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 I thaw frozen meatballs before baking? ›

TIP: Defrosting the meatballs before cooking will mean you can brown them well in a pan, if that's what your recipe needs. If the meatballs are cooked in a sauce, you can skip the defrosting step and simply cook the meatballs directly in the sauce from frozen. Cook for an extra 5 minutes or until cooked through.

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? ›

10 Side Dishes to Pair With Meatballs Besides Spaghetti
  • Jen's Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
  • Tasty Spicy Rice Pilaf.
  • Fried Cabbage and Egg Noodles.
  • Peperonata.
  • Peanut Butter Noodles.
  • Tasty BBQ Corn on the Cob.
  • Disney's Ratatouille.
  • 8. ' Chinese Buffet' Green Beans.
Jul 30, 2019

Why are my frozen meatballs rubbery? ›

If the meatballs are packed together too tightly, they will cook up rubbery, chewy, and tough.

What makes meatballs stick together better? ›

How to make meatballs that won't fall apart
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. Add breadcrumbs to the mixture, but not too many breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

Can you cook frozen meatballs in spaghetti sauce? ›

Yes, you can cook frozen meatballs in marinara sauce on top of cooked angel hair or spaghetti noodles without ruining the dish. Here's how you can do it: Start by heating the marinara sauce in a large pot or saucepan over medium heat. Once the sauce is hot, add the frozen meatballs to the pot.

How many meatballs do I need for 25 people? ›

If you are making 1-ounce meatballs for a main course you should make 6 meatballs per person. If you have some big eaters at the party I suggest making 6-10 bite sized 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? ›

Ready to eat in as little as two minutes, these meatballs are the perfect addition to your next home-cooked meal. Try exceptional quality and taste with Great Value Fully Cooked Homestyle Meatballs. The 32oz bag contains about 11 servings.

Can I put frozen meatballs in sauce? ›

Of course, you can. Most frozen meatballs you buy in the store are already cooked. But even if you made your own and froze them without cooking them, they can still be gently cooked in a pot of sauce. However, they may fall apart, so cooking them in one layer is preferred, and the texture might be a bit soft.

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.

Is it better to freeze meatballs cooked or uncooked? ›

Personally, I prefer to freeze cooked meatballs. Uncooked meatballs are not as easy to thaw. You will have to make sure to separate frozen uncooked meatballs before thawing them or you are likely to end up with meatballs all stuck together.

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

How do you cook leftover frozen meatballs? ›

In a lightly greased baking dish, make an even layer of frozen meatballs. Pour your sauce over the meatballs, so they are completely covered. Cover with aluminum foil or oven safe lid because it will lock in the moisture and heat. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until heated through.

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