Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (2024)

by Jenn

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs recipe is by far one of my husband’s favorites. To be honest, it’s one of mine too, not just because it tastes great, but also because these slow cooker pineapple BBQ meatballs are super easy to make. They take a little time, yes, but it’s not like you have to sit and stir, mix or even watch them for that matter. Just put them in the slow cooker, set a timer, and go on about your day. I love it when we are planning a party because I can cook something super tasty and still have time to tidy up the house a bit and get ready.

Another reasonI love my slow cooker so much in the summer: it doesn’t heat up the house. OMG, using the oven or stovetop is torture during the summer. Even when we cook on the grill, I find myself using the oven or stove for something. So anytime I can use the slow cooker it’s a welcome treat! Which is how these meatballs ended up being a 4th of July tradition. Several years ago, I decided to take my mom’s BBQ meatballs, give them a little extra tang with pineapple juice, andserve as anappetizerat our 4th of July party because I wanted to avoid my stovetop and oven, lol.

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (1)

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs

To make these easy Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • 25 Meatballs – Homemade or frozen is fine, and you can totally add more if you’d like.
  • 1 Bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce (I like honey BBQ sauce)
  • 1 cup DOLE® Canned 100% Pineapple Juice
  • 2 tablespoons grape jelly
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Let’s get these yummy meatballs cooking:

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (2)
  • Place your cooked meatballs into slow cooker. Frozen meatballs don’t need to be thawed, and homemade meatballs are best if you leave them a little uncooked. However, you can place fully cooked and thawed meatballs without any problems.
Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (3)
  • Pour DOLE® Canned 100% Pineapple Juice and BBQ sauce into the slow cooker with the meatballs.
Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (4)
  • Add grape jelly and brown sugar and mix everything together. It’s okay if the jelly doesn’t mix in right away you can come back once things have warmed up a bit and it should stir right in.
Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (5)
  • Allow to cook in slow cooker on high for 1 hour, then turn down to low and allow to cook for 2 to 3 more hours. Check the meatballs about once every hour and just stir things up a bit.
Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (6)

After the BBQ meatballs have cooked for several hours they are ready to eat!

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (7)

Go on, grab a meatball and take a bite, you cooked them! You should get to taste the first meatball, right? I mean that’s the beauty of being the cook, you get to taste test along the way. It’s an essential part of cooking in my household, lol.

The pineapple BBQ meatballs make for a great appetizer if you’re hosting a gathering this 4th of July holiday, but they also make a great meatball sandwich, go great with rice and even pasta! Can’t help but loves these meatballs! The perfect combination of sweet and tangy!

I use pineapple juice all sorts of different recipes like our, homemade soft pretzels with brie cheese,and these yummypineapple angel food cupcakes with a pineapple glaze.

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe

Rating: 3.7/5

( 7 voted )

Serves: 5 Prep Time: Cooking Time: Nutrition facts: 500 calories 10 fat

Ingredients

  • 25 Meatballs - Homemade or frozen is fine, and you can totally add more if you'd like.
  • 1 Bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce (I like honey BBQ sauce)
  • 1 cup DOLE® Canned 100% Pineapple Juice
  • 2 tablespoons grape jelly
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

Place your cooked meatballs into slow cooker. Frozen meatballs don't need to be thawed, and homemade meatballs are best if you leave them a little uncooked. However, you can place fully cooked and thawed meatballs without any problems. Pour DOLE® Canned 100% Pineapple Juice and BBQ sauce into the slow cooker with the meatballs. Add grape jelly and brown sugar and mix everything together. It's okay if the jelly doesn't mix in right away you can come back once things have warmed up a bit and it should stir right in. Allow to cook in slow cooker on high for 1 hour, then turn down to low and allow to cook for 2 to 3 more hours. Check the meatballs about once every hour and just stir things up a bit. Allow to cook for a few hours and they are done! Enjoy

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (11)

Jenn

I have a smart mouth, don't sit still well, extremely opinionated, have a lot to say, work hard, love lots, don't have time for drama, or negativity. I love animals, & my job as a New Mexico mom blogger! I love sharing travel adventures, tech gadgets,recipes, parenting struggles (success), crafts, helpfultips, giveaways and sweepstakes, product reviews, andmore. I have amazing 4 children, and have an amazing boyfriend. On my downtime, you'll find me spending time with my family, traveling, cooking, geeking out on tech, plotting the next home improvement, create crafts with the kids, and riding my horses We are plotting our move to greener pastures, with trees, and stuff. Connect with me on Google + Page.

previous post

RubberMaid FreshWorks™ Produce Saver Giveaway

next post

related articles

Oh So Epic, Mashed Potato French Fries!

