Slow Cooker Tangy Hawaiian Meatballs

These tangy Hawaiian Meatballs are made in the slow cooker for ease and convenience. Enjoy alone as a perfect appetizer, or served on a bed of rice for a delicious meal on busy weeknights.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs

Slow Cooker Tangy Hawaiian Meatballs

If you need another appetizer recipe, try these Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms!

It’s always good to have some great appetizer recipes on hand, especially this time of year. There’s plenty of entertaining coming up!

It’s even better when an appetizer recipe such as this one, can also easily be the star in a main dish by the addition of rice.

A plate of food, with Meatball and Slow Cooker

This Slow Cooker Tangy Hawaiian Meatballs recipe was first made about 8 years ago, and since I’ve made this many times over.

Our whole family loves the tangy sauce and I especially love that this is an easy recipe.

I recently updated the photos and added an easy step-by-step video for you! Watch how to make slow cooker hawaiian meatballs recipe below.


How to make Slow Cooker Meatballs

This meatball appetizer recipe could not be simpler. Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need. The full recipe is below in the printable recipe card found at the bottom of the post.

  • precooked frozen meatballs
  • can of pineapple chunks
  • brown sugar
  • cornstarch
  • cayenne pepper
  • white vinegar
  • soy sauce

To Make: In a medium bowl, mix reserved pineapple juice from the can, brown sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, cayenne pepper and soy sauce. Mix and set aside.

Place meatballs into the crock pot and top with pineapple chunks and pour sauce on top.

Cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through. For a thicker sauce, take off slow cooker lid and cook for another 30 minutes on high. 

Slow Cooker Meatballs

Storage: Store pineapple meatballs leftovers in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

What to Serve with Hawaiian Meatballs

Serve this hawaiian meatball recipe warm, alone or over white rice (or cauliflower rice for a low carb option).

Sometimes I sprinkle sesame seeds on top or chopped green onions as garnish.

Sometimes when I’m deciding on what to serve with pineapple meatballs, I think of complimentary flavors like: spicy coleslaw, buttered noodles, or roasted green beans.

Can you use your own meatballs for this recipe?

You can make your own homemade meatballs for this recipe or use pre-cooked meatballs from the grocery store, like I have many times.

You can use any type of meatballs from beef to turkey meatballs.

The nice thing about using pre-made is that they are also cooked, so once heated, you can enjoy.

Making tender slow cooker hawaiian meatballs is not an all-day process, even though it’s a crockpot recipe.

A plate of food, with Meatball and Slow Cooker

Take note, this recipe is not sweet and sticky. It’s tangy with a sour sauce, and full of flavour. It’s become one of our favorite recipes and an excellent party food.

Another thing to note, is that it’s a good idea to take off the crockpot lid in the last 30 minutes of cooking, to thicken up the sauce. Slow Cooker recipes are great for that.

These hawaiian-style meatballs are not only a perfect recipe for family dinner, with the addition of a couple sides – but makes for a party favorite as well.

You’ll love that hawaiian flavor. Next you’ll want to try our Baked Hawaiian Chicken.

If you love to try different meatball recipes, you simply have to make our Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. Serve these as both an appetizer or main as well!

A close up of a person holding food, with Meatball and pineapple

Another great snack idea is good old dip recipes, and I have plenty of those too. This one is a great appetizer that we have served for guests many times in the past years.

I’ve found most are a fan of meatballs, so it’s an ultimate appetizer recipe to please the masses.

I’m here to keep you stocked on all the greatest so that your entertaining is a hit.

More Appetizer Recipes

A close up of a plate of food, with Meatball and pineapple

Enjoy this Slow Cooker Tangy Hawaiian Meatballs recipe as well as my other slow cooker recipes! If you need another crown pleasing appetizer, try our Jalapeno Poppers.

Enjoy this delicious recipe like we have for many years, whether it’s a main course for an easy weeknight dinner or a perfect appetizer.

For a similar recipe try our Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham!

A close up of food, with pineapple, Meatball and Slow Cooker
A plate of food, with Meatball and Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

These tangy Hawaiian Meatballs are made in the slow cooker for ease and convenience. Enjoy alone as an appetizer, or served on a bed of rice as an entree.

