Do I need to defrost meatballs before cooking Hawaiian meatballs?

No! That’s the beauty of this recipe and what makes it perfect for a last minute dinner. Just add the frozen meatballs to your crockpot and they will cook up perfectly in the slow cooker. :) Doesn’t get easier than that!

Can you double the Hawaiian meatball recipe?

Sure. If doubling, use 50 meatballs, 2 cups BBQ sauce and 2 cans of sliced pineapple. I would also cook them around 3 hours, until they are tender and warm throughout. If you are tripling the recipe for a super large crowd, I’d recommend using 2 slow cookers.

How can I make this into a freezer meal?

Yes! Add all ingredients to a freezer storage bag and freeze up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw your freezer meal in the refrigerator overnight then place in the crockpot and slow cook as directed.

How to store leftover meatballs?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

Hawaiian meatballs in a bowl with pineapple and rice.

Try these other meatball recipes including air fryer meatballs, firecracker meatballs, or meatball sliders on Hawaiian rolls.

More Meatball Recipes

Hawaiian meatballs in a bowl with rice.

Hawaiian Meatballs

5 from 63 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 5
These Hawaiian meatballs are easy, tasty and always a crowd pleaser. Meatballs are cooked in BBQ sauce with pineapple and ginger for the perfect appetizer or main dish.
Print Pin This! Rate

Video

Ingredients 

  • 25 frozen meatballs
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1-2 bell peppers , cut into chunks (I prefer red and orange)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pineapple chunks , reserving 2-3 Tablespoons juice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger , optional

For serving: Rice, Sliced green onion, Sesame seeds

Instructions

  • In the bottom of a crockpot, add the meatballs. Pour the BBQ sauce over the top. Add the bell peppers and pineapple. Pour 2 to 3 Tablespoons pineapple juice (from the can) over the top. Sprinkle with ginger, if using, and stir until combined.
  • Cover with a lid and cook on high 2 to 3 hours, or until warmed through.
  • Enjoy as an appetizer or serve over rice for a main dish. Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Double the recipe: Use 50 meatballs, 2 cups BBQ sauce, and 2 cans of sliced pineapple.
Tip: We love keeping a big bag of frozen meatballs in the freezer, as well as BBQ sauce and canned pineapple in the pantry so we can make these whenever we need a last minute dinner.
Serving options: 
  • Place toothpicks in the top to make a fun appetizer.
  • Serve over rice pilaf, coconut rice or cooked noodles.
  • Serve in a roll to make a mini slider.
  • Sandwich between french bread to make a Hawaiian meatball hoagie.
  • Serve directly out of the slow cooker for parties.
  • Serve with sliced green onions and sesame seeds to dress them up.
  • Feel free to add more veggies too, like green/red bell peppers or onions.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 5meatballs, Calories: 285kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 480mg, Potassium: 357mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 119IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Hawaiian meatballs in a white bowl.