Hawaiian BBQ Meatball Fried Rice

This is what happens when you’re sitting around, dreaming about food. You start by dreaming about appetizers, like maybe some awesome Hawaiian BBQ meatballs. You know, the old party standby. Yummy. Then, your thoughts (I’m blaming the pineapple in the meatball sauce) turn to Hawaiian fried rice. Next thing you know, you’ve got Hawaiian BBQ meatball fried rice, and let me tell you, it’s good. Asian meets… uh… Well, meatballs, I guess! It’s different in a very good way.

Hawaiian BBQ Meatball Fried Rice

I loved the sweetness of the pineapple, the tangy bite from the BBQ sauce, and the bite from the vegetables. This Hawaiian BBQ meatball fried rice came out really good. Not bad for just sitting around, dreaming! Who knows what I might dream up next. Sometimes the ideas are really good, like this one. Others, well, they aren’t so good. Those are the ones that don’t end up on this blog so you actually never get to see them. Consider yourself lucky!

I used frozen, pre-cooked meatballs for this dish. You can use homemade instead. Just cook them first, of course.

If I’m reaching for a bottled BBQ sauce, I often go for Sweet Baby Ray’s.

My vegetable and meatball soup is a bit different, too.

Hawaiian BBQ Meatball Fried Rice
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4 from 1 vote

Hawaiian BBQ Meatball Fried Rice

This is what happens when you’re sitting around, dreaming about food. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword fried rice, meatballs
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 357kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For the Hawaiian meatballs

For the Hawaiian fried rice

  • 3 teaspoons vegetable oil divided
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 6 green onions white and green parts chopped and separated
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 5 cups rice cooked
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ 20 ounce pineapple chunks

Instructions

For the Hawaiian meatballs

  • Place all ingredients into a medium pot over medium heat. Stir and heat thoroughly.

For the Hawaiian fried rice

  • Heat a teaspoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add the bell pepper and white parts of the green onions and cook until the peppers start to soften, about 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook another minute.
  • Remove mixture to a plate.
  • Add another teaspoon of oil to the pan.
  • Add rice and warm through, stirring often.
  • Push rice to the side of the skillet and add the 3 eggs. Cook, scrambling, until done. Stir in to the rice.
  • Add green parts of the green onions and pineapple chunks and stir.
  • Add in the red pepper mixture and stir.
  • Serve rice with meatballs and sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 245mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 701IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Pulled Pork Tater Tot Nachos

I usually have a little pulled pork leftover after I smoked a pork butt on my Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker. It usually ends up on baked potatoes. Or in stromboli. Or in nachos, like these pulled pork tater tot nachos. Like any nachos, you can go pretty much nuts and put whatever you want on these. I really like the combination of red onion, green chiles, peppadews, black olives, and pinto beans. You get a mix of crunch, heat and salt. The smoked provolone sauce and spicy BBQ sauce really bring it all together.

Pulled Pork Tater Tot Nachos

I actually prefer tater tots (or crispy crowns) in my pulled pork tater tot nachos nachos over tortillas if I’m serving them as a main dish. Tortilla chips work better in an appetizer since they turn the nachos into easy-to-eat finger foods.

If I’m reaching for a bottled BBQ sauce, I often go for Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Also try my potato chip nachos and my tater tot potato skins.

Pulled Pork Tater Tot Nachos
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5 from 1 vote

Pulled Pork Tater Tot Nachos

Like any nachos, you can go pretty much nuts and put whatever you want on these. I really like the combination of red onion, green chiles, peppadews, black olives, and pinto beans. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword nachos, pulled pork, tater tots
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 167kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Spread tater tots out on a platter.
  • Top tots with pork.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the onion, olives, peppers, and chiles. Sprinkle mixture over tots.
  • Top with beans and add BBQ and provolone sauces.
  • Devour immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 485mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

BBQ Pasta Salad

This is the perfect BBQ pasta salad side for a cookout. It’s a nice twist on your standard traditional macaroni salad (it has BBQ sauce in it!). Great with burgers, hot dogs, ribs, chicken… anything!

BBQ Pasta Salad

Use a spicier BBQ sauce for more kick in your BBQ pasta salad. You can use homemade, but I was in a bit of a rush so I grabbed a bottle of store-bought sauces. I also think cubed pepper jack cheese would go great in this salad, so I’ll add some next time I make it (which will be soon!). Roasted red pepper (or chopped pimentos) also adds a fantastic flavor.

