For this blind taste test, we searched high and low for the best frozen meatballs you can find at the grocery store. Don't worry—we won't tell Nonna.
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Claire Krieger/Taste of Home
When it comes to the best meatballs around, I think we can all agree that our grandmothers, aunties and moms tend to have the best recipes (though our Test Kitchen might have found a promising recipe, too!).
But let’s be honest: We don’t always have time to make meatballs from scratch. That’s why a bag of meatballs from the frozen section is so appealing. Just heat them up, add them to your recipe and before you know it, dinner is served. But how do you find the best meatballs for your next dinner? Enter our Test Kitchen crew, who tested seven brands to pick the best.
How We Found the Best Frozen Meatballs
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When it comes to a good meatball—be it frozen or homemade—we’re looking for the same things: a great savory flavor paired with on-point seasoning (no bland meatballs accepted) plus a stellar texture—not too dry or spongy. With this in mind, our Test Kitchen panel tested a handful of meatball brands in a blind test and judged them according to these qualities:
Flavor: What are the flavors like in the meatball? Are they well seasoned? What kinds of herbs, spices and other flavors are present? Do these flavors lend themselves to any particular type of cuisine?
Texture: What’s the texture of the meatball like? Tender? Firm?
Appearance: How do the meatballs look? Are they uniform? Do they look homemade?
Our Test Kitchen-Preferred Frozen Meatball Brands
In the end, we found a few good brands worthy of stocking our freezers with. After all, having a bag of meatballs on hand allows us to make easy, satisfying appetizers like these beautiful meatballs with chimichurri sauce, barbecue beer meatballs or sweet and sour appetizer meatballs. Oh, and of course we can’t forget the classics like meatballs marinara. A new sauce made with some fresh ingredients makes it easy to transform these freezer favorites. Now, see what brands are worth shopping for.
Best Italian-Style Meatball: Nature’s Rancher Angus Beef Meatballs
These homestyle meatballs had a great texture that was fork tender. Our culinary team appreciated the slightly charred flavor mixed in—it made us think of meatballs being lovingly made over the stove. These Nature’s Rancher meatballs also had a nice blend of herbs inside including parsley and garlic, as well as some nice cheese flavors (the mix contains ricotta and Romano).
Because of the Italian flavors in these meatballs, we think they pair best with Italian recipes.
Best Meatball for Appetizers: Bremer Italian Style Meatballs
Courtesy Aldi
Many of our favorite appetizer recipes start with a bag of premade meatballs. If that’s your preferred way to prepare this ingredient, we suggest Bremer Italian Style Meatballs, exclusively from Aldi.
While these are called “Italian style,” our Test Kitchen didn’t pick up on any particularly strong Italian flavors. That being said, our testers picked up on the taste of a savory, tender frozen meatball. This option from Bremer had a great blend of black pepper, onion and paprika—a great combination for all sorts of dishes, but particularly wonderful for a recipe like these cranberry appetizer meatballs.
Best Almost-Homemade Meatball: Trader Joe’s Italian Style Meatballs
Courtesy Trader Joe's
Let’s be honest: Sometimes you want storebought to seem homemade. That’s OK! Even experienced home cooks like to take a little break. For the best homestyle meatball, our Test Kitchen recommends Trader Joe’s Italian Style Meatballs. No surprise here since Trader Joe’s is known for their tasty yet affordable products.
These meatballs got high marks for their homemade appearance and the right balance of flavor. Testers picked up on a pitch-perfect mix of salt, pepper and red pepper flakes for a bit of zip. Because these meatballs don’t have a lot of obvious Italian flavors, they’d be a great option when making these easy Swedish meatballs—always a favorite. No one needs to know this homey dish started with a shortcut.
When it comes to frozen meatballs, the sky is the limit. You can use a package to whip up a quick Italian meal on a busy weeknight, grab your slow cooker and turn them into a slow cooker appetizer or even turn them into sammies with this recipe for meatball sliders. Whatever you’ve got a taste for, you can find a way to use up a bag of frozen meatballs. Just check out all these mouthwatering recipes:
Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce MeatballsThe secret ingredient in this sassy sauce is the grape jelly. It's a sweet contrast with the chili sauce. —Irma Schnuelle, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Swedish Meatballs AlfredoI'm a big fan of this potluck-perfect dish. It takes much less time than many other slow-cooker recipes. Plus, it's easy. I'm all for the easy! —Carole Bess White, Portland, Oregon
Meatball Submarine CasseroleWe were hosting a bunch of friends, and after a comedy of errors, I had to come up with a plan B for dinner. I realized that much-loved meatball subs are even better as a hearty casserole—so delicious! —Rick Friedman, Palm Springs, California
Easy Stuffed ShellsI threw this recipe together one day when we had unexpected guests. It was an immediate hit and is now a family favorite. Get the kids involved when putting together this simple, savory dish. —Dolores Betchner, Cudahy, Wisconsin
Sweet-and-Sour MeatballsA fabulous sauce, green pepper and pineapple chunks transform premade meatballs into something special. Serving them over rice makes for a satisfying main dish. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington
Honey Buffalo Meatball SlidersThese little sliders deliver big Buffalo chicken flavor without the messiness of wings. The spicy-sweet meatballs are a hit on game day with kids and adults alike. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Bourbon MeatballsKick-start your meatballs with a splash of bourbon and vinegar for punchy sweet-and-sour flavor. These Kentucky Derby bourbon meatballs are perfect to snack on while you watch the race. —Kimla Carsten, Grand Junction, Colorado
Sweet BBQ MeatballsThese sauced-up meatballs have big Asian flair. If your family likes sweet-and-sour chicken, this beefy version hits the spot. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Slow-Cooker Meatball SandwichesOur approach to meatball sandwiches is a simple one: Cook the meatballs low and slow, load them into hoagie buns, and top them with provolone and pepperoncini. —Stacie Nicholls, Spring Creek, Nevada
Orange Marmalade MeatballsOrange marmalade meatballs are sweet and tangy with just a touch of spice. Made with only five ingredients, these glazed orange meatballs are perfect for an easy weeknight meal or a crowd-pleasing party appetizer.
