Pineapple Glazed Meatballs – A quick and easy baked meatballs covered in a rich pineapple sauce. Definitely juicy and bursting flavor.
If you asked me what my favorite party foods were while growing up, cocktail meatballs would likely be at the top of my list. They’re so cute and always showed up at the parties I attended. But for some reason, I haven’t been making them as much as an adult. Let’s just say I grew out of it… until recently.
It’s now one of my son’s favorite foods, and he often asks for them in different disguises. I don’t mind making them because they’re so easy to throw together; just blend the ingredients in a food processor, add spices, mix, and bake.
Why Bake Pineapple Glazed Meatballs
Compared to the fried meatballs, these are healthier and more convenient with no hovering over the stove. Plus, they’re incredibly tender. So, if you’re cooking for a crowd, they really save time. You can make a big batch with no turning required.
They’re super versatile, too. Take them out of the oven and pair them with the sauce of your choice: homemade BBQ sauce or this flavor-bomb pineapple glaze. You can use the pineapple BBQ sauce for other meats as well.
What You Need
- Milk also delivers juicier and more tender meatballs with more flavor depth.
- Bread – Cubed bread absorbs the moisture from the liquids for a juicier meatball.
- Seasonings – Salt, bouillon powder, parsley, onion, white pepper, garlic, and cayenne ramp up spiciness. But feel free to use what you like best.
- Ground Meat – Half beef and half pork make the most flavorful and juicy meatballs. However, you can use just ground beef or just ground pork. I bet ground turkey and chicken would be great, too.
- Pineapple BBQ Sauce – Crushed pineapple and, for a quick cheat, your favorite BBQ sauce make a decadent glaze. However, homemade BBQ sauce is super easy and delicious.
How to Make Pineapple Glazed Meatballs
Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 400℉ (205℃).
- Flavor – Pulse milk, bread, onions, garlic, and parsley in a food processor several times until blended. (Photo 1)
- Meat – In a large bowl, mix the ground meat, salt, white pepper, cayenne pepper, and milk and bread mixture, but please don’t overmix. (Photo 2)
- Shape Meatballs – Grab pieces of the meat mixture with your hands and shape them into about 16 balls. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Prep Baking Sheet – Line a baking pan with foil, then top it with a wire rack. Arrange meatballs in a single layer. (While the meatballs are baking, grease will slowly drip to the bottom of the pan for less greasy meatballs.) (Photo 3)
- Bake meatballs until a beautiful golden brown and cooked through (10-12 minutes).
Pineapple Barbecue Sauce
- Combine – While the meatballs are baking, stir crushed pineapple and barbecue sauce in a medium saucepan.
- Simmer – Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes- stirring occasionally. (Photo 4)
- Dip each meatball individually (using a toothpick) in the sauce mixture. Or pour the sauce over the meatballs and serve. Enjoy!
Make-Ahead & Storage
These delicious meatballs are totally freezable. Freeze them on a baking sheet and put them in a ziplock freezer bag as soon as they’re solid. Squeeze as much air out as you can (or vacuum pack them), and they’ll last 3-4 months.
Make the pineapple BBQ sauce up to a week ahead, and keep it refrigerated in a glass jar. It also freezes well, but I’d store it in a freezer ziplock bag and flatten it to take up less room.
How to Enjoy Pineapple Glazed Meatballs
This finger-licking goodness is a must for game-day appetizers. But it’s equally delicious over mashed potatoes and coconut jasmine rice.
More Amazing Appetizer Recipes to Try
Pineapple Glazed Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound (450g) ground meat (half beef and half pork)
- 1-2 slices bread cut in little pieces (about 28 grams)
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk
- ½ teaspoon (2-3g) salt or more to suit tastes
- ¼ teaspoon (.5-1g) bouillon powder or replace with salt
- ¼ tablespoon (1g) parsley, chopped
- ¼ small onion
- ½ teaspoon (1-2g) white pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons (5-10g) minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon (.5-1g) minced hot pepper or cayenne
Pineapple Barbecue Sauce
- ½ cup (125g) crushed pineapple
- 1 cup (296g) BBQ sauce
Instructions
Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 400℉ (205℃).
- Pulse milk, bread, onions, garlic, and parsley in a food processor several times until blended.
- Mix the ground meat, salt, white pepper, cayenne pepper, and milk and bread mixture in a large bowl, but please don't overmix.
- Grab pieces of the meat mixture with your hands and shape them into about 16 balls. Cover them and store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and top it with a wire rack. Put meatballs in a single layer. (While the meatballs are baking, grease will slowly drip to the bottom of the pan for less greasy meatballs.)
- Bake meatballs until a beautiful golden brown and cooked through (10-12 minutes).
Pineapple Barbecue Sauce
- While the meatballs are baking, stir crushed pineapple and barbecue sauce in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes- stirring occasionally.
- Dip each meatball individually (using a toothpick) in the sauce mixture. Or pour the sauce over the meatballs and serve. Enjoy!
Tips & Notes:
- Half beef and half pork make the most flavorful and juicy meatballs. However, you can use just ground beef or just ground pork.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
Rea Rae says
Somehow, I missed the oven temperature ???
Imma says
Hi Rea Rae. Bake in a 400F oven until cooked through, for 10-12 minutes
Jane says
How much bbq sauce and how much crushed pineapples are used to make the sauce? Maybe I am missing that information somewhere.
Jane
ImmaculateBites says
Recipe has been updated. It’s 1 cup barbecue sauce and 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
Ife says
They look absolutely delicious! Pls can I use a blender instead of a food processor?
ImmaculateBites says
Ife, you sure can.
Rachel hodges says
What kind of bbq sauce is best?
ImmaculateBites says
Rachel, It is all about preference- I have always used Bull’s Eye BBQ sauce, I like the intense bbq flavor- they do carry different varieties -check it out.
Kim @ Mom, Can I Have That? says
Wow! These look so amazingly delicious – perfect for a party!
Nagi@RecipeTin Eats says
Yep. Tick. Added to my must try. Almost broke my screen grabbing one. The usual stuff that goes on when I see your recipes Imma!
Debbie says
These look and sound great – can’t wait to give it a try this weekend. Thanks for sharing!!!!
ImmaculateBites says
Debbie, do let me know how you like it. Thanks!