How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot

Frozen meatballs are a working mom's dream. They're a quality source of protein that pleases picky palates. But plopping a pile of microwaved meatballs on a plate and calling it dinner isn't pleasing to anyone.

Dress up frozen beef or turkey meatballs with tasty flavor twists, and let the Crock-Pot do the work for you. Simply toss the frozen meatballs in the pot along with a few choice ingredients and come home to a meal you can serve with rice, pasta or toast.

If you're tasked with a dish for a pot-luck, Crock-Pot frozen meatballs will please a crowd. The base variation features Italian flavors, but a few ingredient changes yield barbecue or tangy cocktail-style versions. Place the finished meatballs in a bowl, with toothpicks on the side for easy serving.

Total Time: 3 to 5 hours | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 pounds frozen meatballs
  • 1 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce
  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano

Directions:

  1. Place the frozen meatballs, sauce and dried oregano in the pot of the Crock-Pot. Stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce.
  2. Cook on low for about 2 1/2 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
  3. Add the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and cook on low for another 10 to 15 minutes.
  4. Serve over cooked spaghetti, or use as the filling for hoagies.

Cocktail version: Place the meatballs in a Crock-Pot with 1/2 cup of grape jelly, 1/4 cup of ketchup, 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons mustard, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Stir to incorporate, and cook as directed above. Serve with rice or as an appetizer on toothpicks.

Barbecue version: Instead of marinara sauce, cook the meatballs in 2 to 3 cups of bottled barbecue sauce. Eliminate the oregano, and use cheddar cheese instead of mozzarella. Cook for 4 to 5 hours on low or 2 to 3 hours on high. Serve on buns for a tasty sandwich or alongside baked potatoes and steamed corn on the cob.

Pineapple barbecue version: Place the meatballs in the pot of the Crock-Pot with 2 cups of bottled barbecue sauce. Stir in a 20-ounce can of pineapple chunks with their juice and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Cook for 2 to 3 hours on high or 4 to 5 hours on low. They're perfect served with sticky white rice and steamed broccoli.

Tip

To add fresh flavors to the finished meatballs, top with chopped fresh herbs. Try basil for the Italian version, parsley for the cocktail recipe and cilantro for the barbecued meatballs.

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References

  • The Frugal Girls: Easy Crock Pot Italian Meatballs
  • Adapted From: Damn Delicious: Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs
  • Hamilton Beach: Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatballs
  • Adapted from:The Practical Saver: Slow Cooker Pineapple Barbecue Meatballs

Writer Bio

Andrea Cespedes is a professionally trained chef who has focused studies in nutrition. With more than 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, she coaches cycling and running and teaches Pilates and yoga. She is an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer, RYT-200 and has degrees from Princeton and Columbia University.

Wondering how to make frozen meatballs in a crockpot? We’ve got you covered! Here’s what you need to know.

How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot

While I wish that I had hours and hours to spend in the kitchen every day, the reality is that I do not. Most of the meals I cook are quick and simple, but I still always try my best to make them taste good. As long as everyone is happily eating around the dinner table, it doesn’t really matter how long it took to make the meal! 

Since quick and easy foods are kind of my thing, I end up using my crockpot a lot. Crockpots, also called slow cookers, are the perfect tools to cook delicious meats. The low temperature and steady cooking method help make meat juicy and tender.

Cooking meatballs in the slow cooker is definitely one of my favorite go-to dinners. I use frozen meatballs, add my favorite sauces, and that’s it! Dinner is in the crockpot and cooking for hours, perfectly timed to be ready at dinner. 

If you want to learn all my secrets for making frozen meatballs in a crockpot, then keep reading. I have quite a few tips for you! 

How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot

Can You Put Frozen Meatballs in a Slow Cooker?

Yes! You can cook frozen meatballs in a slow cooker! I just wanted to answer that question right away in case anyone was still wondering. 

In fact, frozen meatballs cook wonderfully in a slow cooker. They stay soft and juicy, cooking to the perfect temperature. You can use either store-bought frozen meatballs in your crockpot or meatballs that you made yourself and froze. Any kind of frozen meatball will work! 

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How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
Slow Cooker
How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
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How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
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How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
Matte Black Serving Utensils

How to Make Frozen Meatballs in a Crockpot With Sauce

Meatballs go so well with a lot of different sauces. Many of them you can add right to the crockpot to cook with the meatballs. Cooking meatballs in sauce in a crock pot will help the frozen meatballs become even more flavorful. The sauce will soak into the meatballs as they cook, giving you a delicious, mouthwatering appetizer or entree. 

