The Best Frozen Meatballs To Buy Right Now

You makin’ subs? You makin’ spaghetti for Cousin Eddie, Aunt Valentina, and Uncle Enzo? Meatballs are a crucial but time-consuming part of any Italian feast, and gathering the many ingredients involved can be expensive. Frozen, fully cooked meatballs can do the trick in a pinch. Whether you’re making them in an air fryer, the oven, a slow cooker, or your stovetop, here are the frozen meatballs you need to eat — and skip.

Prices and availability are subject to change. 

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$7.99 from Target

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Wow, these are good. Like Rosina (see below), the seasoning is just right, but there’s so much more going on here. We’ve got garlic, onion, parsley, and even some Romano and parmesan cheese. There’s a nice grainy texture, like it was constructed from recently-made sausage. I love the crispy brown color, and despite the fact that an air fryer is generally the best way to cook frozen meatballs, the oven baked them up to a perfect crisp. The charred crunch on the edges are spectacular. As far as I’m concerned, I’m never buying another brand.

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$9.99 from Instacart

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Raise American's meatballs are a true beef blast (my high school nickname), and are unlike any other meatballs I tasted. These are meaty things — almost gamey, almost bison-y — and full of charred, just-off-the-grill flavors. Out of all the meatballs I sampled, they taste the most like homemade meatballs. Not remotely store-bought. I can see why these would be No. 1 for most people, but Simek’s seasoning is way too tasty. No shame in the game, Raise. I like what you're up to over there.

$11.89 from Instacart

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Rosina’s frozen meatballs are a lot tastier and more high-quality than I expected. Unlike many frozen Italian-style meatballs, these actually taste Italian. You can get basil and oregano, and the beef-chicken-pork blend brings a lot of different flavor and texture. They're tiny, too, so there's a ton of temptation to keep popping them in your mouth.

$5.39 from Instacart

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Though these are not offensive by any means, they are bland as can be. If you squint your eyes and focus as hard as you can, you can taste a slight sweetness, almost like the flavors of a breakfast sausage patty. These pork and beef meatballs are an alright option if the top three are sold out. You'll save some money on these, at least.

$4.92 from Walmart

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It wouldn’t be a ranking in 2023 if I didn’t include a plant-based option, right? You already know the drill: These aren’t bad. Like many meat substitutes of today, Gardein’s meatball recipe isn't any healthier for you than the real thing, but it’s a solid way to cut out red meat. The texture is a lot chewier than ground beef, but drenched in sauce, it might be hard to pick up on any differences. They’re better than the Harris Teeter meatballs, that’s for sure.

$2.69 from Instacart

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Huge pass. These taste like styrofoam. They are also the only ones that turned gray when I pulled them out of the oven. The face I made upon taking my first bite, I am told, could not be construed in any way as a compliment. I love Harris Teeter as a grocery store, but the in-house products need a lot of work, gang.