Family time is tough to come by when you’re firefighter spends hours before and after each shift on the road. Even harder to come by when you’re juggling kids, a career and a thousand other activities. The last thing you want to do is prepare an elaborate meal and spend hours in the kitchen. That’s why delicious and simple family meals that taste like they took hours, but really didn’t, are among some of our favorite here. It’s also why the Eat Like a Firefighter cookbook is chock full of genius recipes from fire families across the country that will keep your tummies and tables full! If you happen to try this recipe out shoot us a photo on Facebook or Instagram, we’d love to see what’s going on in your kitchen!

This one comes from Fire Wife Melissa Zimmerman from Seattle, Washington. She’s been married to her firefighter for coming up on five years. She has this to say about her recipe:

“We have three kids and my husband is a firefighter paramedic who works three hours away from home. On the occasion when he is home, I like to be able to make tasty but easy and quick meals so that we are able to eat as a family. It allows us to regroup and catch up, eat something delicious, and keeps me from spending too much time in the kitchen and more with him. I tend to add and change recipes as I use them to jazz up something plain; and I often call my mom to bounce ideas and recipes off of.”

Hawaiian Meatballs

Ingredients

1 can crushed pineapple in juice

1 c. barbecue sauce

1 lb. ground beef or turkey

2 1/4 c. instant brown rice, uncooked and divided

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

3/4 c. frozen chopped green bell pepper

Instructions

In a small bowl, stir together half of the can of pineapple and 3/4 cup of barbecue sauce, set aside. Mix remaining pineapple, 1/4 cup barbecue sauce, ground meat, 1/4 cup rice, and salt and pepper in a large bowl until well blended. Shape ground meat mixture into meatballs, about 1 1/4 inches in size (recipe should make about 24 meatballs). Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and place formed meatballs in a single layer if possible. Spoon pre-made sauce mixture over the meatballs. Place skillet on the stovetop over medium high heat and bring meatballs and sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, simmer for 16-18 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through. While meatballs are simmering, prepare the remaining two cups of rice according to package directions. Omit salt and pepper from rice and add bell peppers instead. Serve the meatballs and sauce over rice.

Enjoy!