Here is a quick look at how to make some of my favorite meatballs and sauces in a slow cooker. 

Meatballs and Spaghetti Sauce

Grab your favorite jar of marinara sauce and a bag of frozen meatballs and you have a complete meal! You can make frozen meatballs in a crockpot with marinara sauce so easily. 

Add a pound of frozen meatballs into the bowl of the slow cooker. Pour two cups of pasta sauce over the meatballs. Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 3-4 hours. Smaller meatballs will cook faster. If you want to check the internal temperature of the meatballs to be safe, it should read at least 160ºF on a meat thermometer. Then, the meatballs are ready to eat! 

BBQ Meatballs

Add a pound of frozen meatballs to the slow cooker and then pour two cups of your favorite BBQ sauce over the meatballs. Cover the pot and cook the meatballs for 3-4 hours on the low setting. I like to serve these right out of the crockpot with a toothpick or make them into BBQ Meatball Sliders. BBQ meatballs are a great appetizer!

Meatballs with Grape Jelly

Making frozen meatballs in a crockpot with grape jelly is one of my all-time favorite “secret” recipes. Everyone loves these cocktail meatballs and wonders how they are made. The real secret is just how easy they are to put together! 

Add 18 ounces of grape jelly to the bowl of a crockpot along with 18 ounces of your favorite BBQ sauce. Stir the ingredients together in the crockpot, then add two pounds of frozen meatballs. Stir the frozen meatballs in the sauce, coating them all evenly. 

Cover the crockpot and cook the meatballs for 3 hours on high. Enjoy these grape jelly meatballs as an appetizer anytime of year. 

Meatballs and Gravy

Meatballs and gravy is just as easy as cooking frozen meatballs in marinara sauce. Add a pound of meatballs and two cups of your favorite gravy to the bowl of a slow cooker and you are good to go! The gravy meatballs will cook for 3-4 hours on low heat. Use turkey meatballs to make a Thanksgiving style, meatball meal or serve them over noodles like Swedish Meatballs.

How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot
How long do you cook frozen meatballs in a crockpot

How to Make Frozen Meatballs in a Crockpot with No Sauce

If you just want plain, juicy meatballs, you can still use your crockpot. Cooking the frozen meatballs in a crockpot with no sauce may make the meatballs a little too dry. To fix this, I like to add about 1 cup of water or beef broth to the bowl of the slow cooker. This helps keep the meatballs nice and juicy as they cook. 

Cook the frozen meatballs for 3-4 hours over low heat. Use a pair of tongs to grab the meatballs out of the slow cooker, then enjoy! 

The Best Way to Cook Frozen Meatballs

If you have been considering cooking frozen meatballs in a slow cooker, you should definitely give it a try. The crockpot is one of my favorite kitchen appliances and it sure does a great job making perfect frozen meatballs. Cook them with or without sauce, whatever you’d like! I know they will turn out great.

Let me know what you think of frozen meatballs made in a slow cooker. Is it your new favorite way to make meatballs? I bet it is!

FAQs

Will meatballs fall apart in a slow cooker?

No! The frozen meatballs will not fall apart as they cook. They will hold their shape nicely, just cook into extra juicy little bites.

How long to cook fully cooked frozen meatballs in a crockpot?

Fully cooked frozen meatballs will cook in a crockpot over low heat for 3-4 hours. The internal temperature of the ground beef meatballs should be 160º when completely cooked.

Do you thaw meatballs before putting them in a crockpot?

Nope! The frozen meatballs can go straight from the freezer and into the crockpot. No thawing or prebaking needed!

Can you cook meatballs from frozen in slow cooker?

Yes, you can cook the meatballs from frozen. No need to thaw before cooking them in the slow cooker. You can also cook thawed meatballs in the slow cooker, just cook them for a shorter time, 2-3 hours.

How long do frozen meatballs take to cook?

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C / gas mark 4. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil. Place the frozen meatballs on the lined tray in a single layer. Bake the meatballs for about 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.

Can you put frozen uncooked meatballs in the crockpot?

How long to cook frozen meatballs? If you've frozen the uncooked meatballs and want to just put them in the crockpot frozen then you'll want to set it on low for about 10 hours. If they are thawed 6 hours is about right.

How long does it take to cook fully cooked meatballs in a crockpot?

How long do you cook already cooked meatballs in the Crockpot? 6 hours is the magic number. You can leave in for 8 as well and they'll be just fine, less than that though and they won't be as tender as you want.