Frozen meatballs are a go-to option for busy days when you want a quick, hearty meal without a lot of prep. They’re versatile, delicious, and can be cooked in several different ways depending on what equipment you have available and how much time you want to spend.
Here are my favorite methods for cooking frozen meatballs—whether you’re using an air fryer, crock pot, oven, stove, or Instant Pot, you’ll have a satisfying meal in no time.
1. How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 bag of frozen meatballs (about 12-16 meatballs)
- Cooking spray
- Sauce for dipping (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the meatballs from sticking.
Place the frozen meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd them; you want air to circulate around them for even cooking.
Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even browning.
Once done, remove the meatballs and serve with your favorite dipping sauce, like marinara, ranch, or BBQ sauce.
If you’re looking for a quick, crispy, and hands-off cooking method, the air fryer is your best friend. It’s easy, fast, and gives your frozen meatballs a perfectly crisp exterior while keeping them juicy inside.
2. How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 1 bag of frozen meatballs
- 1 jar of spaghetti sauce (about 24 ounces)
Instructions
Dump the frozen meatballs into the crock pot.
Pour the spaghetti sauce over the meatballs, making sure they’re fully covered.
Set the crock pot to low and cook for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours, stirring once or twice if you like.
Serve over pasta, on a sub roll, or enjoy as is.
This method requires zero effort from you once you’ve set everything up. The meatballs come out super tender, soaking up the flavor from the sauce. It’s a perfect method for a slow-cooked, comforting meal.
3. How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in Oven
Ingredients
- 15 frozen meatballs
- Cooking spray (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Arrange the frozen meatballs on a baking sheet, making sure they’re spaced out evenly. You can line the sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, turning them halfway through to ensure they brown evenly.
Once they’re golden and sizzling, remove from the oven and serve with your favorite sides.
The oven is an excellent method for cooking frozen meatballs if you want to get that oven-baked flavor with minimal hands-on work. This method is especially great when you’re cooking a batch and want even browning.
4. How to Cook Frozen Meatballs on Stove
Ingredients
For the Frozen Meatballs
- 12 frozen meatballs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for searing)
For the Marinara Sauce
- 28 ounces canned whole San Marzano tomatoes
- ½ yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 fresh basil leaves
- ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- A pinch of sugar (optional, to taste)
Instructions
For the marinara sauce: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, cooking until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes (crush them in the pan), red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, salt, and sugar if desired. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes while you cook the meatballs.
For the meatballs: In a separate skillet, heat a little olive oil over medium heat. Add the frozen meatballs to the skillet and sear for about 5-7 minutes until they’re golden brown on all sides.
Pour the marinara sauce over the seared meatballs and simmer for another 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
This method gives you control over both the meatballs and the sauce. The marinara sauce has a fresh, homemade feel, and the meatballs get a crispy outer layer from the searing. It’s a more hands-on method, but the results are worth the extra effort.
5. How to Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 24 frozen meatballs
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Add all the ingredients (meatballs, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper) to the Instant Pot.
Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on manual for 10 minutes on high pressure.
Once the timer goes off, do a quick release, and then open the lid. Stir the meatballs, and they’re ready to serve!
The Instant Pot is a game-changer when you’re short on time. It locks in all the flavors, and the meatballs come out so tender. Plus, it’s practically a one-pot meal, so cleanup is a breeze.
Now, you knew how to cook frozen meatballs in 5 different ways. I hope that after reading this article, you will have delicious hot meatballs for severe with rice or pasta. Good luck
