11 Recipes To Make With Frozen Meatballs That The Whole Family Will Devour (2024)

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11 Recipes To Make With Frozen Meatballs That The Whole Family Will Devour (1)

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Here's What To Do With All Those Frozen Meatballs Stashed Behind The Ice Cream

by Katie McPherson

What weeknight dinner staples do you keep in the kitchen? Most families usually have some pasta in the pantry, ground beef in the freezer, and so on. But if you love easy, hearty meals, these recipes to make with frozen meatballs will help you get dinner on the table and clear out the recesses of your freezer.

When you think of meatballs, you probably envision them on top of a heap of steamy pasta and marinara sauce, which isn't a bad vision at all, but it's not the only way to enjoy them. Not only are they delicious in sandwiches, soups, and healthy grain and veggie bowls, but they can make excellent appetizers and pair with just about any flavor profile you want them to. They're also delicious at dinner, and they reheat well in leftover lunches, so they're a meal prepper's best friend.

Whether you make a homemade batch and freeze them for later or buy your favorite brand at the store, frozen meatballs can really come in clutch when you're out of ideas for dinner. When you're searching for recipes, don't be afraid to browse the ones that call for homemade meatballs, too. You can always brown your frozen ones in the skillet, season as needed to complement the dish you're making, and toss them in. No one will ever know the difference.

1

Meatball Pasta Bake

What's like spaghetti and meatballs but a little less predictable? This pasta bake from Table for Two incorporates savory meatballs with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Once you're tried it all melted together in the oven, you may never go back to spaghetti and meatballs again.

2

Mini Italian Meatball Subs

If meatball subs are life but you can never quite finish a whole one, these miniatures from Damn Delicious are perfect for portion control (or feeding littles). Just brown up your favorite frozen meatballs and take the recipe from there to surprise your family with a new weeknight favorite.

3

Soba Noodles With Sriracha Meatballs

Meatballs don't just belong in Italian dishes. If you're craving something a little spicy with some classic Asian flavors, these Sriracha meatballs are going to be your jam. Set them atop rice and greens, or soba noodles and other goodies a la this recipe from Foodie Crush.

4

Best Meatball Pizza

Bored with your usual weekly rotation of dinners? Grab the fam and some pita bread or pizza dough to make these homemade pizza pies from Cooking for Keeps. If you like yours with meatballs on top, prep the frozen ones on the stovetop, then slice and place on your pie.

5

Coconut Curry Meatballs

This recipe from Cooking for Keeps is described as toddler, baby, and husband-approved, so it sounds like a slam dunk. A few of these yummy looking curry meatballs on top of some rice or noodles is definitely something to look forward to at the end of the day. And the next day, because #leftoverlife is real.

6

Spaghetti & Meatball Soup

This recipe from Damn Delicious gives you classic Italian flavors in a new, extra cozy format. Serve up this soup with some fresh bread or garlic knots on the side and you've got a winner, winner, meatball dinner.

7

Greek Meatball Farro Bowls With Easy Tahini Sauce

Making these bowls from Cooking for Keeps is super simple. Heat those frozen meatballs per the instructions on the bag. Slice and dice some tomatoes and cucumbers, and prep some farro, rice, or quinoa on the stove. Top it all with feta and tahini and you've got a nutritious dinner that delivers on all the food groups and all the flavors.

8

Honey Sriracha Barbecue Meatballs

Ever opened the fridge and realized you thawed... absolutely nothing for dinner? If you've got frozen meatballs and some veggies and grains lying around, toss those bad boys into some barbecue sauce (or make a special one so they taste extra delish). Serve it all up and it's almost like you planned to eat this tonight from Inside BruCrew Life.

9

Cauliflower Gnocchi & Meatballs

If you're digging through your freezer for dinner ideas, this recipe from Table for Two harnesses the power of frozen meatballs and cauliflower gnocchi. Grab a jar of marinara from the pantry and you're golden. You can also add extra herbs and spices, like red pepper flakes, to customize it however you like.

10

Easy Tropical Meatball Crescent Cups

If you're looking for a filling savory-yet-sweet appetizer for your next get-together, these tropical meatball bites from Inside BruCrew Life should do the trick. You get some saucy sweetness from the meatballs, flaky goodness from the crescent roll crust, and an extra burst of flavor from the pineapple topper.

11

Cheesy Garlic Bread & Meatball Rolls

Pull-apart. Cheesy. Garlicky. Saucy. Meatball rolls. What else do you need to know? These little slider-style rolls from Cooking for Keeps would make a delicious dinner or the perfect party food to set out and let guests grab a few. Whatever you make them for, expect them to disappear quickly.

11 Recipes To Make With Frozen Meatballs That The Whole Family Will Devour (2024)

FAQs

How do you elevate frozen meatballs? ›

10 Ways to Turn Frozen Meatballs into an Easy Weeknight Dinner
  1. Turn them into hearty subs. ...
  2. Toss them in the slow cooker. ...
  3. Make a pizza out of them. ...
  4. Grill them on skewers. ...
  5. Skip IKEA and make your own Köttbullar. ...
  6. Get bowled over. ...
  7. Add a little touch of Catalonia. ...
  8. Bake them into a casserole.
Sep 12, 2019

How do you make store bought frozen meatballs better? ›

The stale taste is because when food is frozen for too long, it can dry out. You want to add egg to the meat to moisten it. Make sure to blend the whole egg into the meat so that it can be thoroughly absorbed.

