How to Cook Frozen Uncooked Meatballs

There are two types of frozen meatballs you can choose from: cooked and frozen or uncooked meatballs and frozen. Raw and frozen or uncooked meatballs might be the better option. But we need to know how to cook frozen uncooked meatballs first.

Knowing how to cook frozen uncooked meatballs can help you prepare delicious dinner recipes and prepare party appetizers quickly. Meatballs are simple balls of meat that pack a ton of flavor. That flavor comes in the form of herbs.

But you can also use some seasonings for an entirely different flavor. Homemade meatballs allow you to decide which flavor you want. You can choose to use different types of meat in your meatballs as well.

Italian meatballs usually come with a mixture of ground pork and lean ground beef. But you don’t always have to stick with those meats. Instead, try using ground turkey meatballs or even ground chicken.

Making your own meatballs gives you full control over which ground meat you use. Meatballs do take a little time to put together, which is often why people just opt for frozen, cooked meatballs.

Cooked and frozen meatballs can be cooked in different ways, like in a microwave, oven, or even in a good marinara sauce. But you will not have control over what is in the meatballs and may be eating more fats, sodium, and other preservatives that you don’t really want in your diet.

Luckily, we can meal prep meatballs by making them, forming them, and then placing them in the freezer to cook another time. We can also simply buy raw frozen meatballs from the grocery store as well.

Still, the better option will always be to make them ahead of time from scratch, freeze them, and then cook them on busy weeknights when you need something quick. Raw uncooked meatballs from the grocery store are just fine.

Of course, we lose the ability to customize the seasonings and herbs in the meat. But that is when the sauce comes into play. The meatball seasonings will play a big role, but really, the sauce adds the most flavor to the dish.

You could go with a savory Worcestershire sauce or a classic Italian tomato sauce. But meatball sauces vary as much as the meatballs themselves. A chili sauce is a great choice for something different, or use a creamy sauce for Swedish meatballs.

Barbecue sauce is fantastic when you want your meatballs to be an appetizer as well. Ultimately, go with your favorite sauce, knowing that it will add extra flavor to the meatballs.

We now know the best way to make a decision at the grocery store and which sauce to use with our meatballs. However, we still have to learn how to cook frozen uncooked meatballs. Luckily, there are multiple ways to get the job done.

How to Cook Frozen Uncooked Meatballs

The first question many people have when cooking frozen meatballs is if they need to be thawed before they hit the heat. The short answer is no; frozen meatballs do not need to be thawed to cook them.

However, there are a few notes that could help you decide if you should thaw them first. Meatballs are small, which means you won’t need to worry about foodborne illness from cooking them from frozen.

Of course, how long they’ve been frozen will make a difference. Another factor will be the cooking method. But the biggest pitfall we need to avoid when cooking frozen meatballs is dryness.

Tossing some frozen meatballs, even in a single layer in the oven, could result in dry balls of meat that no sauce can save. But there is a benefit to starting with frozen meatballs that actually keep them moist.

Browning the meatballs is a great way to create a shell of cooked meat around the uncooked meat inside the ball. It locks in the moisture and keeps each ball nice and juicy.

This frying step is crucial no matter which cooking method you choose if you go with meatballs straight from the freezer. Protecting the juiciness is the most important part; now it’s time to decide which cooking method will finish the job.

Stove Top Frozen Meatballs

We can learn how to cook frozen uncooked meatballs in the stovetop pan. We already need to brown the balls anyway, so why not just keep them in the same pan? The first step is to brown the meatballs and drain the pan.

We don’t want to keep all of that grease in the pan because we will be adding the sauce, and a greasy sauce is not fun for anyone. We will get the best results by draining excess grease from the pan before adding the sauce.

Browning the meatballs will take a little time since they are frozen, but you will want to keep an eye on them because they can burn quickly. Use medium heat to ensure they don’t burn while you glance away at a sauce or another dish you’re cooking.

Once you’ve browned them enough and drained the pan, add some of the sauce you want to use to the pan. We don’t need all of the sauce in the on, just enough to reach halfway up each ball. Then, bring the sauce to a boiling point and simmer.

Simmer the meatballs for about half an hour. We can make things simple by using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of 165 degrees. The cooking time will ultimately depend on the size of the meatballs.

Oven Baked Frozen Meatballs

Knowing how to cook frozen uncooked meatballs means knowing our options. The stovetop is not the only place to cook frozen meatballs. Instead, brown them in a large skillet on the stove and bake them in the oven.

Line large baking sheets with parchment paper and place the browned meatballs in a single layer. Then, place them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. They will need about 20-30 minutes of baking time in the oven.

Again, we still want that golden internal temp of 165 degrees. However, there is an important note here for baking meatballs. Cooking the meatballs and the sauce in the oven is not a good idea.

The oven will become a huge mess with splattered sauce, and you may even burn the sauce in the oven. This is a great method if you make a meatball sub because we don’t want the bread to get too soggy.

Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs

Can you guess the first step yet? Learning how to cook frozen uncooked meatballs in an Instant Pot requires the same first step as the other methods: pan frying. No matter which meatball recipe you go with, pan frying first will be the first step.

Then, place the meatballs in the Instant Pot on high pressure for 20 minutes. You will also want to add a cup of water to the Instant Pot to keep the meatballs moist as they cook.

Instant Pot recipes use a combination of heat, pressure, and steam for cooking. But you will get dry meatballs if no liquid in the Instant Pot creates that steam. You could add the sauce you want instead of water for more flavorful meatballs.

Another great option is chicken or beef broth to increase the flavor and add moisture to the Instant Pot. This method will be the quickest of them all, making Instant Pot meatballs one of the easy dinners you can use when you are short on time but dealing with hunger pains.

Slow Cooker Frozen Meatballs

The crock pot is a great cooking method for planning. But the biggest draw to this method is the time the meatballs will simmer in the sauce. Simmering in the sauce will increase the flavor, allowing the herbs and seasonings to really settle into the meat.

Of course, the Instant Pot requires less time. But slow-cooking meat is a great way to get tender, juicy results. Since we already know the browning step, we can jump to learn how to cook frozen uncooked meatballs in a crockpot.

Dump the meatballs in the crockpot and cover with the sauce. There is no need to worry about how much sauce you add; pour until your heart’s content. You will want to make sure the meatballs are at least completely covered in sauce.

Then, slow cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Always be sure to check the internal temperature of the largest meatball. We still want that 165-degree temp for safe eating. Here’s an easy recipe you can try for Italian meatballs.

Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs

The air fryer is the quickest method for learning how to cook frozen uncooked meatballs. First, brown the meatballs in a frying pan, a crucial step. Then, put the meatballs in a single layer in the air frying drawer.

We want to ensure enough space between the meatballs so they can all get enough heat to cook thoroughly. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees, and cook the meatballs for about 12 minutes.

Check the internal temps and be sure they are 165 degrees, and then serve. This method obviously loses the sauce, but there’s nothing wrong with adding the sauce later.

This is also a great method for reheating meatballs that have been cooked, frozen in an airtight container, and then used at a later date. 

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