I recently discovered Blue Plate mayonnaise, which I think is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my easy pasta salad.

Inspired by a recipe from Gonna Want Seconds.

BBQ Pasta Salad
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5 from 1 vote

BBQ Pasta Salad

This is the perfect BBQ pasta salad side for a cookout. It’s a nice twist on your standard traditional macaroni salad (it has BBQ sauce in it!).
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, pasta salad
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 302kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook pasta per package instructions. Drain well and let cool.
  • Place bell pepper, celery, green and red onions in a large bowl and mix.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, BBQ sauce and hot sauce.
  • Add in the vinegar, sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper, and garlic powder and mix well.
  • Add sauce to the bowl of vegetables and stir.
  • Add in the pasta and cilantro and stir gently until combined.
  • Chill until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 358mg | Potassium: 201mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 736IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

BBQ Pigs in a Blanket

This is a simple twist to the old classic. BBQ pigs in a blanket will have your party guests wondering why anyone ever made them the ‘old way’. Great BBQ flavor, served up with a nice creamy honey mustard dipping sauce.

BBQ Pigs in a Blanket

For ‘normal’ BBQ pigs in a blanket, I use Weber’s Original BBQ sauce. Any old-school flavored BBQ sauce works just fine. But for kicked up bites I use a spicier sauce. If I’m serving both spicy and non-spicy I’ll put a little table sign by them so people know which is which.

Also try my southwestern pigs in a blanket.

BBQ Pigs in a Blanket
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BBQ Pigs in a Blanket

This is a simple twist to the old classic. BBQ pigs in a blanket will have your party guests wondering why anyone ever made them the ‘old way’. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs, treats
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 199kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Place BBQ sauce and syrup into a small saute pan and heat to a slow boil.
  • Add sausages and heat through, about 5 minutes.
  • Unroll crescent rolls and divide into triangles.
  • Cut each triangle into 3 thin, long triangles.
  • Wrap dough around the weenies and pinch the ends closed.
  • Place on am un-greased baking sheet.
  • Bake 10-12 minutes or until browned.
  • Serve with dipping sauce

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 689mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

BBQ Hot Dog Appetizers

One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving dinner is the big selection of appetizers you can munch on while you’re waiting on the meal to get ready. These little BBQ hot dog appetizers are very easy, but also very tasty. Sure you can cheat and just toss some dogs with store-bought BBQ sauce, but you’ll find that this homemade version is oh so much better.

Of course, you can eat these any time of the year. They’re the perfect kind of treat that can be thrown together quickly when watching the big game.

BBQ Hot Dog Appetizers

This same recipe for BBQ hot dog appetizers would also be great with smoke sausages cut into bite-sized pieces.

Also try my BBQ pinwheels.

BBQ Hot Dog Appetizers
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4 from 1 vote

BBQ Hot Dog Appetizers

These little BBQ hot dog appetizers are very easy, but also very tasty. Sure you can cheat and just toss some dogs with store-bought BBQ sauce, but you’ll find that this homemade version is oh so much better.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 177kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in medium sauce pan over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and saute until it just starts to soften.
  • Add the ketchup, vinegar, water, mustard, paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Stir. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  • Taste and add hot sauce if desired.
  • Add the hot dogs and simmer until warm. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 585mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Sweet-n-Spicy BBQ Sauce

If you’re looking to make a big batch of a tomato-based BBQ sauce that is out of this world good, you’ve found it. This sweet-n-spicy BBQ sauce is great to play around with depending on your tastes, too. It goes on smooth, has hints of sweetness and smoke, and a little heat.

Sweet-n-Spicy BBQ Sauce

We slathered some of this great sauce onto some grilled chicken breasts last night for dinner. The leftover chicken (drenched in more sauce) will go onto pizzas and quesadillas. This sauce is also excellent as a dipping sauce for grilled smoked sausage!

This recipe makes about 2 quarts, enough for 16 bone-in chicken breasts… or there abouts!

Sweet-n-Spicy BBQ Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Sweet-n-Spicy BBQ Sauce

If you’re looking to make a big batch of a tomato-based BBQ sauce that is out of this world good, you’ve found it. This sweet-n-spicy BBQ sauce is great to play around with depending on your tastes, too. It goes on smooth, has hints of sweetness and smoke, and a little heat.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, sauce, spicy, sweet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 2 quarts
Calories 2252kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
  • Simmer for 15-30 minutes or until the desired thickness is obtained.

