Mixing up a big batch of these Ground Beef and Italian Sausage Meatballs to store in my freezer is one of my favorite dinner shortcuts.
On busy nights I don't always remember to thaw the meatballs ahead of time which is why I am so glad it is so easy to cook these meatballs straight from frozen.
Because they are so small meatballs can easily be cooked from frozen. They can cooked in the oven, on the stove top, in a slow cooker, in an air fryer and even in the microwave. Each cooking method has its pluses and minuses which I will explain below.
What is the best way to cook frozen meatballs? That really depends on how much time you have and what their end use will be.
Jump to:
- How to Freeze Meatballs
- How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Oven
- How to Cook Frozen Meatballs on the Stove Top
- How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in a Slow Cooker
- How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in an Air Fryer
- How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in a Microwave
- Recipe FAQs
- Expert Tips
- More Cooking Tips
- 📖 Recipe
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- 💬 Comments
One of my other favorite meal shortcuts is frozen smoked pulled pork. Check out my blog post on How to Store and Reheat Pulled Pork for even more information.
Frozen meatballs can be homemade or purchased at a grocery store. If making your own meatballs try looking beyond traditional Italian meatballs. Try on of these delicious recipes Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs, Sage Chicken Meatballs, or Chicken Apple Meatballs.
How to Freeze Meatballs
If you are making your meatballs from scratch they are super easy to freeze for later.
Step 1: Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 2: Place the baking sheet in the freezer for a couple of hours until the meatballs have frozen.
Step 3: Transfer the meatballs to a zip-top freezer bag or freezer-safe container and label it with the contents and date.
Tip: Uncooked meatballs can be stored in the freezer for up to one month.
How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Oven
Cooking meatballs in the oven is one of my favorite methods. It is relatively hands-free which means my attention can turn to the other components of dinner. It is also a great method when you are feeding a crowd and need a lot of meatballs quickly.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Arrange the meatballs in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 20 to 25 minutes until they are cooked through.
- For more even browning, turn the meatballs halfway through the baking time.
- After baking, add the meatballs to your favorite sauce.
Some of my favorite sauces include this Spinach Pesto or this Garden Vegetable Pasta Sauce.
Tip: If using a convection oven the cooking time will need to be reduced.
How to Cook Frozen Meatballs on the Stove Top
If Serving in a Sauce
- Pour your favorite sauce into a large frying pan.
- Add the desired number of frozen meatballs and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes.
If Serving Without a Sauce
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet.
- Add the meatballs and saute for 15-20 minutes. Stir the meatballs several times during the cooking time.
How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in a Slow Cooker
Slow cookers are a great low-effort way to make sure there is a meal waiting for you when you get home from work. When cooking meatballs in a slow cooker or crockpot you will need some sort of sauce or liquid. Try cooking meatballs in different kinds of sauces like pasta or marinara sauce, salsa, or this Apricot Barbeque Sauce.
- Add sauce and meatballs to the slow cooker or crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in an Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (205°C).
- Add the meatballs in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Cook for about 10 minutes turning the meatballs halfway through the cooking time.
How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in a Microwave
This is probably my least favorite way to cook meatballs but it will work in a pinch. This method is great if you only need a couple of meatballs. It is also the fastest way to cook frozen meatballs.
If microwaving meatballs I recommend serving them in a sauce because they will not have a nice crispy crust.
- Place the meatballs in a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover with sauce.
- Cover the dish but leave a small gap for the steam to escape.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Stir and test for doneness.
- Continue cooking in 30-second intervals until the meatballs are fully cooked.
Tip: I love using this magnetic microwave cover to prevent splatters. The lid uses magnets to stick to the top of the microwave when not in use.
Recipe FAQs
An easy way to check to see if your meatballs are fully cooked is to cut one in half. If the center is no longer pink the meatball is done.
You can also use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Cook meatballs until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165°F (74°C).
Nope. Because of their small size cooking meatballs from frozen is quick and easy. No thawing is necessary. Frozen meatballs are ready to eat in just a few minutes.
If you don't have time to thaw the meatballs in the refrigerator, place the bag of frozen meatballs in a large bowl and fill it with cold water. Leave the meatballs to thaw for about 30 minutes.
Even though meatballs can be cooked while they are still frozen. You may want to thaw them first. Thawing will reduce the overall cook time.
Meatballs can easily be thawed in the refrigerator overnight. Simply remove the meatballs from the freezer and place them in an air-tight container or a ziplock bag. Thaw the meatballs in the refrigerator for approximately 24 hours.
Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Refreezing previously frozen meatballs is not recommended.
Expert Tips
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil to make cleanup easier.
- These cooking methods will work for ground beef, chicken, pork, or vegan meatballs.
- If you are cooking precooked meatballs, any of these cooking methods will work. You may need to reduce the cooking time.
- When cooking raw meatballs you want to make sure they are fully cooked before serving. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. Cook meatballs until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook times will vary depending on the size of the meatball. Little meatballs will cook faster than larger meatballs.
- Want to speed up the cooking time? Thaw the meatballs in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.
What is your favorite cooking method for frozen meatballs?
More Cooking Tips
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📖 Recipe
How to Cook Frozen Raw Meatballs
Ingredients
- 12 frozen meatballs
- 28 oz favorite sauce
Instructions
Oven
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Arrange the meatballs in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 20 to 25 minutes until they are cooked through.
- For more even browning, turn the meatballs halfway through the baking time.
Stove Top
- Pour your favorite sauce into a large frying pan.
- Add the desired number of frozen meatballs and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes.
Slow Cooker
- Add sauce and meatballs to the slow cooker or crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (205°C).
- Add the meatballs in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Cook for about 10 minutes turning the meatballs halfway through the cooking time.
Microwave
- Place the meatballs in a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover with sauce.
- Cover the dish but leave a small gap for the steam to escape. Microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Stir and test for doneness. Continue cooking in 30-second intervals until the meatballs are fully cooked.
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