Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs Recipe

Hawaiian Meatballs have a delicious sweet and sour flavor that combines ground beef, parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs with pineapple chunks, soy sauce, fresh peppers, and cider vinegar for the perfect party food or appetizer.

This recipe also makes a scrumptious family dinner when eaten over fluffy white rice with a side of roasted veggies. Make these meatballs in your Instant Pot or as crock pot Hawaiian meatballs for an easy, no fuss meal that will be ready in about 45 minutes.

If you are looking for more delicious pineapple inspired meals, check out our Pineapple Ham Steak Dinner, Asian Pineapple Pork, or even our Orange Chicken for a similar style dinner.

How do I make the best Meatballs?

Hawaiian Meatballs are so yummy and when you make them from scratch you control the ingredients and adjust the size and flavor of the meatballs just the way you want them. To make your own meatballs select a good quality ground beef and combine it with bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, chopped onions, eggs, salt and pepper, and a high quality cooking oil such as avocado.

Form into 2 inch round meatballs and gently place them into a shallow cooking pan with a bit of water in the bottom. Sear the meatballs evenly, turning them occasionally to ensure even heat distribution.

Watch our quick video demonstration for how to make your own

If you don’t have the time or desire to make your own meatballs, you can of course purchase pre made meatballs and make this delicious sweet and sour sauce for a really quick no fuss option. The Hawaiian Sweet and Sour Sauce really is the star of the show with this recipe.

if you need to save even more time, grab your favorite pre made sweet and sour sauce from the store.

Can I put frozen meatballs into my Crock Pot?

Yes, frozen meatballs can be placed right into your slow cooker with the sauce. The convenience of a Crock Pot is that it cuts out the need for pre cooking the ingredients. Just throw it all in and allow it a few hours to heat and cook together.

What can I serve with Hawaiian Meatballs?

• Serve Hawaiian meatballs with rice
• Quinoa
• Roasted vegetables
• Stuffed tomatoes or stuffed peppers
• A fresh green salad
• Potato salad or a macaroni deli salad
• Simple buttered noodles
• Baked potatoes

Using an Instant Pot to make Meatballs

Your Instant Pot can replace the skillet, the extra sauce pan and a slow cooker if you prefer this method.

1. The Instant Pot is a breeze to bring with you if you need. The lid locks onto the top so that you don’t have to worry about it falling off like Crock Pot lids.
2. It also is well insulated and helps keep your food warm during the trip to your event.
3. Once you arrive set the pot to warm function.
4. Use the glass tempered lid, rather than the pressure cook locking lid to hold in the heat and give your guests easy access to the food.

How to make Hawaiian Meatballs

Hawaiian meatballs can be made for a tasty family dinner or a fun party food that will stay warm and are easy to set out for self serve. They are sweet with a bit of sour and you can adjust the flavors to your personal liking.

If you don’t want to use ground beef, you can substitute for ground turkey and make some delicious Hawaiian turkey meatballs. They will be lower in fat but still just as scrumptious. If you need a quick option, there are also wonderful frozen turkey meatballs on the market.

Instant Pot Meatball Instructions

• Combine meatball ingredients and shape into 2 inch balls.
• Saute the meatballs in a small amount of avocado or olive oil.
• Deglaze the pan with a bit of water. Stir the meatballs gently to release them from the bottom as they brown.

• Combine the sauce ingredients and pour over the browned meatballs. Stir gently to coat the meatballs and make sure they are clear of the Instant pot bottom
• Cook on manual function high pressure for 5 minutes.
• Natural release for 10 minutes then quick release.
• Serve over hot white rice, quinoa, or alongside roasted vegetables.

Slow Cooker Meatball Instructions

• These meatballs can be made ahead and put in the crock pot to simmer several hours on low heat.
• Follow the recipe instructions to make the meatballs. Place the uncooked meatballs in the Crock Pot and set on low.
• Put a small amount of water, enough to steam the meatballs, in the bottom of the Crock Pot. Let them simmer for 4 hours.
• About an hour before serving make the sauce, pour it over the cooked crockpot meatballs and let them simmer while the rice cooks.

Stovetop Beef Meatball Instructions

• Make and form the meatballs as instructed and set a skillet to medium heat.
• Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the skillet.
• Place the formed meatballs in an even layer in the skillet.
• Brown the meatballs on each side evenly by gently rolling them every couple of minutes.
• Add 1/2 Cup water to the skillet and cover.
• Allow the meatballs to steam until they are thoroughly cooked.
• Meanwhile make the sauce in a separate sauce pan on the stove while the meatballs steam. Also make the rice in a saucepan now if you are using it.
• Finally remove the cooked meatballs to a bowl and pour the sauce over the meatballs.

Hawaiian Meatball Recipe Appetizers:

• Make the meatballs small, about 1 inch in diameter and follow the recipe as directed.
• You will need to cook the meatballs in batches. Brown the meatballs in batches in the Instant Pot or your skillet before you put them all together for cooking with the meatball sauce recipe.
• Serve your small meatballs in a large shallow bowl or a tray with toothpicks. Set the sauce on the side in a bowl for dipping the sweet and sour meatballs.
• Provide small plates or bowls to catch the drips.
• They can also be served in the sauce in a Crock Pot or Instant Pot.

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