Nutrition

Calories: 2252kcal | Carbohydrates: 571g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7445mg | Potassium: 5122mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 543g | Vitamin A: 3045IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 694mg | Iron: 16mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Best BBQ Beans on the Planet

The best? Really? Quite the bold claim saying that these are the best BBQ beans on the planet. So, being the skeptical person that I am, I figured these would be lame, middle-of-the-road, and nothing really to talk about.

Best BBQ Beans on the Planet

Well, I was wrong. These are the best BBQ beans on the planet and the best I’ve ever had. Now, to be fair, I’ve had some that were close seconds. But these are amazing. So are they the best on the planet? Inspired by Steven Raichlen, these are the best beans in the galaxy. Raichlen introduced me on to a world outside of just firing up some charcoal and tossing on a rubbery steak. And he gave me grill envy. I mean, really, have you seen his shows? He has the BEST toys!

Be cautious when lifting the pan of beans on and off the grill. Always support the pan on the bottom. I use oven mitts.

The only way to make these is on the grill, over indirect heat. Although you can make them in the oven, but you’d really be missing the point (and some flavor).

Also try my easy spicy grilled potatoes.

Best BBQ Beans on the Planet
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5 from 1 vote

Best BBQ Beans on the Planet

These are the best BBQ beans on the planet and the best I’ve ever had. Now, to be fair, I’ve had some that were close seconds. But these are amazing.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, beans
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 263kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Set up your grill for indirect cooking.
  • Place a few chunks of mesquite over the coals.
  • Add the bacon pieces to a large skillet or Dutch oven over high heat and cook until starting to crisp. Remove bacon to a plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings (I strained the rest and refrigerated it for oiling my grill grates).
  • Place all remaining ingredients into a 9" x 13" disposable pan with 3" sides. Stir.
  • Drizzle reserved bacon drippings over the top of the beans.
  • Place pan on grill over indirect heat.
  • Cook for at least 1 hour, monitoring to see if the beans get too hot or dry out (you might have to add water).
  • Remove beans once they and the vegetables are tender.
  • Cover grill

Notes

You’ll need a 9″ x 13″ disposable pan with 3″ sides.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 576mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 378IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

BBQ Hobo Packets

I’ve made a few variations on hobo packets. They’re easy to make, tasty, and make for easy cleanup. This BBQ hobo packets version uses BBQ sauce and has quickly become one of my favorites. Cheesy goodness, with potatoes and onion, all cooked with sausage in a BBQ sauce. All of the ingredients get all steamy happy inside the packet while they cook and the flavors melds perfectly.

BBQ Hobo Packets

I made these BBQ hobo packets a few times for the crew that was remodeling our kitchen. They liked them with sausage or chicken, but I think they favored the chicken one the most!

Inspired by a recipe from Real Mom Kitchen.

BBQ Hobo Packets
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4 from 1 vote

BBQ Hobo Packets

I’ve made a few variations on hobo packets. They’re easy to make, tasty, and make for easy cleanup. This BBQ hobo packets version uses BBQ sauce and has quickly become one of my favorites.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, packets
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 979kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 small red potatoes
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil divided
  • ½ sweet onion cut into thin wedges
  • ½ pound smoked sausage cut into bite-sized pieces (or chicken tenderloins)
  • 3 tablespoons your favorite BBQ sauce spicy works best
  • cup shredded cheese

Instructions

  • Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes and boil until just starting to get tender, 15-20 minutes. Remove from water and let cool slightly then cut into wedges.
  • Spread out foil pieces and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of oil each.
  • Add the remaining ingredients, splitting them between the two pieces of foil, drizzling with however much BBQ sauce you prefer (a tablespoon or so each should be enough). Also add half of the potatoes to each.
  • Seal foil into tight packets and place on a grill over indirect heat for about 10-15 minutes or until the onion has started to soften.
  • Remove from grill and open to let cool before serving.
  • Note: If you aren’t careful the bottoms of the packets can get very hot. Let them cool before serving!

Nutrition

Calories: 979kcal | Carbohydrates: 128g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 1477mg | Potassium: 3482mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 233IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 195mg | Iron: 7mg

Nutritional values are approximate.