These juicy, homemade Pineapple Barbecue Glazed Meatballs are perfect as an appetizer for a crowd or a simple dinner. These meatballs have the best sweet and tangy pineapple bbq glaze!
Looking for more easy meatball appetizer recipes? Try my Brown Sugar-Glazed Turkey Meatballs or these Crock Pot Asian Meatballs.
Pineapple Barbecue Sauce Glazed Meatballs
Hey, YOU! Happy Sunday!! Got plans? It’s supposed to get up to 55 degrees today – I’m heading to the beach! After 6 months of sub zero temps, 55 is going to feel like a heat wave.
Speaking of heat – I finally watched the movie, “Frozen”!! SO good!
You know that saying, “You are who you are when no one is looking”? Well. If that’s the truth, then that part where Elsa is walking alone, singing the song, “Let It Go”? That’s me! When no one is looking, I sing as loud as my lungs can hold, I dance, I put on a fancy dress, and I let my hair down. That is me, 100%. For reals.
Want a spicy meatball??
I Put A Delicious Twist On A Family Favorite Meatball Recipe
Umm…why do I always feel uneasy and ready to giggle when I say the word, meatball? I’m so childish.
So I took my mom’s recipe for meatballs and Americanized ’em. I call this the MacAmerican Meatball. Before you ask – a Macedonian meatball is called a Kofte. What separates Macedonian meatballs from the rest is that we load ’em up with onions. And cayenne pepper. Sometimes we mix up the meat and use ground lamb, pork, and beef in the same mixture. Good stuff.
Growing up, I remember my mom would simmer these meatballs in bechamel sauce. Honestly? It was a-may-zing! Like, finger-licking amazing! And very proper. But, then again, this Pineapple Barbecue Sauce is damn good, too! Aaaand proper.
Let me be perfectly honest, I got the inspiration for this pineapple-barbecue sauce recipe years ago from Kraft. I’ve been using it ever since, sans the chunks of pineapples. I like it – it’s sweet, it’s tangy, and it complements the meatballs incredibly well. (I’m still giggling at the word, meatballs…)
How Long Does It Take To Make These Appetizer Meatballs?
This creation sort of makes me feel like a dinner-hero because this beauty before you can meet up with your tummy in about 30 minutes.
Also? I’m hoping that you’ve got some idea as to what you will serve them with. But, I CAN help you out – you can choose from Garlic Rosemary Mashed Potatoes, because they are awesome. You can also play with these Parmesan Garlic Roasted Potatoes because they are also pretty awesome. Personally, I’d save on the carbs and just pop all 20 in one sitting, but that’s just me. OR, you can serve them to your besties as appetizers!
ENJOY!
Pineapple Barbecue Sauce Glazed Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion , finely diced
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- kosher salt , to taste
- fresh ground pepper , to taste
- 1 egg , lightly beaten
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (use your favorite brand)
Instructions
- Combine the ground beef, diced onion, parsley, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and egg.
- Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Shape mixture into about 20 meatballs.
- Melt the butter in a large pan; when it starts to brown, add the meatballs.
- Cook over medium heat, about 10 to 12 minutes, turning frequently using a wooden spoon.
- Remove meatballs from pan.
- Drain butter.
- Return pan to heat and add in the meatballs.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together pineapple juice and barbecue sauce.
- Pour barbecue sauce over meatballs.
- Bring mixture to a boil; turn down to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat.
- Arrange meatballs on a plate.
- Pour sauce over the meatballs and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Delicious! Family pleaser! Made tonight w/ venison burger. No one would know! Sauce is amazing too! Thank YOU for such a great recipe!!
Thank YOU! I am very SO happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Would it be possible to exclude the egg for someone with and allergy? Anything I need to add in place?
Hi! Yes. You can use ricotta cheese – about 1/4 cup per egg. You can also make “Flax Egg”; for one egg, you mix 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds with 3 tablespoons hot water. The egg acts as a binder to hold the meat together, so whatever you can use to make it stick, it will work. 🙂
How big do you make these meatballs?
I think I read through the comments but it doesn’t say what the serving size of this recipe is. One meatball is 5 smartpoints?
I’ve made the meatballs so many times and will be making them again tonight but slight problem….I cannot find the recipe on this page anymore. I’ve searched and searched, refreshed, tried everything and don’t see it – any idea why?? Is there another way that I can get the recipe from you?
