Whether you’re making them for an easy party appetizer, or serving them as a main dish over rice, Hawaiian Meatballs are sure to be hit! All you need is pineapple, BBQ sauce and meatballs, and you can cook them in the slow cooker or on the stovetop.

Hawaiian BBQ Meatballs on a plate with a toothpick in each one.

My favorite part about Hawaiian Meatballs is the tangy-sweet combination from the pineapple and the bbq sauce. You can use store-bought bbq sauce, but my homemade bbq sauce takes it to a whole new level!

How to Make Hawaiian Meatballs:

In the Slow Cooker:

  • Spray the bottom of your slow cooker lightly with cooking spray. Add frozen meatballs to the bottom of pot.
  • In a large bowl stir together homemade bbq sauce and crushed pineapple. Pour over meatballs. 
  • Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. Serve warm garnished with chopped green onions, if desired.
Two process photos for making Hawaiian meatballs in a crockpot.

On the stovetop:

  • Add homemade bbq sauce and crushed pineapple to a medium pot.
  • Add meatballs and stir to coat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, 
  • Cook for 8-10 minutes for thawed meatballs, or 14-16 minutes for frozen meatballs.
  • Serve warm garnished with chopped green onions, if desired.
A slow cooker with Hawaiian Meatballs, ready to serve.

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Recipe

A crockpot hawaiian meatballs recipe in a crockpot and topped with green onions.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 25 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 50 – 60 pre-cooked frozen meatballs *, store-bought or homemade
  • 2 1/2 cups BBQ sauce *, store-bought or homemade
  • 1 cup pineapple fresh, diced, or use crushed pineapple from a can, slightly drained

Instructions
 

Slow Cooker Meatballs:

  • Spray the bottom of your slow cooker lightly with cooking spray. Add frozen meatballs to the bottom of pot. Pour pineapple and bbq sauce over meatballs. 
  • Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. Serve warm garnished with chopped green onions, if desired.

Stovetop Instructions:

  • 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: Our favorite frozen store-bought meatballs are Costco’s Kirkland brand Italian meatballs. Homemade pre-cooked meatballs also work. If meatballs are thawed, reduce cook time. 
BBQ Sauce: My easy homemade BBQ sauce takes just minutes to stir together, and is amazing in this recipe. My homemade sauce makes about 3 cups, so add 2.5 and save the leftovers for something else, or add all 3 cups, some extra meatballs, and a little extra pineapple.
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: 315kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 12gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 776mgPotassium: 385mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 175IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

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I originally shared this recipe August 2017. Updated February 2021.

Process photos by Nikole from The Travel Palate.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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  1. 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!!

    1. 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.

  2. 5 stars
    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.

  3. 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!

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