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Looking for a fast dinner? My Easy Teriyaki Meatballs are the perfect 30 minute meal when you’re in a hurry – but you can also make them in a slow cooker as an appetizer. Teriyaki meatballs with pineapple is my favorite 3 ingredient recipe!
My favorite sauce is already thickened and perfectly sweet with all that flavor you expect from an Asian-inspired meal. Plus it’s SO easy to make this into a simple dinner – or appetizer – in under 30 minutes.
I was a really picky kid growing up but there were a few meals I looked forward to and one of them was anything with teriyaki. My mom would toss pork chops in teriyaki sauce before stir frying and she’d also make a homemade teriyaki sauce with breaded chicken and pineapple.
If I’m looking to make a quick dinner recipe I always grab that bottle of teriyaki and some leftover meat or frozen meatballs. Shop that freezer section – 30 minute Teriyaki Meatballs satisfy the entire family – even the picky eaters. Want from scratch? Make teriyaki sauce and homemade meatballs.
3 Ingredient Teriyaki Meatballs
- Frozen Meatballs – Use your favorite brand. We love Trader Joe’s meatballs but any frozen meatball works (made with ground turkey or ground beef).
- Teriyaki Sauce – I like getting the thicker teriyaki sauce. They sell two kinds: one that is thin like vinegar and one that is thick. You can use either, but the thicker one creates more of a glaze.
- Pineapple Chunks or Tidbits: Get the ones packed in juice, not syrup.
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions and below the recipe card for process shots.
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How to make Teriyaki Meatballs
- Simmer frozen meatballs with a bit of the pineapple juice over medium high heat until the meatballs are thawed.
- Add the teriyaki sauce and cook until hot.
- Add the drained pineapple chunks and cook until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve this as a 30 minute semi-homemade dinner OR make this for game day or a party as an appetizer and serve with toothpicks.
- Serve over rice (or brown rice) or cauliflower rice.
- Serve it with some air fryer broccoli or other vegetable!
Expert Tips
- Make sure to cook the meatballs in a single layer for best results.
- Don’t add the sauce until the meatballs are mostly thawed.
- You can swap sugar-free teriyaki sauce.
- You can also bake the meatballs in the oven as directed on the packaged, then mix with the sauce.
- I love to garnish this with green onion
- I have my favorite turkey meatball recipe and you can make the meatballs from that recipe to use in this one.
Easy Teriyaki Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 32 ounce package frozen meatballs
- 1 14 ounce jar P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Teriyaki Sauce for Dipping Cooking & Marinating
- 1 20 ounce can pineapple chunks or tidbits in juice
- Rice, optional for serving
Instructions
On the stovetop (30 min meal)
- Add meatballs and teriyaki sauce to a large skillet. It's best if the meatballs are in a single layer.
- Drain pineapple but reserve juice. Add the pineapple and 1/4 cup reserved liquid to the pan with the meatballs. Stir to combine.
- Cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are hot and warmed through, about 20-25 minutes.
- Serve as a meal with rice and vegetable. To serve as an appetizer, place meatballs on skewers with pineapple chunks and serve hot.
In the Slow Cooker
- Add meatballs and teriyaki sauce to the liner of a slow cooker that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Drain pineapple but reserve juice. Add the pineapple and 1/4 cup reserved liquid to the pan with the meatballs. Stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until hot.
- Serve as a meal with rice and vegetable or with toothpicks as an appetizer.
Recipe Nutrition
What to serve with teriyaki meatballs:
You could also use this teriyaki sauce on Shredded Chicken, as a dip for Chicken Tenders, or as a sauce on my Foolproof chicken recipe!
Do you use the entire bottle of teriyaki sauce? Sounds like a lot.
I do, we like it saucy, but you can use less.
Please send me basic cake recipes
Would you please tell me a favorite brand of frozen meatballs<thanks so much!
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