42 Crazy-Good Dishes That Start with Frozen Meatballs

Chili and Jelly Meatballs

The secret ingredient in this sassy sauce is the grape jelly. It’s a sweet contrast with the chili sauce. —Irma Schnuelle, Manitowoc, Wisconsin

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Meatballs with Chimichurri Sauce

Serve some of this South American herb sauce featuring fresh cilantro and parsley on the side. You’ll want plenty for extra dipping. —Amy Chase, Vanderhoof, British Columbia

Not sure which brand of frozen meatballs to buy? Check out the brands our editors and the Taste of Home Test Kitchen recommend.

Cranberry Sauce Meatballs

Cranberry sauce isn’t just for turkey anymore! Combined with a few other ingredients, the Thanksgiving staple makes a perfect meatball topper. —Tammy Neubauer, Ida Grove, Iowa

(If you have time for homemade meatballs, try these meatball recipes from around the world!)

Quick and Easy Swedish Meatballs

Rich and creamy, this classic meatball sauce is a must in your recipe box. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Bourbon Meatballs

Kick-start your meatballs with a splash of bourbon and vinegar for punchy sweet-and-sour flavor. These Kentucky Derby bourbon meatballs are perfect to snack on while you watch the race. —Kimla Carsten, Grand Junction, Colorado

Barbecue and Beer Meatballs

This simple meatball recipe relies on timesaving ingredients like frozen meatballs and barbecue sauce. It's the perfect last-minute appetizer! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Don’t forget to check out our collection of the best meatball appetizers.

Orange-Glazed Meatballs

I love the sweet orange marmalade paired with the zip of a jalapeno in this sweet-sour glaze. —Bonnie Stallings, Martinsburg, West Virginia

Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

Pack on the flavor with just a few ingredients! These meatballs hit the spot. —Mary Poninski, Whittington, Illinois

Spaghetti & Meatball Skillet Supper

I developed this one-skillet spaghetti and meatball dish to cut down on cooking time on busy nights. The beans, artichokes and tomatoes bump up the nutrition factor, while the lemon and parsley make it pop with brightness. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

White Bean Soup with Meatballs

It tastes like it's from scratch, but my Italian-inspired soup uses lots of shortcuts. For a meatball in every bite, chop them up—with an egg slicer! —Carole Lotito, Hillsdale, New Jersey

Easy Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs

The already prepared meatballs make this a very easy and quick supper. You can use your own homemade meatballs or store-bought if you're in a pinch. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington

Three-Cheese Meatball Mostaccioli

When my husband travels for work, I make a special dinner for my kids to keep their minds off missing Daddy. This tasty mostaccioli is meatball magic. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan

French Onion Soup with Meatballs

I got the idea for how to make this soup after I went to a brewhouse restaurant that put ale in their gravy. I make this every time the weather starts to cool down in the fall—it's comfort food for the soul. —Crystal Holsinger, Surprise, Arizona

Italian Meatball Buns

These soft little rolls come with a pleasant surprise inside—savory Italian meatballs. The apps are wonderful dipped in marinara sauce, which makes them fun for my grandkids—and adults too. I love how easy they are to put together. —Trina Linder-Mobley, Clover, South Carolina

Easy Asian Glazed Meatballs

As a writer and busy mom of three boys, I need tasty meals on the quick. We serve these glazed meatballs over a steaming bed of rice. —Amy Dong, Woodbury, Minnesota

Meatball Submarine Casserole

We were hosting a bunch of friends, and after a comedy of errors, I had to come up with a plan B for dinner. I realized that much-loved meatball subs are even better as a hearty casserole—so delicious! —Rick Friedman, Palm Springs, California

Meatball Pizza

I always keep meatballs and pizza crusts in the freezer to make this specialty on the spur of the moment. Add a tossed salad and you have a delicious dinner. —Mary Humeniuk-Smith, Perry Hall, Maryland

Slow-Cooked Meatball Soup

As a mother, I try to sneak as many veggies into my daughter's diet as I can. This savory soup with meatballs and pasta does the trick. Best of all, the whole family loves it! —Kymm Wills, Phoenix, AZ

Easy Stuffed Shells

I threw this recipe together one day when we had unexpected guests. It was an immediate hit and is now a family favorite. Get the kids involved when putting together this simple, savory dish. —Dolores Betchner, Cudahy, Wisconsin

Honey Buffalo Meatball Sliders

These little sliders deliver big Buffalo chicken flavor without the messiness of wings. The spicy-sweet meatballs are a hit on game day with kids and adults alike. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Easy Meatball Stroganoff

This recipe has fed not only my own family, but many neighborhood kids! They come running when I make this supper. It's one of those things you throw together after work on a busy day because you know it works. —Julie May, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Simple Swedish Meatballs

