The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
These Freezer Meatballs are delicious, easy to make, and make enough for 17 servings! They cost just $10.33 to make which works out to 30¢ per meatball!
You’ve seen the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, right? When I first watched it, I couldn’t help but think about how much easier my life would be if we could really just push a button and have whatever we wanted magically appear in front of us.
Problems with my picky eaters would be solved. The problem of no time to cook would be solved. Problems with menu planning would be solved, too. The list goes on and on! Unfortunately, this magic machine is not a reality. Reality is, we have to deal with picky eaters and we have to make time to cook and menu planning.
This meatball recipe may not solve all your problems but it will simplify your life! They are big enough to require a fork but not too big to allow you to enjoy more than one. This meatball recipe is super easy to make, and even your kids can help!
The best part is this meatball recipe makes a bunch (17 servings) so you can freeze them and pull them out on extra busy nights for spaghetti and meatballs or meatball subs!
So while we can’t have a machine drop food out of the sky for us we can lean on this frozen meatball recipe to save the day! Grab the recipe below to see just how amazing this baked meatball recipe really is.
FREEZER MEATBALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
How do you reheat frozen meatballs?
If you are using the meatballs in a sauce such as spaghetti and meatballs, add the meatballs to the pasta and let the meatballs simmer in the pasta sauce for 10 minutes. To reheat the meatballs in the oven, place the meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until they are heated through. To reheat in the microwave, place 10 meatballs on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for 2 minutes. You may need to add additional time depending on your microwave.
Why are my meatballs tough?
The protein in meat makes them shrink when you cook the meatballs which is what can cause your homemade meatballs to become tough even though you are following the recipe. Adding eggs or breadcrumbs with milk is a tip to help you avoid the pitfalls of tough or dry meatballs.
Can you freeze raw meatballs?
Yes! You can freeze raw meatballs in a freezer-safe container or freeze them after you have cooked them (we prefer cooking the meatballs before freezing them).
How to Make Freezer Meatballs Recipe:
- First, move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Then, prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- Next, combine all of the meatball ingredients and mix them with a wooden spoon or your hands.
- Using a 3-Tablespoon scoop, scoop the meatball mixture and roll it into a ball with your hands.
- Next, place the meatballs on a baking sheet with a ½ inch between each meatball.
- Finally, bake meatballs for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees F.
How to get the kids involved with this recipe:
- Ages 2-3: Let them help pour in the ingredients in the bowl, and place your hands on top of theirs while you stir the ingredients together with a wooden spoon.
- Ages 4-5: Let them help measure out the ingredients and pour them in the bowl, and have them help you stir everything together.
- Ages 6-8: Let them help crack the eggs (make sure you crack them into a separate bowl. They can also measure and stir in the ingredients. They can also help scoop out the meatballs and form them into a ball.
- Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
- Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.
The flavor and Recipe Variations:
- For a healthier meatball, try using half ground turkey and half lean ground beef.
What to Serve with Freezer Meatballs:
- These are great served with baked spaghetti or as meatball subs!
- You can also serve them with some BBQ sauce and serve them over rice for a delicious meal.
More $10 recipes:
- 20-Minute Thai Peanut Noodles
- BBQ Chicken Braid
- Easy Chana Masala
- Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie
- Italian Zucchini Boats
- Jenna’s Chicken Pillows
How long is this good for:
- Serve: They can keep at room temperature for up to 90 minutes.
- Store: You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Place the cooked and cooled meatballs in a gallon Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, see our “How to reheat frozen meatballs?” section above.
How much will this Freezer Meatballs cost:
RECIPE COST: $10.33
PER SERVING COST (2 meatballs): $0.60
PER MEATBALL COST: $0.30
To find out more on how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
- 4 pounds lean ground beef – $7.20
- 2 cups diced yellow onion – $0.50
- 4 large eggs – $0.40
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese – $0.99
- 2 teaspoons salt – $0.02
- 1 ½ cups plain bread crumbs – $0.63
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning – $0.39
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder – $0.06
- 2 teaspoons pepper – $0.14
Cook’s Tools:
- large mixing bowl
- wooden spoon
- 3-Tablespoon scoop
- rimmed baking sheets
- parchment paper
- instant-read thermometer
Large-Batch Freezer Meatballs
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon
- 3-Tablespoon scoop
- rimmed baking sheets
- parchment paper
- instant-read thermometer
Ingredients
- 4 pounds lean ground beef thawed
- 2 cups diced yellow onion
- 4 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 ½ cups plain bread crumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
Instructions
- Move oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 400 degrees, Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl add all of the meatball ingredients. Use a wooden spoon or your hands to mix everything together.
