Frozen Meatball Recipe for Bulk Cooking
This frozen meatball recipe is a kid-pleaser. They are stuffed with hidden nutrition and I can make a ton of them ahead of time and freeze them so they’re ready.
I love freezer meals and bulk cooking! It saves us tons of time and effort at meal times when the kids are here. See how we simplify menu planning.
Meatballs are similar to meatloaf, but I made these in small balls for less hassle and waste. This frozen meatball recipe uses two per serving for a 3-4-year-old. They are easy to divide, easy to serve seconds and all the kids gobbled them up. Getting kids to eat nutritious food is super important, but it’s not always easy.
Meatballs for kids
Click here to see our new empanada recipe and here to see our new hot pocket recipe for more bulk freezer cooking. My Little Sprouts love all of these recipes.
I have included a single batch of freezer meatballs recipe AND a quadruple batch of freezer meatballs recipe so you can make a huge batch and put a bunch in the freezer for the next time. If you are going to make a mess and cook, you might as well really get something done.
For inspiration for more homemade make-ahead daycare freezer meals for your daycare, check out this post.
For more about how to get picky kids to eat healthy foods, click on the highlighted text. And to change your family’s eating lifestyle, check out zero to hero nutrition. You’re going to be amazed at how easy it is with just a little time and some extra effort to change how your family eats. Even how you eat! This freezer meatball recipe for bulk cooking is just the beginning.
For even more make-ahead freezer meals that you can prepare ahead, check out this post.
Baked Italian meatball recipe
- 4 lb ground meat
- 2 chopped onion
- 4 eggs
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 c. bread crumbs
- 2 c. quick oats or make your own from old fashioned
- 1 c. grated cheese
- 2 c. tomato sauce
- 4 tsp. thyme
- 4 tsp. parsley
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- Ketchup to top
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Preheat oven to 425
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Grind up oats in your food processor to make quick oats
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Dump oats in a bowl
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Make bread crumbs in your food processor
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Dump crumbs in the bowl
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Chop up onion and garlic in your food processor
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Dump into bowl with oats and crumbs
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Add egg, cheese, tomato sauce, herbs and salt and pepper
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Mix well
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Add meat and mix lightly until just mixed
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Scoop balls in small muffin scoop and roll lightly to shape
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Bake 10-12 minutes
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Makes 80 balls or 10 servings (for preschool agers)
Don’t forget to pin for later.
These look sooo yummy! Can not wait to try them!
Thank you!
I love meatballs for kids – they’re so versatile! They’re great in a lunchbox with a little mango chutney, yogurt dip, or put into pitta pockets with salad.
Sounds delish, thanks for sharing!
Love it that you give us the RECIPE and not just say how to do it or that we should do it! 🙂 Thank You
Thank you!
I never liked making meatballs because they are so hard to fry up right in a fry pan. The oven is the best trick. I have one other – and that is actually throwing them into a pan of spaghetti sauce and cooking them with the sauce. SUPER EASY too!
Great idea Marjie, Thanks!