Description
A delicious and easy-to-make Hawaiian Meatballs recipe featuring tender ground beef meatballs simmered in a sweet and tangy pineapple sauce with bell peppers. Perfect for a flavorful family dinner and served best over rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Sauce and Vegetables
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (drained, reserve juice)
- 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (cornstarch slurry)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and soy sauce. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form and Brown Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 8–10 minutes. Remove meatballs from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, add the drained pineapple chunks along with the chopped red and green bell peppers. Cook for 2–3 minutes until peppers are slightly tender and pineapple heated through.
- Make the Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the reserved pineapple juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and ketchup. Pour this sauce mixture into the skillet with the vegetables and bring to a simmer.
- Thicken the Sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Return the cooked meatballs to the skillet, stirring gently to coat them evenly with the sauce. Simmer together for another 3–5 minutes to ensure meatballs are heated through and flavors meld.
- Serve: Serve the Hawaiian meatballs hot, ideally over steamed rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce mixture.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for beef for a lighter alternative.
- Use dairy-free milk to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Make sure to reserve the pineapple juice for the sauce base—it adds authentic sweetness and tang.
- Meatballs can be made ahead and reheated in the sauce for convenience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
