Hawaiian Meatballs
Say “aloha” to Hawaiian Meatballs! These glazed meatballs are crowd-pleasers for the neighborhood barbecue or family dinner table!
Sweet and sour Hawaiian Meatballs are everything! A summertime treat of savory ground beef in a syrupy pineapple sauce that can be thrown together in minutes! They’re perfect for buffets, potlucks, dinner tables, pool parties, game nights, indoors and outdoors – you name it! They get raves everywhere they go – don’t expect any leftovers!
Delicious Food Doesn’t Get Easier than This
I’m telling you, these Hawaiian Meatballs are amazing! Little bites of luau heaven that practically melt in your mouth! Their saucy, juicy goodness can be savored as an appetizer, on kebab skewers with onions and peppers, or served over white rice or Cauliflower Rice as a dinnertime favorite.
The best thing about these meatballs (besides how tempting they are!) is how effortless they are to prepare. Just a few simple ingredients that come together in minutes. This recipe is for oven-baked meatballs, but they could also be seared, grilled, or made ahead of time in your crock pot/slow cooker. Seriously, they are so versatile!
Other Recipes to Serve with Hawaiian Meatballs
- This Pineapple Guacamole is sweet, fresh, and flavorful and makes a fantastic side for Hawaiian Meatballs.
- Try this Hawaiian Stone Sour for the perfect grown-up accompaniment to these sweet and sour meatballs. It’s tropical, fruity, and a fun twist on the classic whiskey sour. You’ll love it!
Ingredients
Meatballs: To make the meatballs, you’ll need ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, garlic powder, and onion powder. I like to get lean ground beef, but you can use an 85/15 blend or higher.
Sauce: The sauce for these meatballs is made with canned crushed pineapple, water, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, all-purpose flour, and ground ginger.
How to Make Hawaiian Meatballs
Hold on to your grass skirt – this recipe is fast!
STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Dump all the ingredients for the meatballs into a bowl and mix well.
STEP TWO: Roll the meatball mixture into one 1/2-inch ball and bake on a foil-lined baking sheet for 15 minutes.
STEP THREE: While the meatballs cook, combine all the sauce ingredients (except the flour) in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and then whisk in the flour until the sauce has thickened.
STEP FOUR: Pour the sauce over the cooked meatballs, and you’re done! Serve the meatballs over rice or pop in some toothpicks for an awesome appetizer. I like to garnish them with a bit of chopped parsley and pineapple.
Tips for Success
- Press the meatballs tightly so they hold their shape while cooking.
- Keep the meatballs all about the same side to ensure they cook evenly.
- Placing parchment paper or foil on your baking sheet makes cleanup a breeze!
- Double the sauce recipe and make extra rice to extend this meal for more people.
Can I make Hawaiian Meatballs ahead of time?
These meatballs can easily be prepped the day before. Mix, roll balls, and place uncooked in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. The sauce can be made, cooled, and stored in a covered container, then gently rewarmed in a saucepan before serving.
Can I make Hawaiian Meatballs in a slow cooker?
Sweet and sour Hawaiian meatballs work great in the crock pot – especially if they’re going to be served over rice. Mix and roll the meatballs, prepare the sauce, and pour it over the raw meatballs. Set the slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours, and come home to a delicious dinner!
Other Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes:
- Teriyaki Meatballs
- Thai Coconut Cocktail Meatballs
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Turkey Meatballs
- Pecan Chicken Meatballs
- Spicy Chicken Meatballs
- Lamb Meatballs
- Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs
- Peach Riesling Glazed Meatballs
*This post was originally posted on 09/10/2015.
Hawaiian Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs or plain
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup milk
- c teaspoon garlic powder
- teaspoon teaspoon onion powder
Sauce
- 1 cup crushed pineapple with juice plus more for garnish
- ¾ cup water
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside.
- Combine all ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl. Mix everything together until well combined.
- Roll into 1 ½ inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until the meatballs are browned and cooked through.
- While the meatballs cook, whisk all sauce ingredients together, except for the flour, in a medium saucepan. Bring the sauce to a boil. Then whisk in the flour and stir until thickened.
- Transfer the meatballs to a large bowl and pour the sauce on top. Stir to coat. Garnish with chopped parsley and more crushed pineapple. Serve warm as is or over cooked rice.
