Quick and tasty meals – we can’t get enough of them. When thinking about a fast, easy-to-prepare, weeknight dinner, meatballs are surely one of the first things that come to one’s mind. They are versatile, affordable and take minutes to turn into a mouth-watering, satiating meal. So what is there to know about how to cook frozen meatballs?
Well, friends, there is more than to it than you think, and today we will uncover some cooking tips, useful advice, and a wonderful recipe that’s hard not to like. Meatball fan or not, give this article a shot; there’s a good chance that it will tickle your imagination as well as belly.
Heating Frozen Meatballs
meatballs in the pan, vegetables and forks on the table
As you already know, store-bought meatballs are pre-cooked, so half of the job is already taken care of. Now, the part that needs to get done is the heating, since icy meat isn’t exactly a delicacy. There are more ways to heat up the meatballs, and you’ll be able to choose the one that suits your needs and capabilities. Let’s jump right into the good stuff!
Oven
1. Preheat the oven to around 350 F.
2. Take out a baking tray, spray it with non-stick spray, and spread the meatballs across it. Make sure that they’re not too close to each other so that they don’t stick together.
3. Bake for around 10 minutes. The meatballs will brown a little bit which is a sign that they are heated up.
4. Remove the meatballs from the oven.
Microwave
1. Grab a microwave-safe plate, place a paper towel on it, and spread the meatballs across it. Make sure that they’re not packed too tightly together.
2. Place the dish in the microwave, and cook on high for about two and a half minutes. Some microwaves have a manual with exact cooking times based on the weight of the meat, so make sure to check this first.
3. When the microwave is done, leave the meatballs inside for about a minute so that they settle.
4. Remove the dish from the microwave.
Stovetop
1. Take a covered saucepan or a frying pan and add the meatballs.
2. Add a little bit of water to the pan; just enough to cover the bottom.
3. Place the pan on medium/medium-high heat and let it cook for about 10 minutes.
4. Make sure to stir occasionally in order to prevent sticking.
5. Remove the meatballs from the pan.
Toaster Oven
1. Preheat the toaster oven to about 350 F.
2. Take a piece of tin foil and place it on the bottom of the oven. This serves to catch the drippings from the meat.
3. Take a baking tray, spray it with a bit of cooking spray, and spread out the meatballs across it.
4. Place the tray in the oven and let the meatballs cook for about 10 minutes.
5. When the meatballs start to get a golden brown color, it means that they are well heated.
6. Remove the tray from the toaster oven.
Meatballs Recipe
noodles with meatballs in the plate, tomatoes and forks on the table
As we’ve already mentioned, meatballs are very versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. However, today we decided to keep it simple and stick to a classic – spaghetti meatballs. This iconic American-Italian dish is just what you’ll need after a long, exhausting day at work. Quick to prepare, affordable, and scrumptious, this recipe is just too good to miss out. We’re sure you’re hungry just reading this, so let’s get into it.
Ingredients
● 350 g of spaghetti
● 24 frozen meatballs (about 400 grams)
● 700 grams of spaghetti sauce
● 1 onion
● 2 garlic cloves
● 2 tomatoes
● Olive oil
● Salt
Instructions
1. Start cooking the spaghetti according to the instructions on the package.
2. Reheat the meatballs in your preferred method. We suggest oven or microwave for easier multi-tasking. It’s a good idea to set the timer to the exact cooking time so that you don’t forget about them.
3. Take a saucepan and drizzle it with a bit of olive oil and place it over medium heat.
4. Peel and chop the onion, chop the tomatoes into small cubes, and finely mince the garlic cloves.
5. Add the garlic and let it cook while stirring for about 1 minute.
6. Add the chopped onion and cook until it gets translucent.
7. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook the vegetables until the tomato juice evaporates.
8. Pour in the sauce from the jar into the saucepan and let the whole mixture simmer for about 3 minutes.
9. By the time your sauce is done, the spaghetti and meatballs should have finished cooking.
10. Add the spaghetti to the sauce and mix well.
11. Finally, add the meatballs to the combination.
12. Season with salt if needed and serve hot.
13. Enjoy!
Conclusion
So, there you have it, all the ways to heat up frozen meatballs along with a great meal recipe. What more could a reasonable person wish for?
On a serious note, we are always pro fresh food and if you can get a meal like that – great! But, the reality is that time is the most valuable resource that we have, and it seems that there’s never enough of it, so cooking from scratch is slowly becoming a distant dream for the majority of people. Luckily, frozen foods are here to save the day. We don’t recommend them as a daily thing since they aren’t the healthiest option, but for once in a while, they won’t do you any harm.