Thank You
Hi!! Thanks so much for letting me know about this – I have fixed it and the recipe is now visible.
what is your recommendation for cooking these solely in the crockpot? I plan to make them for the Super Bowl party on Sunday, however I would make them the day before and freeze them. I’m thinking put the frozen meatballs in with the sauce and cook on low for about 6 hours. What Are your thoughts?
Hi Aaron! That’s exactly how I would do it, too. Just place them in the crockpot with the sauce, and 6 hours on LOW should be plenty.
So are you talking about putting the meatballs in the crockpot raw?
Hi Cheryl! Yes, exactly. I almost always put raw meat in the crock pot.
Thank you so much for the quick reply. i can’t wait to try these.
I enjoyed these over brown rice!!! Thank you for the amazing recipe!
That’s awesome! Thank you, Chandler!! 🙂
Ok…..sorry if this seems dumb but I’m not really good in the kitchen.
So when you say,”Bring mixture to a boil; turn down to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.”
Are the meatballs still cooking at this point or is this just the sauce cause the last thing before this was, drain butter and than put meatballs back in pan so I got a little confused about if the meatballs were still suppose to be cooking or not
Hi Tammy!
Yes, after you drain the butter, place the meatballs back in the pan. (You can also leave the meatballs in and hold them while you spill out the butter). Then, you want to prepare the pineapple barbecue sauce and pour it over the meatballs… bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes. I hope I was able to clarify. Let me know!
YES!!!! Thank you sooo much. I’ve just discovered this website today and I’m already in love and your recipe will be tried out tonight!!!! Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely!! Whenever you have a question about a recipe, let me know – I am more than happy to answer. Have a great Sunday!! Enjoy the meatballs! 🙂
I just have one question, this recipe sounds so awesome & I can’t wait to try it, however if I have frozen meatballs that are already made … how exactly would I go about cooking them using this recipe?
Hi Jasmine!!
Ready to go meatballs? Even better!! 😀 So I would just skip steps 1, 2, and 3 in the recipe-instructions and start at step 4. Also, make sure to thaw the meatballs completely before using.
I wanted to make this for my mom’s surprise party. Can I make them up to the step where I drain the butter and freeze them then finish them in a crockpot the next day? How long do you think they will need to finish in there or do you have any other suggestions, I was going to make around 3lbs.
Hi Chrystal!
Oh, that is so wonderful!! Lucky Mom! 😀
Yes, you can definitely freeze the meatballs, but just the meatballs, not the sauce. I have never made these particular meatballs in the crock pot, but most meatballs need about 6 hours on LOW in the crock pot. Not sure how big your crock pot is, but it might not fit 3-pounds of meatballs at once. Hope that helps!! Let me know if you need anything else!
Made them and everyone LOVED them! They were the first thing to go 🙂 thanks so much for the recipie. Do you think it could work with ground chicken as well?
Why don’t you use bread or breadcrumbs in the meatballs? They must come out hard because the breadcrumbs softens them
HI! They’re not hard at all. These are probably the best meatballs to have come out of my kitchen. Give ’em a try, I promise they’re exceptional even without the crumbs. 😀
Well I just tasted the sauce and it is great. I’m actually going to put these on hoagie rolls and have them for dinner tomorrow night. These were easy to make so this recipe is a keeper.
Kate,
I bet that sauce rocks–what a terrific and easy looking combination.
Thanks!
Now I want meatballs. THESE meatballs. Got any left? 😀
And the ones your mom made in bechamel sounds pretty darn good, too!
Oh…*purr*
I’m not a meatball girl but these look irresistiballz!
In words of Chandler Bing…can these BE more appetizing? I seriously doubt it. Your photos are amazing, Kate.
LOL!!! I ♥ Chandler! That’s one of my all time favorite shows. 🙂 Thank you, Julia!!
Yummy! The meatballs look amazing!! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
I’m glad you posted this. When I need an appetizer my mind always goes to cranberry meatballs. Now I have another recipe to use.
Now I have to try your cranberry meatballs!
Yum, love the pineappple bbq sauce!
These are happening here soon, I LOVE tangy fruit based barbecue sauce, and meatballs are the best food on earth — pinned !
They look so juicy and packed with flavours!
The pineapple glaze sounds so good! It pairs surprisingly well with meat.
These sound incredible! I’m a sucker for pineapple…or any sweet & savory combo really. Fun recipe! (And frozen has been a hit in my house – the part you mentioned is my daughter and my favorite part 🙂 )
These photos are awesome! I hate taking pictures of meat but these look amazing!