Meatballs are delicious, easy to make and make for a hearty and very versatile meal; They can be made with beef, chicken, turkey, vegetables and more; they come in many sizes and can be integrated into all sorts of dishes, making them a clear dinner favorite for families around the world.
Today I'd like to share with you 5 quick and easy ways on how to cook frozen meatballs.
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Who Doesn’t Like Meatballs?
The best thing about meatballs, though? They’re super practical!
Meatballs can be cooked, frozen, thawed and served which can save you a lot of time, effort and money when it comes to cooking dinner, be it for one or for an entire family… but do you know how to cook frozen meatballs?
Keep reading to find out!
Things You’ll Need to Cook Frozen Meatballs
This short tutorial covers five different ways of cooking frozen meatballs and each will have a small list telling you exactly what you need.
However, here are things you might use:
- Oven Tray
- Saucepan
- Microwave-safe Plate
- Cooking Spray
- Foil
- Paper Towels
- Meatball Sauce
While you will not need these to cook the meatballs, you might want to get some of the next items to protect your hands while cooking:
- Tongs
- Potholders
How To Cook Frozen Meatballs - 5 Easy Ways
As you can see, there are many ways of cooking frozen meatballs which mean that almost every family can enjoy this delicious and hearty meal.
#1. COOKING FROZEN MEATBALLS
IN A MICROWAVE
This is the easiest way of cooking meatballs and also one of the fastest. Cooking meatballs in a microwave has the advantage of being simple and the disadvantage of being a little messy, as grease tends to splatter inside the microwave.
Items Needed
To cook meatballs in a microwave you’ll need:
- Microwave (read more: best microwave-toaster combo oven)
- Microwave-safe plate
- Paper Towels
- Potholders
Step by Step
Step 1
Cover your microwave-safe plate with paper towels. This will help absorb the excess grease from the meatballs, which is both healthier and cleaner.
Step 2
Place the meatballs on the plate, making sure to leave space in the middle. Arranging them in a circle is a good idea, just leave enough space between each other to heat thoroughly.
Step 3
Set your microwave to ‘high’ and cook the meatballs for three to four minutes, depending on the potency of your microwave. If possible, check the manual to find out what’s the recommended time for cooking meat, as all microwaves are different.
Step 4
Once cooked, leave the meatballs to sit in the microwave for a couple of minutes. This not only will allow them to cook further but will also let them cool down enough to be eaten safely.
#2. COOKING FROZEN MEATBALLS
IN A CONVENTIONAL OVEN
This is a slower method of cooking meatballs, as you need to preheat the meatballs and leave them in the oven for a while. However, the taste is different and this is a great way to prevent uneven heating and hot spots.
Items Needed
To cook frozen meatballs in a conventional oven you’ll need:
- A Convection Oven (read more: the best countertop convection oven)
- Oven Tray
- Baking Oil
- Potholders
Step by Step
Step 1
Coat your oven tray with cooking oil to make sure the meatballs don’t stick to it.
Step 2
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Step 3
Arrange the meatballs in a single layer over your oiled baking tray. Leave enough space between them to heat thoroughly (about half an inch)
Step 4
Once your oven is hot, bake the meatballs for 10 to 15 minutes or as long as it takes to heat them properly. You’ll know it’s time to remove the meatballs when they start browning slightly.
#3. COOKING FROZEN MEATBALLS
IN A TOASTER OVEN
Not everyone has conventional ovens or microwaves for that matter. Toaster ovens are an affordable solution and they can be used to cook meatballs just as well; The only downside to toaster ovens is that they’re small so you might end up cooking in batches if you’re cooking for more than one.
Items Needed
To cook meatballs in a toaster oven you’ll need:
- Toaster oven
- Foil
- Tongs
Step by Step
Step 1
Cover the bottom of your toaster oven rack with foil
Step 2
Preheat the toaster oven to 350 degrees
Step 3
Place the meatballs in a single layer on the baking tray. Make sure to leave at least half an inch between them to give them enough room to cook evenly.
Step 4
Once the oven is hot, place the tray inside and let the meatballs cook for 10 minutes or as long as it takes them to cook. Your meatballs will brown slightly when they’re ready to be removed.
Step 5
Use tongs to take out the meatballs from the oven, as they’ll be quite hot.
#4. COOKING FROZEN MEATBALLS
IN A CROCK-POT
Cooking meatballs in a crock pot will take a very long time but this method makes them taste delicious. If you’re not in a rush, and if you own a crock-pot, you should try this at least once.
Items Needed
To cook frozen meatballs in a crock-pot you’ll need:
- Crock-Pot
- Meatball Sauce
Step by Step
Step 1
Remove the frozen meatballs and place them in the crock-pot.
Step 2
Cover the meatballs with whatever sauce you chose. Make sure to use enough to cover the meatballs entirely.
Step 3
Remember not to fill your crock pot more than three-quarters of its capacity. This will ensure even heating and the best results.
Step 4
Cover and turn on the crock pot. If you’re using the “high” setting, four hours will do. If you’re using the “low” setting, you’ll have to wait 8 hours. Regardless of your choice, make sure to stir every few hours to avoid the meatballs and the sauce to stick.
Step 5
Serve once ready.
#5. COOKING FROZEN MEATBALLS ON A STOVE
In the event, you don’t have any of those appliances or you just feel like cooking meatballs the old fashioned way, you can use a stove top.
Items Needed
To cook frozen meatballs on a stove top you’ll need:
- Saucepan
- Meatball sauce
Step by Step
Step 1
Pour the sauce of your choice in a saucepan. Make sure there’s enough sauce to cover the meatballs evenly.
You can do this by either using a small pan or by using a lot of sauce. It depends on how much you’re cooking.
Step 2
Submerge the meatballs in the sauce. Make sure each meatball is well covered and that they’re not sticking together.
Step 3
On medium-low heat, cook the meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes or until they simmer. Don’t let the sauce boil because this will overheat the meatballs and give them a chewy texture.
Step 4
Remove meatballs from saucepan and serve.
In Conclusion
Nowadays it’s hard to be able to cook entire meals for scratch. After all, we’re all very busy and sometimes there’s just not enough time.
This is why frozen meatballs are such a good idea. You can use them whenever you need them, thus eliminating the need to cook anything from scratch allowing you to use that extra time to rest from a hard day at work or spend it with your loved ones.
- Related Video: Pressure cooker frozen meatballs
Can you think of any other method we need to include in this list?
If so, tell us in the comments!