I am not exaggerating when I say this is the perfect meatball recipe. These meatballs are easy to make, the ingredients are things you probably have on hand, and they freeze like a dream.
Is there anything better than homemade meatballs, you guys? I think not. Meatballs are the ultimate comfort food for me. Having some in the freezer for busy weeknights or unexpected company makes my life so much easier. My kids love them, my husband loves them, and I love them. These meatballs taste amazing PLAIN, but add spaghetti with marinara sauce or use them for beef stroganoff and you really have a killer meal on your hands.
How to make freezer meatballs + the best meatball recipe:
*This recipe is adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book
Add ground beef, chopped onions, breadcrumbs and seasonings into a large bowl and mix well.
Roll the mixture between your hands to shape into balls.
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a big skillet. Cook meatballs until brown and cooked through about 6-8 minutes on each side. I usually cook half the meatballs at a time. This recipe will yield about 40 meatballs.
How to Freeze Meatballs
Drain the oil using a paper towel. Place meatballs in a single layer on a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Flash freeze.
Once frozen, place in freezer bags or containers to store them in the freezer. For best results, use within two months.
For the record, ours have never even come close to lasting us two months. Haha.
How to freeze meatballs and sauce together:
Put 10 or so meatballs in a freezer bag, add 2 or 3 cups of your favorite marinara sauce, and lay the bag flat. Squeeze air out and seal tightly, then lay flat in the freezer. When you’re ready to thaw the meatballs and sauce, you can put them in the refrigerator overnight, or go with my preferred way – use the slow cooker!
How to cook meatballs and sauce in the slow cooker:
Dump meatballs and sauce out of the freezer bag and into your slow cooker, and cook on high for 3 hours. Serve over pasta or spiralized zucchini!
Also, if you love freezer cooking be sure to check out our post on how to make ten freezer meals in under two hours!
This is the perfect make-ahead and freeze homemade meatball recipe! You will love these meatballs for freezer meals, and they're great for kid-friendly meals your whole family will love!
- 4 eggs slightly beaten with fork
- 2/3 cup soft bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese finely shredded
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 lb. ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Add all ingredients except olive oil into a large bowl, mix well.
Roll meatball mixture between your hands to shape into balls. Each ball should be about two tablespoons.
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a big skillet. Cook meatballs until brown and cooked through (about 6-8 minutes on each side.)
Recipe Video
I have made these meatballs with Italian breadcrumbs and regular. Both work great!
I use dried parsley often, and it works well. Substitute 2.5 tablespoons dried parsley for the 1/2 cup of fresh parsley the recipe calls for.
If you have a small skillet and can only cook half the meatballs at a time, cut the olive oil in half for each batch as well.
If you aren't planning on freezing the meatballs you could definitely cut this recipe in half.
If you love this, check out these other easy dinner recipes:
Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff
20-minute Chimichangas
Best Ever Slow Cooker Chili
Easy Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti Pie
Super Easy Crockpot Roast
My family loves meatballs, so we will be trying these. The idea of popping them out of the freezer for a quick meal is exciting!! We also Love these quick and easy chicken meatballs- https://wordpress.com/post/makingitupastheygrow.wordpress.com/113
Thanks Kelly! Chicken Meatballs sound great too!
I’m going to make a big batch this weekend to have to usE when life gets crazIer and i can’t think about dinner. So smart!
So handy for busy weeknights! Gotta love meatballs that are quick and easy!!
Yes! And sooo much better than store bought!
Love this meatball recipe. It’s so nice to have a bag of them in the freezer ready!
It really is the best! SO glad you love them!
We are always looking for that perfeCt meatball recipe and this one is absolutely a keepEr!
Yay! I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks Ali!
mmmm…these meatballs look incredibly delicious!! YUM!!
Thank you so much!
Can you freeze these before cooking?
Love this idea! how do you reheat them?
Hi there, just wondering what percent lean/fat is your ground beef? 93/7 or 85/15?
I’ve used both and either one works great! Lately I’ve been trying to use 93/7 though!
These are wonderful but I wish you had a better way to print without printing the who blog. Thank you for sharing
These are delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Loving these freezable meatballs. They look delicious! We loved having you link up to our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” We hope you’ll be back with more great recipes! -The Sisters
MHMMM….LOVE meatballs…It’s definetly a “need to have loves in the freezer to spare” type of a food! HAHA! Thanks for sharing at Homemade By You! Hope to see you next week!
That is a great cookbook! Those meatballs look soooo good! Thanks for sharing at the Pomp Party! Pinning to our Pomp Party board!
Jill @ Create.Craft.Love.
Mmmmm, I love meatballs. How handy to have them already made and in the freezer. Thanks for sharing :)
What a great idea to freeze them!!!! I LOVE meatballs!!
Thanks for sharing at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!! :)
Inspired to make some now! Yummmm
Yay i’m so glad!!! I know you won’t regret it :). Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, makes my day!
Mmmm… I love meatballs! I’ll have to use this!
Morgan
toughlaces.blogspot.com
Morgan I promise they won’t disappoint! I hope you love them as much as we do :). Thanks for stopping by & commenting! Can’t wait to check out your blog..