Using frozen meatballs from the store that are already cooked is a terrific method to save time when cooking
Using frozen meatballs from the store that are already cooked is a terrific method to save time when cooking. You don’t have to do all the work yourself! You can make a lot of different meals with just this one protein.
I like to save even more time by making a lot of these dishes at once and using frozen meatballs as freezer meals. You can easily make a lot of meals at once by putting the meatballs in freezer bags, adding the sauces and other toppings, and freezing them.
Sweet and sour meatballs on a sheet pan
This tasty Sheet Pan Sweet and Sour Meatballs meal is a complete dinner that is simple to make and quick to clean up because everything cooks on one pan.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs Sheet Pan Recipe: Here are the things you need:
- 2 pounds of frozen, pre-cooked meatballs
- 1 cup of frozen green beans
- 1 onion, cut into slices, and 14 ounces of drained pineapple slices
- 1 cup of packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- Vinegar in a half cup
- 1/4 cup of water
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of ketchup
How to Put Together:
- Put the meatballs, green beans, onion, and pineapple slices in a big bag that can be sealed.
- Mix the brown sugar and flour together in a small bowl. Add the soy sauce, vinegar, water, and ketchup.
- Put the sauce mix into the bag with the meatballs. To mix the sauce, meatballs, and vegetables, squish them together. Take out the extra air from the bag, seal it, and freeze it.
How to Cook:
- Put the frozen food in the fridge to thaw.
- Put all the ingredients in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.
How long can you keep sweet and sour meatballs in the freezer?
You can keep your sweet and sour meatballs in the freezer for up to three months after you’ve made them. To make sure you eat your sheet pan meal before it goes bad, write the name of the dish, the date it was frozen, and the date it is predicted to go bad on the container in your freezer.
What kind of meatballs should I use to make sweet and sour meatballs?
It’s vital to know what kind of meatballs are appropriate for this dish because the meatballs are frozen. Italian-style meatballs are fantastic for pasta dishes, but the herbs and spices in this kind won’t go well with the sweet and sour sauce.
Look for “homestyle” meatballs instead of Italian meatballs. This kind has a neutral seasoning that goes wonderfully with the other ingredients in this recipe. If you can’t find “homestyle” meatballs, look at the package to see what kind of spice is used. Don’t choose selections that include Italian-style herbs and spices, such oregano and basil, because they could not go well with the sweet and sour sauce.
How do you keep sweet and sour meatballs that are left over?
You can put your leftovers in the fridge once you finish eating your meatball meal. Put the cooked food in a container that won’t let air in and keep it in the fridge for up to four days.
You can reheat leftovers in the microwave, the oven, or a small skillet over low heat.
Ideas for Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Your family will adore how the sweet and sour sauce goes with the meatballs in this dish. If you want to tweak this recipe, though, here are some simple substitutions and changes you can make.
- Put it on top of rice or pasta. You can eat this easy sheet pan meal for dinner all by itself. You may also serve the sheet pan ingredients over white rice or cooked pasta to make the dish a little bigger. While the meatballs are cooking in the oven, you can quickly and easily make the rice or pasta.
- Add extra vegetables. Pineapple, green beans, and onions together produce the best meal for your family. If you want to make your dinner even tastier, try adding a few more vegetables before you freeze it. You can add sliced bell peppers, corn, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, or peas.
- Make meatballs yourself. Using frozen meatballs that have already been cooked is a terrific way to speed up the prep work for this quick sheet pan entrée. If you have some time on prep day, though, you may also cook your own meatballs from scratch. Simply follow the directions to make the meatballs, cook them, and let them cool all the way down. After that, you can put the chilled meatballs in the bag with the other ingredients and follow the steps in this recipe for freezing and reheating.
- Put it back in the slow cooker. If you have some extra time to cook your meal, try reheating your sweet and sour meatballs in your crockpot. Put the thawed ingredients in the bowl of your slow cooker and simmer them on low for six to eight hours.
- Serve as snacks. You can use toothpicks to transform this simple sheet pan supper into a fantastic appetizer. At your next gathering, just put a piece of pineapple and a green bean on top of a cooked meatball, stick a toothpick in it, and serve it as a snack.
How to Make Easy Meatball Subs
You can’t go wrong with meatballs when you’re looking for supper ideas that the whole family will like. You can make a bunch of tasty meatball subs for your family in just a few minutes with this simple recipe. All you have to do is get the ingredients ready and then put this in the freezer until you’re ready to make your sandwiches.
Things you need:
- 32 ounces frozen Italian-style meatballs (around 24 of them)
- 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped up
- 24 ounces of pasta sauce (we use our Red Sauce)
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella
- 2 baguettes
- 1 cup garlic butter, softened
Assembly Instructions:
- Combine the meatballs with the garlic, Italian seasoning, and spaghetti sauce in a big resealable freezer bag.
- Squeeze the bag to mix all the materials, then remove extra air from the bag, and seal it.
- Place the mozzarella cheese in a separate medium freezer bag. Staple the little bag to the large bag above the seal.
- Slice the baguettes lengthwise and smear half the garlic butter along the inside of each loaf. Place the loaves back together and cut each one in thirds cross-wise. Transfer the bread to large resealable freezer bags.
- Place the bags in the freezer until you’re ready to cook your meatball subs.
How to cook:
- Put the sub ingredients in the fridge overnight to thaw.
- Put the meatballs from the bag into the bowl of a slow cooker. Set the crockpot on low for five to seven hours of cooking.
- Put the garlic bread with the butter side up on a baking tray when it’s time to serve. Cook under the broiler until toasted.
- Arrange the cooked meatballs on one side of the bread and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top. lay the subs back under the broiler until the cheese is melted, then lay the other bread half on top to serve.
What Do You Put on Meatball Subs?
The nicest part about creating your own meatball subs at home is that you can customize your sandwiches with your favorite toppings. As you’re preparing your own subs, try these topping ideas:
- Cheese. In addition to mozzarella cheese, you may also top your sandwich with provolone or parmesan for even more Italian taste.
- Vegetables. Add some veggies to your meatball subs for additional crunch. Top your subs with sliced bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms. Or add some pickled veggies, like pepperoncini or banana peppers, for some extra spiciness.
- Herbs. Give your sandwiches some fresh flavor with the help of fresh herbs. Try topping your meatballs with fresh basil, parsley, or oregano.
What to Serve with Meatball Sub Sandwiches?
These quick and easy sandwiches are the perfect main course for dinner! Serve them with some of these side dish options to finish off your meal:
- Side salads
- Soup
- Pasta salad
- French fries or tater tots
- Potato chips