Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 pound frozen meatballs (or homemade if preferred)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if making homemade meatballs)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg (if making homemade meatballs)
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (if making homemade meatballs)
For the Sauce:
- 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks (with juice)
- 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional for thickening)
Instructions
Prepare the Meatballs
- For Frozen Meatballs: Simply grab a bag of frozen meatballs, and you’re all set! There’s no need to cook them beforehand. Just place them directly into the Crock Pot.
- For Homemade Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef (or your preferred protein), breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, black pepper, and olive oil. Mix well, and roll into 1-inch balls. Brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes. Once browned, transfer them to the Crock Pot.
Make the Sauce
- Combine Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the pineapple chunks (with juice), teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and ground ginger.
- Optional Thicken: If you prefer a thicker sauce, stir in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the sauce mixture and whisk until smooth.
Combine and Cook
- Add the Sauce: Pour the sauce over the meatballs in the Crock Pot, making sure the meatballs are well-coated.
- Cook: Cover the Crock Pot and cook on low for 4 hours or until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
Serve and Enjoy
- Serve: Once done, serve the meatballs as an appetizer with toothpicks or over rice for a hearty meal.
- Garnish: Optional—garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds for an extra pop of flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 min.
- Cook Time: 4 hrs
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6-8 servings
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Fat: 13g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g