Ingredients

  • 2 lb precooked frozen meatballs
  • 1 can Pineapple Chunks, reserve the juice
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar
  • 3 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 2/3 cup White Vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Soy Sauce

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix reserved pineapple juice from the can, brown sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, cayenne pepper and soy sauce.
  2. Place meatballs in crock pot and top with drained pineapple chunks.
  3. Pour mixture over meatballs and pineapple.
  4. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through. For a thicker sauce, take off slow cooker lid and cook for another 30 minutes on high. 
  5. Serve warm
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 12 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 463Saturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 323mgCarbohydrates: 41gSugar: 36gProtein: 20g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Created by Tammi Roy

Tammi Roy is the founder of My Organized Chaos, a Canadian food and lifestyle blog. She lives in Alberta, Canada and is the mom of three beautiful teenage girls. Tammi’s passions are her family, creating and sharing delicious recipes, travelling and photography. Learn more about Tammi.

133 Comments

  1. I love meatballs and this recipe sounds delicious and super easy. Definitely going to try it, thanks!

  2. Oh these meatballs look so good! I never would have thought to add pineapples to meatballs. I love using my slowcooker and will try this one…thank you!

  3. I have browsed your recipes all evening. There are many that I have printed and this is one I am going to make tomorrow. The next day it is going to the Bacon wrapped chicken. Thanks for the recipes. I love ease and taste.

  4. Oh ! This one is just wath I nead for my little Samyra: we just have to say ‘ananas or pineapple’ to make her sit down and wait.

  5. Love this. going to try making this tonight. Thanks for such great recepie ideas 🙂

  6. we will have to try them with turkey and chicken with the #breakupwithbeef movement happening

  7. These meatballs look and sound amazing! I would love to make them right now! Tomorrow for sure! Thanks for the recipe!

  8. These look awesome and it is great that they can be made in a slow cooker. I’m so making these!

  9. Oh man this looks so good and would be a big hit at our place Im sure!!! Sharing and bookmarking!!!

  10. Gosh these look good – just bought some Hamburger Helper – indecisive girl – guess it’s back to Sobeys to pick up extra ingredients. Thanks for sharing.

  11. These look really good and I love the fact they’re done in the slow cooker, great for the summer.

  12. no slow cooker but cooking in a skillet would do I think – looks like a lot of sugar and so I might have a bit of a problem with the husband who doesn’t like his food sweet

  13. Going to make these tonight, although I will have to take it easy on the cayenne pepper, hope it’s still as good

  14. Meat balls are such a comfort food. I forgot how much I love a sweet and sour type recipe. Thank you for sharing.

  15. mmm that looks freaking amazing, over a bed of rice I bet it’s phenomenal!!! I pinned it so I can take a stab at it later .. thank you!

  16. this is my sort of food, thanks for sharing the recipe with us, it sounds delicious. I’ll definitely be trying this out, maybe this weekend.

  17. This looks SO great! I’ve been looking for a recipe that was a little different and this is perfect. I have a potluck coming up at work and I think I’ll make this. I think it’ll be prefect. Thanks for the share!

  18. these look delicious , thank you for sharing your recipe . I always have the worst luck with meatballs

  19. I have been looking for a new way to do meatballs for my family =) This sounds amazng easy and def a must try =) Thank you so much for sharing =) Can’t wait now to try them =) <3

  20. I made these tonight, and they were sooo good! I didn’t have cayenne pepper, so I used a few red pepper flakes instead, and they were delicious! I can’t wait to have a party so I can serve them to other people!

  21. Ohhh my…Why must you tease me with your mouth watering meatballs?! HAHA
    They look amazing. I am going to have to try these soon…Maybe for my New Years Eve appetizers 🙂 Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!

  22. i have been looking for a new meatball recipe and this looks so good,thanks for sharing

  23. These’s Look and Sound Delicious! Thank you so much for sharing. I will be giving this a try this weekend for the Big Game coming up! I know these’s are going to be a Hit! Thank you so much again

  24. My Mum used to make these from scratch for her bridge club and I could remember going down inthe morning to see if there were any left so we could cadge them off her. Even good cold!

  25. These look amazing, will add to my grocery list for next week =) Haven’t made meatballs in a looong time

  26. mmm these look so good and not that hard to make. I love my slowcooker and am always looking for new things to make. Bookmarking this now! Thanks.

