Cooking frozen meatballs in the crockpot is an easy and delicious appetizer or dinner for any occasion. The meatballs are slow cooked to perfection in a rich tomato sauce to give you an award-winning dish every time!
If you've been wondering how long to cook frozen meatballs in the crockpot, this recipe has you covered! It's so effortless and is a game-changer for busy weeknights or if you're hosting and have a million other things to do. Not to mention it makes some of the most delicious meatballs ever!
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Why You'll Love This Frozen Meatball Recipe
It makes the perfect meatballs. The meatballs are cooked low and slow until they're super tender and juicy, with a delicious flavor from the sauce.
It's easy to make. You literally just have to dump the ingreidents in your crock pot and then let it take care of the rest!
It's a guaranteed crowd pleaser. I've made this recipe for family dinners, the holidays, and as a party appetizer, and it's always a big hit with everyone!
Ingredients Needed
- Meatballs- your favorite brand of frozen meatballs.
- Sauce- I used spaghetti sauce, but any marinara sauce, BBQ sauce, or teriyaki sauce is delicious!
How To Cook Frozen meatballs In The Crock Pot
Step 1: Add the meatballs. Take out your crock pot and add the frozen meatballs to it. Make sure they're all in one even layer on the bottom of the pot.
Step 2: Cover with sauce. Pour the sauce of your choice over the meatballs. You want them to be fully coated, so feel free to add more sauce if needed.
Step 3: Cook the meatballs. Put the lid on the crock pot and set it to cook on low heat for at least 6 hours for up to 8 hours until they're nice and tender. If you're in a rush, you can cook them on high heat for 4 hours.
Step 4: Plate and serve. Transfer the meatballs to serving plates and garnish with a little fresh basil. Serve warm and enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Stir the meatballs every hour or so if you can to keep them coated in the sauce and prevent burning.
- Add more sauce if needed throughout cooking to keep the meatballs tender.
- You'll know the meatballs are done cooking when they're super tender and have reached an internal temperature of 160°F.
- If you're feeling fancy, sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese on top of your meatballs before serving.
- If you're serving to a crowd, you can leave the meatballs in the crock pot on the warm setting for up to 2 hours after cooking.
Storage Instructions
You can store any leftover meatballs with sauce in the fridge in an airtight container or sealed bag for up to 4 days. I don't recommend freezing the leftovers since they were cooked from frozen, to begin with.
My favorite way to reheat the meatballs is to warm them with the sauce over medium heat in a skillet for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. You can always add more sauce if desired when reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put frozen meatballs in the crock pot?
Yes, you absolutely can, and that's what this recipe is all about! I've actually found that cooking them in the crock pot yields better results than using the stovetop or oven.
Should I thaw frozen meatballs before putting them in the crock pot?
No, the beauty of this recipe is that you can cook them from frozen! It's a super convenient and simple way to cook meatballs to perfection every single time with no effort.
Can I use uncooked meatballs instead of frozen ones?
Yes, you can! You'll want to brown the meatballs on all sides in a hot skillet before adding them to the slow cooker. Cooking them first will help keep the meat nice and juicy while it cooks more in the sauce.
What can I serve with meatballs?
They make delicious meatball subs with some cheese on a roll, or you can serve them along with things like this million dollar spaghetti casserole, fried spaghetti, zucchini tomato casserole, and baguette garlic bread.
More Crock Pot Recipes
- Crock pot frozen turkey breast
- Frozen chicken thighs crock pot recipe
- Frozen chicken in the crock pot
- Slow cooker frozen roast
- Crock pot Buffalo chicken
- Crock pot chicken and rice
- Crock pot chicken parmesan
Frozen Meatballs In The Crockpot
Cooking frozen meatballs in the crockpot is an easy and delicious appetizer or dinner for any occasion. The meatballs are slow cooked to perfection in a rich tomato sauce to give you an award-winning dish every time!
Ingredients
- 1lb. bag of frozen meatballs
- 2 cups sauce (spaghetti sauce, marinara sauce, BBQ sauce, or any other sauce you want).
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs to the crock pot in an even layer.
- Pour a jar of spaghetti sauce over the top so they're all coated.
- Put the lid on the pot and set it to low for at least 6 hours or 8 hours if you want them super tender.
Notes
If you're serving the meatballs to a crowd and want to make them ahead of time, turn to the warm setting after 8 hours of cooking. You can leave them in the crock pot for up to 2 more hours.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
¼ lb.Amount Per Serving: Calories: 377Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 1287mgCarbohydrates: 19.5gFiber: 5gSugar: 11gProtein: 19g
Ryan
These meatballs turned out, absolutely perfect.
Sandy Keller
I am going to use this recipe all the time!! The meatballs were delish and it was truly a no effort recipe.