When my husband packs these saucy slow-cooked meatballs in his lunch, all his work buddies wish they had their own! It's comfort food at its easiest. — Christina Logan, Gun Barrel City, Texas

Red Curry Carrot Soup

With its mix of delicious colors, textures and flavors, this easy soup is something special. The meatballs make it hearty enough to serve as a light entree. —Dilnaz Heckman, Buckley, Washington

Meatball Tortellini

I combined some favorite staples from our freezer and pantry to come up with this easy dish. It has few ingredients and little preparation. —Tracie Bergeron, Chauvin, Louisiana

Mama Mia Meatball Taquitos

We love lasagna, but it takes too long on weeknights. My solution: meatball taquitos. My kids get the flavors they want, and I get a meal on the table in a hurry. —Lauren Wyler, Dripping Springs, Texas

Easy Tortellini Spinach Soup

This is the easiest soup you will ever make—believe me! I always keep the ingredients on hand, so if I'm feeling under the weather or just plain busy I can throw together this comforting soup in a flash. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas

Dressed-Up Meatballs

Frozen meatballs and a jar of sweet-and-sour sauce make this microwave meal a last-minute lifesaver when racing against the clock. The flavorful sauce is dressed up with a hint of garlic and nicely coats the colorful mixture of meatballs, carrots, green pepper and onion. —Ivy Eresmas, Dade City, Florida

Contest-Winning Bavarian Meatball Hoagies

When my husband is not manning the grill, I count on my slow cooker. These meatballs are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser when I serve them as a party appetizer or spooned over crusty rolls and topped with cheese for irresistible sandwiches. —Peggy Rios, Mechanicsville, Virginia

Tangy Glazed Meatballs

The slightly sweet sauce on these meatballs has such a great zing to it. Use a little more or less hot sauce depending on what you're in the mood for. —John Slivon, Milton, Florida

Swedish Meatballs Alfredo

I'm a big fan of this potluck-perfect dish. It takes much less time than many other slow-cooker recipes. Plus, it's easy. I'm all for the easy! —Carole Bess White, Portland, Oregon

Veggie Meatball Soup

It's a snap to put together this hearty soup before I leave for work. I just add cooked pasta when I get home, and I have a few minutes to relax before supper is ready. —Charla Tinney, Tyrone, Oklahoma

Hawaiian Meatballs

Talk about one easy dish that creates an amazing sweet and sour sauce! You can serve over rice for more of a dinner-like option, but I also like to offer them as an appetizer simply served with toothpicks. —Julie Schiefer, Nappanee, Indiana

Creamy Cranberry Meatballs

Extras from tonight’s rich and juicy appetizers can become tomorrow’s entree. Simply serve them over a bed of fluffy noodles or rice—if there’s any left. —Amy Warren, Maineville, Ohio

Sweet BBQ Meatballs

These sauced-up meatballs have big Asian flair. If your family likes sweet-and-sour chicken, this beefy version hits the spot. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Whole Grain Chow Mein

My kids are picky eaters, but teriyaki and hoisin sauces work wonders with them. They love the meatballs, and I swap the noodles for whole grain pasta. —Kelly Shippey, Orange, California

Veggie Soup with Meatballs

Loaded with veggies, meatballs and spices, this meal-in-one soup is hearty enough to warm up any cold winter day. It’s a recipe you’ll make again and again! —Penny Fagan, Mobile, Alabama

Slow-Cooker Meatball Sandwiches

Our approach to meatball sandwiches is a simple one: Cook the meatballs low and slow, load them into hoagie buns, and top them with provolone and pepperoncini. —Stacie Nicholls, Spring Creek, Nevada

Spaghetti Tacos

My son watches a show where the kids eat spaghetti tacos. As a joke, I made him his own, and now these tacos are here to stay. —Mindie Hilton, Susanville, California

Vegetable Meatball Soup

This is a delicious soup recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and is a great way to use up leftover meatballs. The broth is so light and flavorful, everyone wants the recipe! —Susan Westerfield, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Italian Wedding Soup Supper

In a classic Italian Wedding Soup, the meat marries the vegetables in a broth. Which type of meat and which vegetables are subject to change, according to your arrangements. Chicken goes well with the savory trio of onion, carrot and celery, with meatballs and spinach in supporting roles. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

All-Day Meatball Stew

Frozen meatballs and other convenient ingredients simplify this homey stew. Each bite boasts lots of fresh veggie flavor and comforting, rich gravy. It cooks all day and smells so good, it’s hard to resist! —Anita Hoffman, Holland, Pennsylvania

Veggie Meatball Soup for 3

This hearty soup is a snap to put together before I leave for work. I just add uncooked pasta when I get home, and then I have a few minutes to relax before supper is ready. —Charla Tinney, Tyrone, Oklahoma