- Use a 3-Tablespoon scoop to scoop the meatball mixture, and then roll it into a ball with your hands. Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheets, leaving ½” between each meatball.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the interior temperature reaches 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. (If you don’t have an instant-read thermometer then just cook until the inside of the meatballs are no longer pink). Let the meatballs cool 5 minutes before serving.
FREEZER INSTRUCTIONS:
- Let the cooked meatballs cool to room temperature, and then place them into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Place in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Notes
- Reheating from Frozen Instructions:
- In Sauce: If you’re using them for spaghetti and meatballs, then let them simmer in the pasta sauce for 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
- In Oven: Place meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F until heated through about 10 minutes.
- Microwave: Place 10 meatballs on a microwave-safe plate and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes. You may need to add additional time depending on your microwave.
Carley says
Yay so excited to try this!!!
Jess Jankowski says
Let us know how you like them!
Katrina Rasband-Clarke says
This looks so fun to do with the kids help! Can’t wait to try it! Thanks
Jess Jankowski says
Our kids have loved helping with these!
Robin says
This looks so easy! Will definitely try it!
Jess Jankowski says
Can’t wait to hear how you like it!
Diana says
My husband loves meatballs. These were delicious!
Jess Jankowski says
A happy husband with a full belly makes for a happy house!
Marie Wright says
Oh I can’t wait to try this. My kids always ask for meatballs. This will be great to stock up on freezer meatballs that aren’t store bought.
Jess Jankowski says
Smart kids!!! 🙂
MaryB says
Love having meatballs on hand for all sorts of dishes. Definitely going to make these.
Jess Jankowski says
It is so nice to be able to pull them out whenever you need them!
Susan Broughton says
This recipe sounds great! A lot of time saving when you already have the meatballs made and just need to thaw!
Jess Jankowski says
Our thoughts exactly!
wilhelmina says
These yummy meatballs are going to be a staple in our freezer! They are so good and it’s so convienient to have them ready to go!
Jess Jankowski says
It makes life just a little easier to have them ready to go in the freezer!
Milisa says
I love large batch recipes like this. These meatballs are going to be a staple on our weekly menu.
Jess Jankowski says
You will love these! Thanks for stopping by!
Tayo says
Thank you so much for this! I have been thinking of making my own meatballs since the brand my daughter loves keeps going out of stock. I’ll definitely be trying this.
Jess Jankowski says
I hate when something I love goes out of stock. Glad this can be a new option for you!
Adrianne says
I can see so many uses for these meatballs!! They would be awesome for those nights you just don’t have time to cook and I love how you have given options the microwave, oven and sauce, perfect!! Thanks for sharing.
Jess Jankowski says
Thank you for stopping by!
Keeley says
Having stuff in the freezer is a massive timesaver! I’ll have to give these a go!
Jess Jankowski says
You’ll love it!
Bhawana says
Such a detailed post with lots of useful information for meal planning. Loved the idea of adding cost involved in each meal. Brilliant blog must say.
Jess Jankowski says
Thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you find other recipes on our website that you will enjoy as well.
Neha says
Such fantastic tips to get kids of every age involved. I am always looking for freezer friendly recipes, so thanks for a new one.
Jess Jankowski says
Put those kids to work! LOL Thank you for stopping by!
Ali says
Your recipe says they can be frozen uncooked. Any suggestions on how to freeze them properly for future use?
Jess Jankowski says
Hi. We prefer to cook them first before freezing them. But you can freeze them raw. After forming them into balls, place them in an airtight container that you then wrap with foil tightly to help seal them in before placing the container in the freezer.