Sheet Pan BBQ Meatballs

You guys know how I feel about meatballs, right? Well I’m also a huge fan of cooking things on a sheet pan. So I decided to bring these two favorite things of mine together to make these Sheet Pan BBQ Meatballs, complete with roasted peppers and onions, and big slices of sweet pineapple. This meal is delicious, easy, and packs up well for meal prep! WIN.

Use Two Sheet Pans for Best Results

While you can do this all on one sheet pan, you’ll definitely get better results using two pans. Why? Because the peppers and onions caramelize better when they have room to breathe. If they’re too crowded, the steam will get trapped they’ll just get kind of soft instead of having those nice brown flavorful edges. Of course, if convenience is your priority, you may choose to use one pan.

Can I Use a Different Meat?

Absolutely! These meatballs work great with ground pork, beef, or chicken instead of the ground turkey listed in the recipe below.

Do I Need to Line The Sheet Pans?

This is really up to you. I ended up lining the sheet pan I used for my meatballs with parchment paper and left the sheet pan with the peppers, onions, and pineapple unlined. Lining the sheet pan makes clean up a lot easier, but you do get less caramelization since the vegetables are not in direct contact with the hot pan. So, if you prefer easy clean up, go ahead and line both pans. If you prize flavor over convenience, leave the pan (or pans) unlined.

Sheet Pan BBQ Meatballs

These Sheet Pan BBQ Meatballs are easy, colorful, and delicious. Plus the leftovers hold up great, so they’re meal prep friendly!

Total Cost: $7.84 recipe / $1.96 serving

Author: Beth – Budget Bytes

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 4

Meatballs

1 lb. ground turkey ($3.89)
1 large egg ($0.21)
1/4 cup breadcrumbs ($0.07)
6 Tbsp BBQ sauce, divided ($0.20)
1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.03)
1/2 tsp smoked paprika ($0.05)
1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)

Siides

1 20oz. can pineapple slices (in juice) ($0.89)
1 yellow onion ($0.32)
1 red bell pepper ($1.50)
1 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.04)
1/8 tsp salt ($0.02)
2 green onions, sliced ($0.20)
1 cup long grain white rice (uncooked) ($0.40)

Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Combine the ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, 2 Tbsp of BBQ sauce (reserve the remaining ¼ cup for later), garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt in a bowl. Mix the ingredients together by hand until evenly combined.
Divide and shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs. This is easiest by first dividing the mixture into four equal portions, then dividing and shaping each of those portions into four meatballs. The mixture may be fairly wet. That is okay. Place the meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet and set aside.
Slice the bell pepper and onion into ¼-inch wide strips. Place the pepper and onion slices on a second baking sheet (lined or unlined, your choice) and drizzle with cooking oil. Toss to coat, then season with salt. Spread the peppers and onions evenly over one side of the baking sheet.
Remove the pineapple slices from the can and blot them dry with paper towel. Lay the pineapple slices over the second half of the baking sheet with the peppers and onions.
Place both baking sheets in the preheated oven and roast for 15 minutes.
While the sheet pans are in the oven, begin cooking the rice. Add the rice and 1.5 cups water to a sauce pot. Place a lid on top and bring the water up to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low. Let the rice simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn the heat off and let the rice rest, undisturbed and with the lid on, until the rest of the meal is finished.
After roasting for 15 minutes, take the sheet pan with the vegetables out and give the peppers and onions a stir. Use a brush to lightly coat the pineapple slices with about 2 Tbsp BBQ sauce. Return that sheet pan to the oven.
Remove the sheet pan with the meatballs and use the brush to lightly coat the meatballs with the remaining 2 Tbsp BBQ sauce. Return the sheet pan to the oven. Finish roasting both sheet pans for an additional 10 minutes.
After the meatballs, peppers, onions, and pineapple have finished roasting, it’s time to serve! Fluff the rice with a fork, then add about ¾ cup rice to each bowl or meal prep container. Divide the meatballs, peppers, onions, and pineapple slices between the four bowls. Top with sliced green onion, then enjoy!

Serving: 1serving ・ Calories: 549.03kcal ・ Carbohydrates: 77.25g ・ Protein: 28.68g ・ Fat: 14.1g ・ Sodium: 823.63mg ・ Fiber: 4.15g

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Side view of sheet pan with peppers and onions, bbq meatballs, and pineapple slices

How to Make Sheet Pan BBQ Meatballs – Step by Step Photos

Begin by preheating the oven to 400ºF. Combine 1 lb. ground turkey, one large egg, ¼ cup breadcrumbs, 2 Tbsp BBQ sauce (save the remaining ¼ cup for later), ¼ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp smoked paprika, and ½ tsp salt in a bowl. Use your hands to mix the ingredients until evenly combined.

Shaped meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet

Divide and shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs. I do this by first dividing the mixture into four portions, then dividing and shaping each of those portions into four meatballs. Place the meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet. Set them aside.

Sliced peppers and onions on a baking sheet

Slice one yellow onion and one red bell pepper into ¼-inch wide strips. Place the peppers and onions on a second baking sheet and drizzle with 1 Tbsp cooking oil. Toss to coat in the oil, then season with ⅛ tsp salt.

Pineapple slices on a baking sheet with the peppers and onions

Move the peppers and onions over to one side of the baking sheet. Remove the pineapple slices from the can and blot them dry with paper towel. Place the pineapple slices on the other half of the baking sheet with the peppers and onions. Transfer both sheet pans to the oven and roast for 15 minutes.

While the meatballs, peppers, onions, and pineapple are cooking, begin the rice. Add 1 cup long grain white rice to a sauce pot with 1.5 cups water. Place a lid on top, turn the heat on to high, and bring the water up to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and let the rice simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn the heat off and let the rice rest, undisturbed and lid in place, until the rest of the meat is finished.

BBQ sauce being brushed onto pineapple slices

After having roasted for 15 minutes, remove the sheet pan with the peppers, onions, and pineapple from the oven. Give the peppers and onions a stir. Use a brush to lightly coat the pineapple with 2 Tbsp BBQ sauce. Return the sheet pan to the oven.

BBQ sauce being brushed onto the meatballs

Remove the sheet pan with the meatballs and use the brush to lightly coat them with the remaining 2 Tbsp BBQ sauce. Return the sheet pan to the oven. Finish roasting both sheet pans for an additional 10 minutes.

Finished sheet pans with meatballs, peppers, onions, and pineapple

After the final 10 minutes you should have some nice caramelization on the peppers and onions and the meatballs will be cooked through.

Glass meal prep container with rice, bbq meatballs, peppers, onions, and pineapple

Fluff the rice with a fork, then add ¾ cup rice to each bowl or meal prep container. Divide the peppers, onions, BBQ meatballs, and pineapple slices between each bowl or container. Top with sliced green onions and serve, or refrigerate until ready to eat (3-4 days).