BBQ Pineapple Meatballs are an easy crockpot recipe made with just 3 ingredients: frozen meatballs, barbecue sauce, and crushed pineapple! Grab some toothpicks for the perfect appetizer or serve over rice for an easy dinner recipe for those busy weeknights.  

You can also pop these frozen meatballs in the air fryer for a crispy meatballs recipe! After making my Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs (and looooving them!) I decided I needed more easy meatball recipes. You’ll also love my Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs recipe. 

A bowl filled with rice, and BBQ Pineapple Meatballs on a white background.

Why This Recipe Works

  • 3 ingredient Hawaiian meatballs. I introduce to you, your new family favorite easy weeknight dinner! You only need 3 ingredients (meatballs with pineapple and bbq sauce) and a slow cooker. It takes about 5 minutes of prep time is all! 
  • Frozen meatballs. Because this pineapple meatballs recipe uses frozen meatballs, you don’t have to spend the time making your own! 
  • Crockpot Hawaiian meatballs. Since these Hawaiian meatballs are made in the crock pot. You don’t have to babysit anything! The crockpot does all the work for you. 
  • Crowd-pleasing appetizer. These tasty meatballs with pineapple and BBQ sauce creates the perfect tangy sauce for these slow cooker Hawaiian meatballs! 

Ingredient Notes

BBQ Pineapple Meatballs ingredients: frozen meatballs, Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce bottle, and can of crushed pineapple on a white background.
  • BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite kind! Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ meatballs are my favorite, so I use Sweet Baby Ray’s. You’ll use just shy of a 28 oz bottle of bbq sauce.
  • Crushed Pineapple: If you want chunks of pineapple instead of the crushed pineapple, then you can use pineapple chunks instead. 
  • Meatballs: I recommend using the Italian style frozen meatballs from Costco! They are my very favorite.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Add ingredients to the crockpot. Pour one 20-oz. can of pineapple into the slow cooker (don’t drain the juice!) and the 2 cups of BBQ sauce and stir. Place meatballs in the slow cooker and stir so the are covered in sauce.
  2. Cook the pineapple BBQ meatballs and serve. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4 hours. Then serve as an appetizer or over rice for a meal! 
BBQ sauce and crushed pineapple in a black round crockpot.
A black crockpot filled with frozen meatballs atop BBQ sauce and crushed pineapple.

Recipe Tips

If using homemade meatballs, you will want to fully cook them prior to adding to the crock pot.

The flavor of the sauce comes down to the barbecue sauce you choose. Instead of making your own sauce with different sauce ingredients, we are simplifying it and just using your favorite bbq sauce and a can of pineapple!  

Feel free to combine the bbq sauce and pineapple into a separate bowl and mix there, then add the meatballs to the crockpot, pour sauce on top and combine. I skipped the separate bowl to reduce dishes to wash! 

This is a great appetizer to serve for parties or gatherings! Just grab some toothpicks and let your guests go to town.

Wondering what to serve with BBQ pineapple meatballs? You can make this a full meal by serving this Hawaiian meatballs recipe on a bed of rice! A side of roasted parmesan carrots and homemade rolls would be delicious too.

Variations: Some delicious variations would be adding diced bell peppers, serving with green onions, or topping with sesame seeds.

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

You’ll definitely want to make these BBQ pineapple meatballs ahead of time because they’ll need a few hours in the crockpot to heat up. 

Store any leftover Hawaiian meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. 

Want to freeze pineapple meatballs? This is a great freezer meal! Just let everything cool down and then store in an airtight container or freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Remove and let thaw in the fridge, then warm up fully before enjoying. 

3 ingredient BBQ Pineapple Meatballs in a black slow cooker.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use homemade meatballs?

Yes you can! But you’ll want the meatballs to be cooked fully before adding to the slow cooker. 

Is this crockpot pineapple meatballs recipe spicy?

No it isn’t. But you can use a spicy barbecue sauce if you want some spice! 

Can I use fresh pineapple?

Definitely! You’ll want to cut it into pieces and save as much of the juices as possible. You may need to add a bit of water (maybe 1/3 cup) because canned pineapple has liquid in it. 

Are Costco meatballs cooked?

Yes! The Italian style frozen meatballs from Costco are cooked meatballs. So the slow cooker isn’t needing to cook the meatballs, just warming them up!

BBQ Pineapple Meatballs and sauce in a bowl against a white background with BBQ sauce spilling over the bowl.

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Overhead photo of easy crock pot BBQ Pineapple Meatballs in a bowl.
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5 from 2 votes

BBQ Pineapple Meatballs

These Hawaiian meatballs make for the perfect dinner or appetizer! 
Prep Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 3 hrs
Total Time: 3 hrs 2 mins
Servings: 50 meatballs

Ingredients
 

  • 50 frozen precooked meatballs
  • 2 cups BBQ sauce - I used Sweet Baby Rays
  • 1 20 oz can of crushed pineapple - don’t drain

Instructions
 

  • To the slow cooker add the BBQ sauce and crushed pineapple. Mix until combined. 
  • Add the frozen meatballs to the sauce, mix until the meatballs have been fully covered. 
  • Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours.
  • Serve with rice or as an appetizer.

Notes

You will use *almost* a full 28 oz BBQ sauce bottle. 
If using homemade meatballs, be sure they are fully cooked before adding to the crockpot. 

Nutrition

Calories: 56kcal (3%)Carbohydrates: 4g (1%)Protein: 2g (4%)Fat: 3g (5%)Saturated Fat: 1g (5%)Cholesterol: 10mg (3%)Sodium: 125mg (5%)Potassium: 66mg (2%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 25IU (1%)Vitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 6mg (1%)Iron: 0.2mg (1%)
author: Whitney Wright
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
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