  27. My sister annually makes sweet and sour meatballs each Christmas – they are HUGE. And again New Years resolution – trim down. These meatballs look the right size, easy and very appealing. To 2014 and to smaller meatballs 000ooooo.

    Eva Mitton-Urban

  28. my aunt always made these for us then I started to make them I have not made these in about 15 years Time to start again now that I have a recipe again here

  29. I have made these for years, always a hit at every party and function, a must try for everyone sooo yummy!

  30. Ever since I made this recipe for a baby shower it has been requested by many friends and family for parties and Sunday dinner. Everyone liked it and the sauce tasted delicious. People kept coming back for more. It is cheap and easy to make. I pair it with rice. Thanks for sharing!

  31. Hi, I was So excited to make this, but it was a fail… for me. I followed the recipe to a T, only I doubled it. There is no glaze on the meatballs, whatsoever. There is a juicy mixture in the crackpot. The meatballs still taste great, but look like plain only brownish meatballs out of the bag 🙁

    1. This also happened to me. Not sure what I should do to fix it. I was going to make them
      For my daughter’s Moana themed birthday party but I’m glad I tried it this weekend first.

      1. Hmmm, so very odd! I’m going to make these this weekend {it’s been so long since I did!}, and see what could be the issue.

  32. These are perfect. I can’t wait to try these on a busy day and come home to these simmering in the slow cooker!

  33. I used to be recommended this web site through my cousin. I’m now not positive whether this post is written by him as nobody
    else recognize such exact approximately my trouble.
    You’re incredible! Thank you!

  34. Pingback: 64 Delicious Gluten Free Meatballs Recipes | Daily Healthy Tips
  35. I saw this picture and said…out loud…OMG!! I need to make these…I love meatballs and this recipe looks far too easy 🙂

  36. I love food and these meatballs look so delicious.I love that they are easy to make for the family in the slow cooker too.Thanks for sharing this with us.

  37. there’s nothing better than sweet meatballs like this recipe, have rice n veggy stir fry on the side, or pour over top, done deal.

  38. This dish looks so appealing and delicious. Busy Mom – always running….never tried frozen meatballs but tempted to try. Mealtime can be a headache at times…like today….chuckle. Great blogsite – love the content/recipes.

    Eva Mitton-Urban

  39. Oh my Goodness…..This Looks and Sounds Amazing!!!! Being a Mommy to 10, I am Always looking for New Ways to offer my Children! This is a going to be a must try! Now I can’t wait!!!! Tomorrow maybe??? Thank you so much or posting!!!!!! Can’t wait!!!!

  40. Pingback: 30 Easy and (Mostly) Healthy Slow Cooker Meals | How Does She
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  42. What an awesome recipe for a busy mom!! We love sweet and sour meatballs and this can be whipped together in a matter of minutes.Thank you so much for this delicious recipe.

  43. This is the perfect recipe for today…I am looking for a comfort dish using hamburger.

  44. I have always liked Hawaiian Meatballs and it is a go to recipe during the week as everyone loves them.

  45. I’ve been looking for a good meatball recipe as an appetizer for the holidays… I’m going to give this one a try.

  46. Using frozen meatballs is a huge time-saver, making this recipe one of the easiest meals to prepare. I’m a huge fan of tangy sweet/sour recipes like this. Slow cookers are a mom’s life preserver!

  47. Sounds delicious. This will be a nice change and I love using my slow cooker. Thanks for sharing!

  48. I have been looking for a sweet and sour meatball recipe for the slow cooker and I think this one is perfect.I love that there is pineapple in it too.

  49. I love the sound of these meatballs.I am pretty sure we will love them when I make them with the pineapple in them,They just sound delicious and perfect for a bed of rice.Thank you.

  50. This Slow Cooker Tangy Hawaiian Meatballs sounds so easy and delicious that it will probably become a staple at our home. Thank you so much for the reciipe.s

  51. I’ve made this added with the meatballs the cocktail wieners to ! Great for appetizer!!

  52. This sounds like an easy and delicious supper dish. Thank you so much for this recipe.

  53. I have made these many times, requested at every party we host. DELICIOUS! I have never tried but would it be ok to prep the sauce the night before cooking?

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