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Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Pineapple Meatballs

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IN THIS POST

I’m totally in love with these slow cooker pineapple meatballs today. Actually, I’m totally in love with these slow cooker pineapple meatballs EVERY day! I originally wasn’t going to publish this recipe. When I made these meatballs, I took the first bite, and decided that I HAD to share the recipe with you guys. I snapped a few photos (I apologize for their sloppiness…it was spur of the moment (; …) and here we are. I usually test out a recipe a couple of times before I actually publish it. This was the first time I made these slow cooker pineapple meatballs, and I just couldn’t get over how good they came out! Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, served over rice, or served by themselves for a game day appetizer, these slow cooker pineapple meatballs are full of flavor and perfectly addicting.

Happy Wednesday guys! Are we happy that half of the week is over? As many of you already know, I have been battling an annoying sickness that just doesn’t seem to want to go away. I thought I was good to go a couple of days ago, and then boom…it was back. I HATE feeling this way. There are things to do, places to go and cookies to bake! I feel like I am constantly moving at a snail’s pace, when all I want to do is sleep. I partially blame the cold and the snow. It has literally been snowing for 3 days straight, and I think there is a forecasted low of -15 degrees F tonight. How fun does that sound?!

There is something comfy and cozy about being trapped indoors for a couple of days, so I can’t really complain TOO much, especially when I’m trapped inside with these sweet and spicy slow cooker pineapple meatballs.

I love that these meatballs are so versatile. I have eaten them a number of ways over the past few days. By themselves, over rice and in a hoagie roll. You pop them in the slow cooker in the morning and let them simmer all day.

Recipe for these slow cooker pineapple meatballs and a delish beer pairing are below! Check it out and have a wonderful evening!

Beer Love


I tend to like hoppier beers with spicier foods. These slow cooker pineapple meatballs are spicy, but they aren’t out of control. They have a delicate sweetness that lingers with each and every bite. While normally, I would pair spicy foods with an IPA, I decided to go a little bit lighter and pair with a pale ale instead. A pale ale provides that hoppiness without being out of control bitter. It really accents the sweet and spicy going on in these slow cooker pineapple meatballs. Here are some examples of pale ales that I just adore for this recipe.
 

Wind River Brewing Company’s Fremont Pale Ale
 

Maine Beer Company’s Peeper Ale
 

3 Floyd’s Zombie Dust
 

Upslope Brewing’s Belgian Style Pale Ale



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Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Pineapple Meatballs

Servings:

6 servings

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 cup plain bread crumbs
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped (plus extra for garnish)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Sauce

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple
  • 3/4 cups soy sauce
  • 3 cloves of garlic pressed through a garlic press
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons mirin
  • 1 tablespoon red chile paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, bread crumbs, eggs, milk, cilantro, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands or a heavy wooden spoon until combined. Form the mixture into 1 tablespoon-sized balls. Place in the slow cooker, situating them in an even layer.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, pineapple, soy sauce, garlic, rice wine vinegar, mirin, red chile paste, cayenne pepper, onion powder, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Pour the sauce over top of the meatballs. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
  • When finished cooking, sprinkle with fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. Serve as an appetizer or over rice for a quick dinner!
  • Enjoy!

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Justine

Justine

I’m the voice, author, creator, and photographer behind Cooking and Beer. We started things about 10 years ago and Cooking and Beer has morphed and grown into what it is today: providing hundreds of recipes to thousands of people.

11 Responses

  1. I keep saying I’d like to move to Colorado, until reading this post! -15 and 3 days of snow in November?? Crazy! And the meatball look amazing, and the pictures look great! As always!

    1. Haha, honestly Sloane it really is beautiful most of the time here. We hardly ever see rain, and the sun shines all the time. We do get the occasional very low temps and feet of snow, but ya know, give a little take a little. Thank you so much, friend! xoxo

  2. Thank you for posting the recipe. Should I be concerned about them sticking together in the slow cooker?>

    1. Hi Flo! The meatballs will sometimes stick together, especially if your slow cooker isn’t very big. Also, the sauce is sticky, so I wouldn’t be too concerned. Try to space them as evenly as you can. Either way, they come out delicious. I hope you enjoy the recipe!

    1. Hi! It’s always a good idea to brown meatballs (or really any type of meat) before you add them to the crockpot, unless of course you have an option to sear on your slow cooker. I usually skip this step (partly because I’m lazy and also because I have a sear option on my slow cooker), and they have always come out fantastic, but if you want a good crisp outer edge, then I would suggest browning them for a couple of minutes and then sticking them in the slow cooker. It’s really up to you and based on personal preference! I hope this helps! Enjoy!

      1. Could you please put that in the recipe, as we have just done the recipe as you have put up , so our meatballs are in the crockpot without browning off.

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Hello! I'm Justine.

I’m a blogger and web developer from the beautiful state of Oklahoma, where my loving husband, two adorable kids, and two mischievous dogs keep me on my toes 24/7. My idea of heaven includes endless summer days, getting lost in a good book, and whipping up some delicious homemade bread.

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