First published: Oct 18, 2023 Last Updated: Apr 30, 2025 for editorial improvements.
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🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial
Dinner in 30 minutes! Watch me turn these easy meatballs into an entire meal in less than 30 minutes!
Sweet, sassy, and straight from the pantry—these pineapple teriyaki meatballs are bringing tropical vibes to your Tuesday night faster than you can say “where’s the soy sauce?” With just four main ingredients (yes, four), this one-pan wonder is on the table in 30 minutes flat. Juicy meatballs, tangy peppers, and sweet pineapple chunks get cozy in a sticky teriyaki glaze that tastes like you actually planned dinner… even if you totally didn’t. Great as a main dish, even better as a party app—because who doesn’t love a meatball in a fancy sauce?
🧾 Ingredients
- Use beef meatballs, pork meatballs, chicken meatballs, or ground turkey meatballs—whatever meatballs you prefer.
- If you have leftover homemade meatballs, feel free to use those. However, they must be cooked to work in this recipe.
- Make your own homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce with a few simple ingredients: soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, honey... it's so worth it and it keeps in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
- In addition to green onions, garnish your teriyaki pineapple meatballs with sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, or hot sriracha sauce if you'd like.
- Use appetizer-sized meatballs and keep warm in the
slow cooker . They make a perfect appetizer for your next party.
🔪 Instructions
Since everything is already cooked it's basically a matter of warming up the ingredients. This usually doesn't take me more than 15-20 minutes.
📖 Recipe
Teriyaki Pineapple Meatballs Recipe
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 12 ounces meatballs, frozen - no need to thaw
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, may use more if desired
- 12 ounces onions and peppers, frozen mixture
- 8 ounces teriyaki sauce, 1 cup. Homemade or store-bought. Use more as desired.
- green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Place the frozen meatballs in a large pan.
- Add the undrained pineapple.
- Top with the onions and peppers.
- Stir in the teriyaki sauce.
- Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are heated through (at least 165℉ on an instant-read thermometer).
- Sprinkled with sliced green onions and serve with rice or noodles.
Notes
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- Don't worry about thawing the meatballs. This recipe actually works best if you keep them frozen.
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- Keep the lid on while simmering. Otherwise, the moisture will evaporate out of the sauce, and it'll get too thick.
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- If it is too thick, you can thin out the sauce with some extra pineapple juice, orange juice, broth, or water.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Expert Tip: Make a double batch of these teriyaki meatballs to feed a large crowd. Transfer them to a crockpot to keep 'em warm during a party. Or, freeze them in meal sized portions for easy dinners all month long.
👩🍳 FAQs
Yep! You can use fresh pineapple and pineapple juice instead of a can of crushed pineapple.
It's easy! Combine the ingredients, then cook. Slow cooker teriyaki pineapple meatballs take two to three hours on high or four to six on low.
📚 Related recipes
- Honey Garlic Meatballs have a tangy-sweet glaze and a touch of heat. They're another perfect dinner or party dish!
- If you like French onion soup, cheesy and easy French Onion Meatballs hit the spot and are so fun on a chilly weeknight.
- With just three ingredients, Slow Cooker Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken is a tasty alternative to meatballs when you have some poultry to use up.
🍽️ Serve with...
I love to spoon a big helping of sweet, saucy meatballs over rice. Plus, it's easy—use Minute rice or a rice cooker if you're pressed for time.
Sweet and Spicy Oven-Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a great side dish for pineapple teriyaki meatballs. They complement the flavors really well.
And, don't forget to sop up that delicious sauce with Homemade Potato Rolls.
Then, keep the tropical theme going with Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie—a no-bake dessert with only six ingredients. Score.
Is there anything worse than running late at work, getting home exhausted, and having to fix dinner when everyone is so hungry they're eyeing the dog?
Nope. Not really.
Well this super easy recipe has got you covered - throw some Minute Rice together while you're heating it all up - I won't tell.
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