How many frozen meatballs for 100 guests? ›

The number of meatballs needed for 100 people depends upon their size and the manner in which they are served. A standard main course serving size is 6 ounces of meat per guest, or approximately 600 1-ounce meatballs, 400 1 1/2-ounce meatballs, 300 2-ounce meatballs and 200 3-ounce meatballs.

Should you thaw frozen meatballs before cooking? ›

No, you do not have to thaw frozen meatballs before cooking them in sauce. In fact, cooking them frozen can help them hold their shape better. Here are some tips for cooking frozen meatballs in sauce: Heat your sauce of choice in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.

How do you enhance store bought meatballs? ›

If you want to enhance the flavor of store bought meatballs, you can try several methods. One option is to simmer them in a flavorful sauce such as marinara or barbecue sauce. You can also spice them up by adding herbs, spices, or grated cheese to the meatball mixture before cooking.

What can I eat with meatballs instead of pasta? ›

Mashed potatoes are a classic pairing for meatballs, like these Grape Jelly Meatballs. Photo by Jennifer Stevens. For a change from the usual plain rice or noodles, give this rice pilaf a try on the side of some Lamb Meatballs and Sauce.

Why are my frozen meatballs rubbery? ›

While you can technically use a microwave to cook frozen meatballs, it is not the recommended method. Microwaving can cause the meatballs to become rubbery and unevenly cooked. It is best to use the oven or stovetop for more desirable results.

Why do store bought meatballs taste different? ›

They are often made of poor ingredients not enough seasoning or the wrong seasonings, they might not be kept properly refrigerated or frozen, or the texture can be too 'tight' and they cook up tough.

What goes well with meatballs? ›

Crusty bread, marinara and mozzerella cheese. Buttered egg noodles (or spaetzle) or alternately buttered and parsleyed boiled potatoes, steamed green beans. Or go with mashed potatoes, green peas and lingonberry jam. Rice and tomato sauce, white asparagus.

How many meatballs do I need for 25 people? ›

This is based on what the average person will eat at the event. A quick guide to figure out how many meatballs you need is as follows: If you are serving 2-ounce meatballs you should plan on having 3 meatballs per person.

How many meatballs do I need for 12 people? ›

(So helpful if you're serving a huge crowd and doing the math about how many frozen meatballs for 50 or more people!) Here's how many meatballs per person you'll need: One serving = 4 meatballs. Party of 12 = 2 pounds.

How many people will a 32 oz bag of meatballs feed? ›

Try exceptional quality and taste with Great Value Fully Cooked Homestyle Meatballs. The 32oz bag contains about 11 servings.

Are frozen meatballs good after 2 years? ›

According to the USDA, if food is frozen properly (at 0°F or below) it should be safe to eat indefinitely.

How do you know when frozen meatballs are done? ›

If you want really flavorful meatballs, make sure you use a good homemade tomato sauce or a quality red sauce from the grocery store. Meatballs are ready when the internal temperature of the meatballs is 165 degrees F.

How should I cook my frozen meatballs? ›

Add a small amount of cooking oil or non-stick cooking spray to the pan to prevent sticking. Place the frozen meatballs in the hot pan, making sure there's enough space between them to allow for even cooking. Cook the meatballs for about 10-12 minutes, turning them occasionally to ensure they cook evenly.

How do you elevate frozen food? ›

If you have some fresh veggies, herbs, or fruit lying around the house, a few sprinkles or squeezes can instantly elevate a frozen meal. "Even just some basil or cilantro, or anything you can get your hands on like citrus, garlic, onions," Sánchez told Insider.

How do you elevate frozen meals? ›

16 Boderline Genius Ways To Upgrade Frozen Foods
  1. Add veggies, proteins, and condiments to spice up your basic frozen mac 'n' cheese dinner. ...
  2. Or turn chicken nuggets into mini chicken parmesan bites. ...
  3. Combine frozen dumplings and chicken broth for an easy DIY wonton soup. ...
  4. Turn packaged taquitos into enchiladas.
Mar 30, 2019

Can you add frozen meatballs to sauce? ›

Absolutely! You can cook raw frozen meatballs in sauce on the stovetop. Simply add the frozen meatballs to a saucepan or skillet, pour your desired sauce over them, cover, and simmer on low to medium heat until the meatballs are cooked through. Stir occasionally to ensure they cook evenly.

Can you thaw frozen meatballs before putting in crockpot? ›

Well, if you're planning to use the slow cooker to heat frozen meatballs, it's safest to work with fully cooked and frozen meatballs. That's because you want to keep food at adequately hot temperatures to avoid the “danger zone,” or the temperature range of 40°F to 140°F where bacteria grow most rapidly.

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