Slow Cooker Meatball Pineapple Smokies Recipe
Slow Cooker Meatball Pineapple Smokies is a deliciously sweet and savory dish featuring tender homestyle meatballs and cocktail smokies simmered in a sticky pineapple BBQ sauce. The natural enzymes in pineapple juice tenderize the meats as they cook low and slow in a crockpot, allowing flavors to meld into a perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, and umami. This easy, crowd-pleasing recipe makes a flavorful appetizer or snack, perfect for gatherings and entertaining.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours (high) or 5–6 hours (low)
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes (high) or 5 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes (low)
- Yield: Approximately 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sausages
- 24 oz frozen homestyle meatballs
- 14 oz cocktail smokies
Fruit
- 20 oz can pineapple chunks in juice (do not drain)
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce (sweet and smoky style recommended)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
Optional Garnish
- Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Add Frozen Meatballs: Pour 24 oz frozen homestyle meatballs straight into the black oval crockpot, ensuring they remain fully frozen to start.
- Add Cocktail Smokies: Place 14 oz of cocktail smokies evenly on top of the frozen meatballs.
- Add Pineapple with Juice: Open the 20 oz can of pineapple chunks and pour the entire contents, including the juice, over the meatballs and smokies.
- Add Sauce + Seasonings: Evenly pour 1 ½ cups of BBQ sauce over the ingredients, then sprinkle ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp onion powder on top.
- Mix Gently: Using a long spoon, gently stir everything in the crockpot to coat the meatballs and smokies thoroughly with the sauce and seasonings without breaking up the meat.
- Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 5–6 hours. Stir gently once halfway through cooking to ensure even coverage. The sauce will thicken and become sticky as it cooks.
- Serve: Spoon the meatballs and smokies into a round serving bowl, garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and serve warm with the thick, glossy sauce coating each piece.
Notes
- Do not drain the pineapple juice as it tenderizes the meat and enhances sauce flavor.
- Use a thicker BBQ sauce to achieve a nice, sticky texture.
- Stir only once midway to prevent breaking up the meatballs.
- Choose homestyle or beef meatballs rather than Italian-style for best flavor compatibility.
- Garnish just before serving to add freshness and color.
- For variations, try teriyaki sauce instead of BBQ sauce or add diced bell peppers or onion for color and texture.
- You can prepare the ingredients in advance by mixing them in the crockpot insert, refrigerating overnight, then cooking the next day.
Keywords: slow cooker meatballs, cocktail smokies, pineapple meatballs, BBQ pineapple smokies, party appetizer, crockpot recipe, sweet and smoky meatballs
