Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Waikiki Meatballs

Teresa Ambra

These delicious Waikiki Meatballs make up a wonderful, appetizing dish served with rice. These meatballs have all the flavorsome delights you would expect from a Hawaiian-style recipe. Yummy pineapple, bell peppers, soy sauce, and ginger are what make this recipe fun and delicious. It’s also relatively quick to prepare.

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Are you looking for a different, yet tasty way to serve ground beef, turkey (or any ground meat)? This is it. Waikiki Meatballs is one of our favorite Betty Crocker recipes. I found this in my old 1972 edition cookbook shortly after we were married and I’ve made it many times through the years.  This beef entree is tasty, economical, and a change of pace from many boring ground beef recipes currently available on the Internet.

You can easily make this recipe gluten-free by changing out the bread crumbs for gluten-free. If you want more color, use red, orange or yellow bell peppers along with or instead of the green bell peppers. Consider trying this quick and easy Waikiki Meatballs recipe for your family some time soon. It is such a delightful recipe and everyone enjoys it.

When I initially posted this recipe in July 2012, my pictures were taken with a cheap iPhone 3 (all that I had at the time) so they were blurry, dark, and less than appealing. I’ve been remaking all my first year blog recipes since none of them were originally taken with a good camera and reshooting the pictures for better presentation and display.

I recently remade this recipe (October 2015), but this time I made the recipe entirely gluten free. I save the end pieces off of gluten free bread and freeze them. Then I crush them into crumbs with my rolling pin and refreeze. Here, I dried the bread on cookie racks for about a week, then I froze them bread, pulled it out of the freezer whole, and ran my rolling pin over to crush them.

The crumbs did not have all the parsley and Italian seasonings that normal bread crumbs come with–but they also didn’t have any high fructose corn syrup or other garbage in most bread crumbs. This has always been one of our favorite meatball recipes and it tastes well using either regular or gluten free bread crumbs. It’s quick, easy and delicious served over hot, cooked rice.

4C brand now makes gluten free bread crumbs. I find them at my local Walmart.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Waikiki Meatballs over hot, cooked rice makes a delicious supper.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Serve Waikiki Meatballs over hot, cooked rice.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

These meatballs are so easy and quick to make. You can have dinner ready in under an hour.

Here’s what I did.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

I used these ingredients. I crushed the frozen gluten free bread with a rolling pin to produce bread crumbs.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Place ground beef in large mixing bowl. Add bread crumbs, diced onion, an egg, salt, ginger and milk.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

 Mix all ingredients by hand until well mixed.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Melt oil in saucepan. (I actually did not use any oil). Form beef mixture into golf ball-size meatballs. Add to oil in skillet and brown until meatballs are completely cooked through and there is no pink showing. 

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Remove cooked meatballs from pan and set aside. Drain grease.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

While meatballs are cooking make sauce ingredients. Place cornstarch in bowl. Add brown sugar. Stir to combine pressing out all the lumps. Chop up a green pepper and set aside. Drain a can of crushed pineapple and reserve the juice. Press all the juice out of the pineapple and allow the juice to drain into a bowl beneath the colander.

Add the cornstarch/brown sugar mixture to reserved pineapple juice. Add apple cider vinegar and soy sauce. I used a gluten free low-sodium soy sauce. Stir all ingredients together for the sauce.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Place sauce ingredients in pan and cook over medium heat until mixture thickens.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Add cooked meatballs.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Add drained crushed pineapple and chopped green pepper. Stir to combine.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Stir all the ingredients together. Keep heat on low. 

Meanwhile, make rice. I use a higher quality brown rice. The first thing in the morning I set out a cup and a half of rice and covered it with water. It was 5 or 6 hours later when I drained the rice and cooked it. Soaking the rice releases phythates which are hard for the body to digest. Additionally, it releases digestive enzymes making the rice more digestible. Soaking helps all grains, seeds and beans to be more easily digested. I cook the rice in a 3 to 1 ratio. Three parts water to one part rice.  Cook the rice about 30 minutes until it’s done.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Waikiki Meatballs are wonderful served with hot, cooked rice. You can also serve it with Fried Rice.

Here’s the recipe.

WAIKIKI MEATBALLS

(Recipe from Betty Crocker Cookbook)

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Waikiki Meatballs

Teresa Ambra
Waikiki Meatballs are terrific. This delicious Polynesian-style dish is lovely served over rice. These meatballs are served in a soy-ginger sauce with green peppers and pineapple. It's also quick and easy for weeknight dinners
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Beef Main Dish
Cuisine Asian, Polynesian
Servings 6
Calories 551 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 whisk
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 spatula
  • 1 large sauce pot with lid to cook rice

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. 93% lean ground beef
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 cup 2% milk
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp. ginger
  • 1 large egg
  • 13 ½-oz. can crushed pineapple reserve syrup
  • 1/3 cup minced onion
  • 2/3 cup Italian style bread crumbs or homemade gluten free crushed bread crumbs
  • 1/3 cup green pepper chopped
  • 1 tbsp. oil
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp. Tamari gluten free low sodium soy sauce