Spaghetti & Meatball Skillet SupperI developed this one-skillet spaghetti and meatball dish to cut down on cooking time on busy nights. The beans, artichokes and tomatoes bump up the nutrition factor, while the lemon and parsley make it pop with brightness. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
White Bean Soup with MeatballsIt tastes like it's from scratch, but my Italian-inspired soup uses lots of shortcuts. For a meatball in every bite, chop them up—with an egg slicer! —Carole Lotito, Hillsdale, New Jersey
Three-Cheese Meatball MostaccioliWhen my husband travels for work, I make a special dinner for my kids to keep their minds off missing Daddy. This tasty mostaccioli is magic. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
French Onion Soup with MeatballsI got the idea for how to make this soup after I went to a brewhouse restaurant that put ale in their gravy. I make this every time the weather starts to cool down in the fall—it's comfort food for the soul. —Crystal Holsinger, Surprise, Arizona
Italian Meatball BunsThese soft little rolls come with a pleasant surprise inside—savory Italian meatballs. The apps are wonderful dipped in marinara sauce, which makes them fun for my grandkids—and adults too. I love how easy they are to put together. —Trina Linder-Mobley, Clover, South Carolina
Easy Asian Glazed MeatballsAs a writer and busy mom of three boys, I need tasty meals on the quick. We serve these glazed meatballs over a steaming bed of rice. —Amy Dong, Woodbury, Minnesota
Slow-Cooked Meatball SoupAs a mother, I try to sneak as many veggies into my daughter's diet as I can. This savory soup with meatballs and pasta does the trick. Best of all, the whole family loves it! —Kymm Wills, Phoenix, AZ
Meatball StroganoffA quick and delicious twist on the classic, our meatball stroganoff uses frozen meatballs to get dinner on the table in just 30 minutes.
Red Curry Carrot SoupWith its mix of delicious colors, textures and flavors, this easy soup is something special. The meatballs make it hearty enough to serve as a light entree. —Dilnaz Heckman, Buckley, Washington
Meatball TortelliniI combined some favorite staples from our freezer and pantry to come up with this easy dish. It has few ingredients and little preparation. —Tracie Bergeron, Chauvin, Louisiana
Mama Mia Meatball TaquitosWe love lasagna, but it takes too long on weeknights. My solution: meatball taquitos. My kids get the flavors they want, and I get a meal on the table in a hurry. —Lauren Wyler, Dripping Springs, Texas
Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour MeatballsEnjoy the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors with these easy-to-make slow-cooker sweet and sour meatballs. Featuring a delicious sauce for Crockpot meatballs, this dish is sure to become a regular.
Contest-Winning Bavarian Meatball HoagiesWhen my husband is not manning the grill, I count on my slow cooker. These meatballs are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser when I serve them as a party appetizer or spooned over crusty rolls and topped with cheese for irresistible sandwiches. —Peggy Rios, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Creamy Cranberry MeatballsExtras from tonight’s rich and juicy appetizers can become tomorrow’s entree. Simply serve them over a bed of fluffy noodles or rice—if there’s any left. —Amy Warren, Maineville, Ohio
Whole Grain Chow MeinMy kids are picky eaters, but teriyaki and hoisin sauces work wonders with them. They love the meatballs, and I swap the noodles for whole grain pasta. —Kelly Shippey, Orange, California
Veggie Soup with MeatballsLoaded with veggies, meatballs and spices, this meal-in-one soup is hearty enough to warm up any cold winter day. It’s a recipe you’ll make again and again! —Penny Fagan, Mobile, Alabama
Spaghetti TacosMy son watches a show where the kids eat spaghetti tacos. As a joke, I made him his own, and now these tacos are here to stay. —Mindie Hilton, Susanville, California
Vegetable Meatball SoupThis is a delicious soup recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and is a great way to use up leftover meatballs. The broth is so light and flavorful, everyone wants the recipe! —Susan Westerfield, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Frozen Meatball Recipes FAQ
Do I have to defrost frozen meatballs before cooking?
The best frozen meatballs are fully cooked and can go straight from the freezer to your pan without defrosting, especially if you're baking or simmering meatballs in sauce. Cooking them from frozen helps to hold their shape and soak up sauce gradually without becoming mushy. Just allow for a few extra minutes of cook time and make sure they heat to an internal temperature of 165°F.
What easy frozen meatball recipes can I make for dinner tonight?
Our favorite easy frozen meatballs recipes include saucy pasta bakes, quick skillet meals or creamy slow-cooked gravies that highlight how well meatballs soak up flavor. They reheat evenly and portion easily, too, whether you're cooking for two or stretching a single bag to feed a group. One-pan meatball recipes and baked casserole recipes are especially helpful when you want dinner on autopilot. They use pantry staples and have minimal cleanup.
What are the best frozen meatball appetizers for a potluck?
Frozen meatball appetizers include slow-cooker glazed meatballs, baked bites or skewered options that travel easily and stay sturdy at room temperature. One-bite appetizer recipes hold their shape and stay warm without drying out. For a buffet table, recipes that simmer in sauce or are set up on toothpicks offer low-fuss serving and fewer utensils. Pair them with other make-ahead potluck recipes, especially mains or sides that travel well.
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