Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs

Sweet and tangy Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs made with pineapple, BBQ sauce, and frozen meatballs. Easy to make, great for parties or weeknight dinner!
4.97 from 63 reviews

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs smothered in a sweet, tangy sauce with pineapple and fresh ginger are cooked low and slow, making them tender and juicy. These succulent meatballs are a slow cooker masterpiece and are great served as an appetizer or main dish!

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs smothered in a sweet tangy sauce with pineapple and fresh ginger are cooked low and slow making them tender and juicy. These succulent meatballs are a slow cooker masterpiece and are great served as an appetizer or main dish!
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5-Star Comment

Awesome meatballs! A big hit at our get together and everyone wanted the recipe! Was almost like sweet and sour. Will make them many times again! Pate

My boys have always been obsessed with my meatball recipe. I think that Hunter could probably eat them every day of the week and has been known to scarf down at least 4 helpings at a time. To keep these guys happy, I’ve come up with a new recipe for meatballs that has them totally smitten. I’ve combined meatballs, chunks of pineapple, fresh ginger, and a sweet, tangy sauce for a flavor combination that’s crazy good!

Can You Use Frozen Meatballs? Here’s the Good News

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. They’ll cook low and slow in the sauce until they’re tender and flavorful.

Want to take it up a notch? You can use my Homemade Meatballs for this recipe — they hold up beautifully in the crock pot and bring even more flavor to the dish.

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs with sauce poured from spoon.
  • Frozen Meatballs – You can use beef, turkey, chicken, or even vegetarian meatballs.
    Pineapple Chunks – Drained from the can or fresh pineapple cut into bite-sized pieces.
    BBQ Sauce – Your favorite store-bought brand works great.
    Soy Sauce – Adds a little salty depth.
    Rice Wine Vinegar – For a bit of acidity and brightness.
    Brown Sugar – Adds a rich, molasses-like sweetness.
    Fresh Ginger + Garlic – Brings warmth and zing to the sauce.

Cooking Time Cheat Sheet

High setting: 2–3 hours

Low setting: 5–6 hours

Internal temperature should reach 165°F for serving.

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs on spoon with pineapple.

How To Make Pineapple Meatballs In The Slow Cooker

This is essentially a set-it-forget-it recipe. Here’s how it comes together:

  1. Add meatballs to your slow cooker. No need to thaw!
  2. Drain the pineapple and add the chunks on top of the meatballs.
  3. Mix the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. Grate in the ginger and garlic, then whisk again.
  4. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and pineapple. Stir gently to coat everything.
  5. Cover and cook: on low for 5 to 6 hours, on high for 2 to 3 hours
  6. Serve warm with toothpicks, or over white rice for a heartier meal.

Meatballs are a favorite in my family. Whether it’s Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs, Easy Party Cocktail Meatballs, or Homemade Meatball With Sauce, they always disappear fast!

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs half image in bowl with small skewers.

Do The Meatballs Need To Be Thawed?

Nope. Put the frozen meatballs in the crock pot and let it work its magic.

How To Store And Freeze Leftovers

Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Freeze in portions for up to 2 months.

Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.

What To Serve With Pineapple BBQ Meatballs

When I serve these yummy little bites as an appetizer, I like to serve them with Baked Cheese Sticks and Southern Deviled Eggs. They are fantastic for dinner with Baked Fettuccini with cheese and Roasted Broccoli.

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs with sauce on a small skewer.

More Crock Pot Recipes You’ll Love

If you tried this Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs in a bowl with the slow cooker and skewers.

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs (+Video)

4.97 from 63 reviews
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 647kcal
Print Pin Rate
Easy Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs made with pineapple, BBQ sauce, and ginger. Sweet, tangy, and tender — perfect as a party appetizer or weeknight meal.

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds frozen meatballs
  • 1 20 ounce can pineapple chunks, drained
  • 2 cups BBQ sauce
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives for garnish

Instructions

  • To the bowl of a crock pot, add frozen meatballs and pineapple chunks.
  • In a medium-size bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and brown sugar.
  • Using a micro-plane, grate ginger, and garlic and whisk into the sauce. 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.
  • When done, sprinkle meatballs with chopped chives and serve.

Substitutations

  • * ¼ teaspoon of dried ginger can be substituted for fresh grated.
  • * Apple cider vinegar can be substituted for rice wine vinegar.

Video

Notes

Store:
Let leftovers cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze:
Place cooled meatballs and sauce in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the slow cooker or on the stovetop until warmed through.

Nutrition

Calories: 647kcal · Carbohydrates: 48g · Protein: 31g · Fat: 37g · Saturated Fat: 13g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g · Monounsaturated Fat: 16g · Cholesterol: 122mg · Sodium: 1240mg · Potassium: 777mg · Fiber: 2g · Sugar: 41g · Vitamin A: 240IU · Vitamin C: 9mg · Calcium: 69mg · Iron: 2mg

Want To Know More About Slow Cooking?

If you are new to cooking with a Crock Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using a slow cooker like a pro!

How To Get Started With Slow Cooking

Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs on spoon with pineapple text overlay for post.

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Recipe Rating




100 Comments

  1. Great recipe, served at a Luau themed church activity. Multiplied recipe x6 and came home with empty pan and plenty of requests for recipe. Did add a little very thinly sliced onion and red pepper, for a little more flavor kick and some added color. Will definitely make again. Thanks for sharing!!!

    1. Follow the recipe and cook on low for 30 – 45 minutes until the meatballs are hot and the sauce has thickened.
      ~Donya

  2. 5 stars
    This had flavour and not overly sweet. Ok, I used the liquid of the pineapple and I only used 1 cup of bbq sauce. I find most overpowering. All else great

  3. 5 stars
    Absolutely divine! I sauteed some onion and bell pepper chunks to go with the meatballs and added another can of pineapple. Everyone loved it!

  4. Would there be a way to freeze this? Put in a ziplock together then cook from frozen? Or cook then freeze then reheat? Thanks!

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