Instructions
 

  • Mix thoroughly beef, crumbs, onion, egg, salt, ginger and milk in a large mixing bowl.
  • I usually mix this with my hands.
  • Shape mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls into balls.
  • Melt oil in large skillet. (I omitted the oil).
  • Brown and cook meatballs; remove meatballs from skillet to plate; keep warm.
  • Pour fat from skillet.
  • Mix cornstarch and brown sugar in a mixing bowl.
  • Whisk in reserved pineapple syrup, vinegar and soy sauce until smooth.
  • Pour into skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
  • Boil and stir 1 minute.
  • Add meatballs, crushed pineapple and green pepper; heat through.
  • Makes 35 meatballs plus sweet and sour sauce.
  • Serve over hot, cooked rice.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker cookbook, circa 1972.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 551kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 60gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 196mgSodium: 942mgPotassium: 1036mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 113IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 7mg
Keyword beef, main dish, meatballs, pineapple
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Waikiki Meatballs[/b]
Recipe Type: Beef Main Dish
Cuisine: Polynesian
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307098001/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=02NDX48FP7NDM8JNMA8A&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=1935651402&pf_rd_i=desktop” target=”_blank” title=”betty crocker cookbook”]Betty Crocker[/url]
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
This delicious Polynesian-style dish is lovely served over rice. These meatballs are served in a soy-ginger sauce with green peppers and pineapple.
Ingredients
  • 1 ½ – 2 lbs. 93% lean ground beef
  • 1 ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup vinegar
  • ¼ tsp. ginger
  • 1 egg
  • 13 ½-oz. can crushed pineapple, reserve syrup
  • 1/3 cup minced onion
  • 2/3 cup Italian style bread crumbs (or homemade gluten free crushed bread crumbs)
  • 1/3 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1 tbsp. oil
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. Tamari gluten free low sodium soy sauce
Instructions
  1. Mix thoroughly beef, crumbs, onion, egg, salt, ginger and milk.
  2. Shape mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls into balls.
  3. Melt oil in large skillet. (I omitted the oil).
  4. Brown and cook meatballs; remove meatballs from skillet to plate; keep warm.
  5. Pour fat from skillet.
  6. Mix cornstarch and sugar.
  7. Stir in reserved pineapple syrup, vinegar and soy sauce until smooth.
  8. Pour into skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
  9. Boil and stir 1 minute.
  10. Add meatballs, crushed pineapple and green pepper; heat through.
  11. Makes 35 meatballs plus sweet and sour sauce.
  12. Serve over hot, cooked rice.
Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

Here’s a serving of this economical and delicious meal. If you enjoy Polynesian-style food, you’ll enjoy Waikiki Meatballs.

Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #Polynesian flavors and so quick and easy to make. I made it with homemade #glutenfree bread crumbs and it was wonderful. #beef #pineapple

These meatballs are tender and juicy. You can also serve them over noodles if you prefer.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Swedish Meatballs

Swedish Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this succulent #meatballs recipe can be dinner ready in about 45 minutes. It's quick, easy, kid friendly and delicious! #beef #noodles

Pizza Meatballs

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Baked Penne with Italian-Style Meatballs

Baked Penne with Italian-Style Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this sensational #pasta #recipe is layered like a #lasagna. The bottom layer has #penne mixed with 3 #cheeses including #ricotta. It's topped with #meatballs, #spaghettisauce & both #parmesan & #mozzarella cheeses. Perfect company entree. #pinenuts #groundbeef
Waikiki Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Waikiki Meatballs

Teresa Ambra
Waikiki Meatballs are terrific. This delicious Polynesian-style dish is lovely served over rice. These meatballs are served in a soy-ginger sauce with green peppers and pineapple. It's also quick and easy for weeknight dinners
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Beef Main Dish
Cuisine Asian, Polynesian
Servings 6
Calories 551 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 whisk
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 spatula
  • 1 large sauce pot with lid to cook rice

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 – 2 lbs. 93% lean ground beef
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 cup 2% milk
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp. ginger
  • 1 large egg
  • 13 ½-oz. can crushed pineapple reserve syrup
  • 1/3 cup minced onion
  • 2/3 cup Italian style bread crumbs or homemade gluten free crushed bread crumbs
  • 1/3 cup green pepper chopped
  • 1 tbsp. oil
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp. Tamari gluten free low sodium soy sauce

Instructions
 

  • Mix thoroughly beef, crumbs, onion, egg, salt, ginger and milk in a large mixing bowl.
  • I usually mix this with my hands.
  • Shape mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls into balls.
  • Melt oil in large skillet. (I omitted the oil).
  • Brown and cook meatballs; remove meatballs from skillet to plate; keep warm.
  • Pour fat from skillet.
  • Mix cornstarch and brown sugar in a mixing bowl.
  • Whisk in reserved pineapple syrup, vinegar and soy sauce until smooth.
  • Pour into skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
  • Boil and stir 1 minute.
  • Add meatballs, crushed pineapple and green pepper; heat through.
  • Makes 35 meatballs plus sweet and sour sauce.
  • Serve over hot, cooked rice.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker cookbook, circa 1972.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 551kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 60gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 196mgSodium: 942mgPotassium: 1036mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 113IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 7mg
Keyword beef, main dish, meatballs, pineapple
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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