Easy Frozen Meatball Recipes for Quick and Delicious Meals

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Using frozen meatballs from the store that are already cooked is a great way to save time when cooking

Using frozen meatballs from the store that are already cooked is a great way to save time when cooking. Some of the work has already been done for you! You can make a lot of different meals with just this one protein.

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I like to save even more time by making a lot of these meals at once and using frozen meatballs as freezer meals. You can easily make a lot of meals at once by putting the meatballs in freezer bags, adding the sauces and other needed ingredients, and then freezing them.

Frozen meatballs with ingredients ready for cooking

Sweet and Sour Meatballs on a Sheet Pan

This tasty Sheet Pan Sweet and Sour Meatballs meal is a complete dinner that is not only simple to prepare, but also simple to clean up because everything cooks on one pan.

Ingredients for Sweet and Sour Meatballs on a Sheet Pan

  • Two pounds of frozen meatballs that have already been cooked
  • 1 cup of frozen green beans
  • 1 sliced onion and 14 ounces of drained pineapple slices
  • 1 cup of packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of flour
  • 1/2 cup of vinegar
  • Two tablespoons of soy sauce and a quarter cup of water
  • 1 tablespoon of ketchup

How to Put Together:

  1. Put the meatballs, green beans, onion, and pineapple slices in a big bag that can be sealed.
  2. Put the brown sugar and flour in a small bowl and mix them together. Add the soy sauce, vinegar, water, and ketchup and stir.
  3. Put the sauce in the bag with the meatballs. Squish the ingredients to combine the sauce, meatballs, and vegetables. Remove excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

Mixing Sweet and Sour Meatball ingredients before freezing

  1. Transfer the frozen ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw.
  2. Spread all of the ingredients in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

How Long Can You Freeze Sweet and Sour Meatballs?

After preparing your sweet and sour meatballs ingredients, you can store the meal in the freezer for up to three months. To ensure you enjoy your sheet pan dinner before it expires, make sure to label your freezer container with the name of the recipe, date of freezing and expected expiration date.

What kind of meatballs should I use to make sweet and sour meatballs?

Because this dinner uses frozen meatballs, you need to know which kind of meatballs work best for this recipe. Italian-style meatballs are great for pasta dishes, but the Italian herbs and spices in this kind won’t go well with the sweet and sour sauce.

Instead of choosing Italian meatballs, look for “homestyle” meatballs. This variety is made with neutral seasoning, which matches perfectly with the rest of ingredients in this recipe. If you can’t find meatballs labeled “homestyle,” simply check the ingredient list on the package to see what type of seasoning is used. Avoid options made with Italian style ingredients, like oregano and basil, which may clash with the sweet and sour ingredients in the sauce.

How Do You Store Leftover Sweet and Sour Meatballs?

Once you’re finished enjoying your meatball dinner, you can store your leftovers in the refrigerator. Transfer the cooked ingredients to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to four days.

Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave, oven or over low heat in a small skillet.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe Ideas

Your family is going to love the delicious combination of sweet and sour sauce with meatballs in this dinner. But if you’re looking for ways to change up this recipe, check out these easy substitutions and adjustments to try.

  • Serve over rice or pasta. This simple sheet pan meal can be served as a dinner all on its own. But if you want to bulk up the meal a little more, try serving the sheet pan ingredients over white rice or cooked pasta. You can prepare the rice or pasta while the meatballs are cooking in the oven for a quick and easy addition to your dinner.
  • Add more veggies. The combination of pineapple, green beans, and onions makes the perfect meal for your family. If you want to add even more flavor to your dinner, try mixing in a few more veggies before freezing the meal. You can add sliced bell peppers, corn, sliced carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, or peas.
  • Make your own meatballs. Using pre-cooked frozen meatballs is a great way to speed up the prep work on this quick sheet pan dinner. But if you have some extra time on prep day, you can also make your own meatballs from scratch. Just prepare the meatballs according to the recipe, cook them, and allow them to cool completely. After that, you can transfer the cooled meatballs to the bag with the rest of the ingredients and follow the instructions in this recipe for freezing and reheating.
  • Reheat in the slow cooker. If you have some extra time to cook your meal, try reheating your sweet and sour meatballs in your crockpot. Just transfer the thawed ingredients to the bowl of your slow cooker and cook them on low for six to eight hours.
  • Serve as appetizers. With the help of some toothpicks, this quick sheet pan dinner also makes a great appetizer. Just stack a pineapple chunk and green bean on top of a cooked meatball, add a toothpick, and serve as bite-sized snacks at your next party.

Family enjoying sweet and sour meatballs and recipe ideas

Easy Meatball Subs Recipe

When it comes to finding family friendly dinner ideas, you can’t go wrong with meatballs! And with this easy meatball subs recipe, you can prepare a batch of delicious sandwiches for your family with just a few minutes of prep work. All you have to do is get the ingredients ready and then put them in the freezer until you’re ready to make your sandwiches.

  • 32 ounces frozen About 24 Italian-style meatballs
  • 1 tablespoon of Italian spices
  • 2 minced cloves of garlic
  • 24 ounces pasta sauce (we use our Red Sauce)
  • 1 cup of shredded mozzarella
  • Two baguettes and one cup of softened garlic butter

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Combine the meatballs with the garlic, Italian seasoning, and pasta sauce in a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. Squeeze the bag to mix up the ingredients, then remove excess air from the bag, and seal it.
  3. Place the mozzarella cheese in a separate medium freezer bag. Staple the small bag to the large bag above the seal.
  4. Slice the baguettes lengthwise and spread half the garlic butter along the inside of each loaf. Place the loaves back together and cut each one in thirds cross-wise. Transfer the bread to large resealable freezer bags.
  5. Place the bags in the freezer until you’re ready to cook your meatball subs.
  1. Transfer the sub ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
  2. Pour the contents of the bag of meatballs into the bowl of a slow cooker. Set the crockpot to cook on low for five to seven hours.
  3. When ready to serve, place the garlic bread butter side up on a baking dish. Cook under the broiler until toasted.
  4. Arrange the cooked meatballs on one side of the bread and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top. Place the subs back under the broiler until the cheese is melted, then place the other bread half on top to serve.

What Do You Put on Meatball Subs?

The best part about making your own meatball subs at home is that you can customize your sandwiches with your favorite toppings. As you’re preparing your own subs, try these topping ideas:

  • Cheese. In addition to mozzarella cheese, you can also top your sandwich with provolone or parmesan for even more Italian flavor.
  • Vegetables. Add some veggies to your meatball subs for added crunch. Top your subs with sliced bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms. Or add some pickled veggies, like pepperoncini or banana peppers, for some added spice.
  • Herbs. Give your sandwiches some fresh flavor with the help of fresh herbs. Try topping your meatballs with fresh basil, parsley, or oregano.

What to Serve with Meatball Sub Sandwiches?

These quick and easy sandwiches are the perfect main course for dinner! Serve them with some of these side dish ideas to round out your meal:

  • Side salads
  • Soup
  • Pasta salad
  • French fries or tater tots
  • Potato chips

 


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