Hawaiian-American
Hawaiian BBQ Meatballs
Tender meatballs glazed in sweet pineapple-brown sugar sauce
hot_biteEasyHawaiian-American
Prep20 minCook30 minTotal50 minServes36Temphot
⚠ Contains: 🌾 Gluten, 🥚 Egg
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbsground beef(or beef/pork mix)
- 1 cupbreadcrumbs
- 2eggs
- 1 cancrushed pineapple(20 oz, drained, juice reserved)
- 1 cupbrown sugar(packed)
- 0.5 cupketchup
- 0.25 cupsoy sauce
- 2 tbsprice vinegar
- 2green onions(sliced, for garnish)
Instructions
- 1Preheat oven to 400°F; mix beef, breadcrumbs, and eggs; roll into 1-inch meatballs
- 2Bake meatballs on sheet pan for 15-18 minutes until cooked through
- 3Combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and vinegar in large pan
- 4Simmer sauce until thickened, about 10 minutes
- 5Add baked meatballs and crushed pineapple; stir to coat
- 6Transfer to serving dish; garnish with green onions and serve with toothpicks
Notes
Pro Tips
Use a mix of beef and pork for best texture. Crushed pineapple in the sauce adds authentic texture. Slow cooker method keeps them warm for parties. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion for presentation.
History & Origin
Pineapple-glazed meatballs became a party staple in mid-century America, perfectly aligned with the tiki craze. The sweet-savory combination echoes Hawaiian cooking traditions where pineapple was paired with grilled meats at luaus.
Cocktail Pairings
Pairs Well With
rumbourbon
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Hawaiian-American◆Easy