5 Effortless Way to Cook Frozen Meatballs
Whether they are homemade or frozen meatballs bought from the supermarket, meatballs are versatile. They can be added to pasta, soups and even sandwiches to bring excitement to an otherwise boring dinner or midnight snack.
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Meatballs can be made with pork, beef, turkey, chicken or vegetables. When frozen in airtight containers they can last for a couple of days. Since frozen meatballs are already cooked, it is just a matter of heating and adding them to your favorite recipe. Housewives often ask, how to cook frozen meatballs.
What Can You Make With Frozen Meatballs?
There are a lot of dishes that can make use of frozen meatballs. Pork, beef, chicken, turkey or vegetable meatballs can be used for stews, soups and pasta toppings. Chicken meatballs are best of course for Chicken Soup. You can use beef, pork or chicken meatballs for stews. For pasta toppings, you can use any kind of meatballs.
You can also cut the meatballs into small pieces, four pieces per meatball, and they will be a great filling for taco salad along with lettuce and salsa. You can also use meatballs, whole or in pieces as a pizza topping.
Cooking frozen meatballs for your favorite recipes is fast and easy. Here are 5 effortless ways you can do it.
Cook Frozen Meatballs in a Crockpot
Meatballs Cooked in Crockpot
This is the simplest and most tasty way to cook frozen meatballs but the longest too. However, once cooked, it is going to be worth the wait.
What You Will Need
- Salt
- Pepper
- Sauce
- Crockpot
- Spoon
Procedure
- Step 1: Arrange the frozen meatballs at least 2 inches apart from each other in the crockpot. Load only enough meatballs, about three-fourths full, to allow even cooking of the meatballs.
- Step 2: Season meatballs with salt and pepper.
- Step 3: Pour meatball sauce of your choice. You can use any sauce although spaghetti sauce is always a popular choice. You may also use sweet and sour sauce, barbecue sauce, marina sauce or cream sauce.
- Step 4: Pour just the right amount of sauce to cover the meatballs.
- Step 5: Cover the crockpot and set on high for 4 hours.
- Step 6: Stir the sauce and meatballs at least once every hour to prevent sticking.
- Step 7: Serve the meatballs with sauce atop your pasta, mix with any dish or consume as an appetizer.
Cook Frozen Meatballs in Toaster Oven
Meatballs Cooked in Toaster Oven
A toaster oven is more affordable than a conventional oven or a microwave so most households have one. The only problem with cooking frozen meatballs in a toaster oven is you may have to do it in batches if you are cooking a lot. Nevertheless, frozen meatballs cooked in a toaster oven will be just as tasty and flavorful.
What You Will Need
- Foil
- Baking Tray
- Tongs
- Toaster Oven
Procedure
- Step 1: Line the bottom of the rack of the toaster oven with foil. This will allow the grease to drip on the foil instead of on the toaster itself.
- Step 2: Set the toaster oven to 350ºF and preheat.
- Step 3: Arrange the meatballs at least ½ inches apart on a baking tray. This will allow the hot air inside the toaster to evenly cook the meatballs.
- Step 4: Cook the meatballs for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
- Step 5: Using a pair of thongs, remove the meatballs.
- Step 6: Add the meatballs to your dish.
Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Microwave
This is the simplest and fastest way to cook meatballs although it can be a bit messy. The grease from the meatballs will spread all over the inside of the microwave.
What You Will Need
- Microwave safe dish (shallow)
- Paper Towels
- Microwave
Procedure
- Step 1: Line microwave-safe dish with paper towel. It will absorb the grease coming from the meatballs.
- Step 2: Arrange meatballs in the dish in a circle leaving the center empty. Leave about ½ inch space between the meatballs to allow them to thoroughly cook.
- Step 3: Cover the meatballs with a microwave safe lid or paper towel.
- Step 4: Cook the meatballs on high for about three minutes. It would be a good idea to check the manual of your microwave to see how long to cook meat vis-à-vis weight.
- Step 5: When cooking time is done, allow the meatballs to remain in the microwave for a few more minutes. This will further cook the meatballs and make them cool enough to be eaten or mix with a dish.
Cook Frozen Meatballs on the Stove Top
Cooking on a stove top is the traditional way of cooking meatballs. It may be an old-fashion way but the stove stop is always the most reliable kitchen equipment.
What You Will Need
- Sauce of Choice
- Sauce Pan
- Stovetop
- Ladle / Turner
Procedure
- Step 1: Pour enough sauce to cover the meatballs you are going to cook in a saucepan.
- Step 2: Add in the meatballs.
- Step 3: Stir the sauce to make sure all meatballs are covered and so they will not stick to each other.
- Step 4: Cook the meatballs for about 20 minutes on medium heat.
- Step 5: Allow meatballs with sauce to simmer. Do not allow the meatballs to boil as it will not have a nice texture.
- Step 6: Transfer meatballs with sauce to a serving dish or add to your other dish.
Cook Meatballs in a Conventional Oven
Meatballs Cooked in a Conventional Oven
If you are cooking a large batch of meatballs, using a conventional oven is your best bet. It will take a little bit longer to cook meatballs in the oven. The taste though is going to be superbly different. The oven too is the best equipment to avoid uneven cooking and hot spots in meatballs.
What You Will Need
- Foil
- Non-stick baking spray
- Cooking Sheet / Baking Tray
- Conventional Oven
Procedure
- Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 350º.
- Step 2: Line the cookie sheet with foil. This is to catch the grease from the meatballs.
- Step 3: Spray non-stick spray on the foil so meatballs will not stick when cooked.
- Step 4: Arrange the meatballs on the cookie sheet about ½ inch apart.
- Step 5: Position the cookie sheet with meatballs on the oven’s center rack.
- Step 6: Bake the meatballs for about 10 minutes or until slightly brown.
- Step 7: To test for doneness, take one meatball and cut it open to check that the entire meatball is cooked.
- Step 8: When done, remove the meatballs from the oven and allow them to cool on top of the stove.
- Step 9: Add meatballs to your dish.
Conclusion
Frozen meatballs are a versatile food item and it is recommended that you should always have them in your freezer for instant and creative meals. I prefer cooking my frozen meatballs in a crockpot. Although it takes much longer, the slow cooking process brings out the best flavors of the meatballs.
Are there any other ways you cook frozen meatballs other than those mentioned above? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