Baked Red Velvet Donuts with Chocolate Frosting

Valentine’s Day Candied Popcorn

Adorable Valentine’s Day Oreo Hearts

Valentine’s Day Dessert Ideas Made with Love

Old School Freezer Breadsticks Recipe

Droolworthy St. Patrick’s Day Desserts

4 comments

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (12)

cottagebunny March 21, 2017 - 12:05 am

These look so amazing! I love all your pictures and how you set this recipe up for us.Thanks so much.I have already saved it.

Reply

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (13)

Amy March 16, 2017 - 9:35 pm

Yum!!!!! I’m so making these for a party next weekend. Can you tell me the size of BBQ you’re using? I think I’ll double the recipe. I don’t mind leftovers ;)

Reply

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (14)

tina December 27, 2016 - 7:41 pm

These meatballs look good but format for recipe is not very convenient. Wont be making these don’t want to scroll and wait for pictures to load. Sorry!

Reply

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (15)

Michelle February 2, 2017 - 2:18 pm

its easy enough to just jot down on a piece of paper… these are too good not to make because you don’t want to write down a quick recipe.

Reply

Leave a Comment

Best Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to heat meatballs in crockpot on high? ›

Cover the slow cooker and cook the meatballs on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through (slice one in half to check). With a spoon, gently turn the meatballs to coat them in the sauce and distribute the garlic and red pepper flakes. Sprinkle additional Parmesan and parsley on top, to taste.

Can I cook frozen meatballs in sauce? ›

In general, you can cook raw frozen meatballs in sauce for approximately 20-30 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). It's always recommended to check the packaging instructions for specific cooking guidelines.

How long does it take to cook frozen meatballs in the oven? ›

However, as a general guideline, you can cook frozen meatballs in the oven for about 20-25 minutes at 350°F (175°C). Make sure to check the internal temperature of the meatballs using a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

What's the recipe for barbecue meatballs? ›

In very large bowl combine ground beef, oatmeal, milk, 1/4 cup onion, salt, chili powder, 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder, and pepper. Shape into 1-inch meatballs. Place on 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until no longer pink.

How do you thicken BBQ sauce for meatballs? ›

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency.

What's a good sauce for meatballs in a crockpot? ›

Plain old-fashioned grape jelly and Heinz chili sauce are the secret to tangy, smoky, unstoppable meatballs. All you have to do is throw everything together and turn on the slow cooker. If you're using frozen meatballs, add them to the crockpot right out of the freezer.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they simmer? ›

Tenderizing the Meat:

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Can I leave meatballs in crockpot overnight? ›

Just brown them in the oven under broil and then set the crockpot on low and cook them overnight in the sauce. They'll be perfectly done, perfectly safe, and delicious in the morning. A few extra hours won't hurt them at all and then you won't have to worry about time, temperature and food safety.

Should I thaw frozen meatballs before putting them in slow cooker? ›

Well, if you're planning to use the slow cooker to heat frozen meatballs, it's safest to work with fully cooked and frozen meatballs.

How do you doctor up frozen meatballs? ›

10 Ways to Turn Frozen Meatballs into an Easy Weeknight Dinner
  1. Turn them into hearty subs. ...
  2. Toss them in the slow cooker. ...
  3. Make a pizza out of them. ...
  4. Grill them on skewers. ...
  5. Skip IKEA and make your own Köttbullar. ...
  6. Get bowled over. ...
  7. Add a little touch of Catalonia. ...
  8. Bake them into a casserole.
Sep 12, 2019

Why are my frozen meatballs rubbery? ›

If the meatballs are packed together too tightly, they will cook up rubbery, chewy, and tough.

How do you make frozen meatballs taste better? ›

The stale taste is because when food is frozen for too long, it can dry out. You want to add egg to the meat to moisten it. Make sure to blend the whole egg into the meat so that it can be thoroughly absorbed.

How long does it take to cook raw frozen meatballs in sauce? ›

Pour pasta sauce into a saucepan on the stovetop. Carefully add in the meatballs and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes.

How do you defrost frozen cooked meatballs quickly? ›

Take the meatballs from the freezer and place them in a container that you know is safe for use in the microwave. It usually takes about 10 minutes to thaw one pound of meat, so adjust your timer according to the number of meatballs you're defrosting.

What toppings go well with BBQ sauce? ›

About BBQ Toppings
  • Pickles.
  • Raw or Pickled Onions.
  • Bacon.
  • Hot Sauce.
  • Cheese.
  • Fried Onion Straws.
  • Jalapeno.
  • Honey Mustard.
May 16, 2022

What meat goes best with BBQ sauce? ›

The most beefy-tasty meats like sirloin steaks, chuck steaks, the cowboy cuts, or brisket burnt ends. All these cuts have to have enough beefy flavor to marry well with such a rich sauce.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5484

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.