How to Freeze Meatballs
Updated Jan 01, 2026
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Having homemade meatballs in the freezer means dinner in short order. Always make an extra batch of meatballs when you are rolling them — your future self will thank you!
Making extra meatballs whenever you are in meatball-making mode and freezing them for the weeks or months ahead is so smart. Once you’ve made your favorite meatball mix, why not make enough for another meal or two in the future? Shape the meatballs, and tuck them in the freezer; future you will thank present-day you big time!
Meatballs freeze perfectly and defrost quickly and easily. And you can even cook frozen uncooked meatballs straight from the freezer without defrosting, making them a huge time saver. Cooked meatballs can also be frozen, then defrosted and warmed through with or without sauce. Great for fast weeknight dinners.
Try freezing all sorts of meatballs, from classic Italian meatballs to Buffalo Chicken Meatballs to Jumbo Meatballs (perfect for meatball subs!).
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What's In This Post?
How to Freeze Meatballs: Having homemade meatballs in the freezer means dinner in short order. Always make an extra batch of meatballs when you are rolling them — your future self will thank you!
Tips
- Make sure your bag is freezer-proof, which means it will be thicker and less porous than “regular” (or “storage”) zipper-top bags. This helps prevent freezer burn and keeps the meatballs fresher longer.
- You can also use a freezer-safe sealable container to store your frozen meatballs, but make sure it holds them snugly without a lot of excess space. You want to minimize the air in the container to prevent freezer burn so they keep longer.
- Make sure to label the bag or container with the type of meatballs and the date you froze them. Meatballs tend to look alike when frozen!
- If you don’t have a freezer with enough space for a baking sheet for the first freezing step, you can use smaller plates or containers (whatever will fit). Just place as many meatballs as possible in a single layer on any plate or shallow container, freeze them for 20 minutes until they’re mostly solid as directed, then transfer them to a freezer-proof zipper-top bag.
Kitchen Smarts
Partially freezing (or par-freezing) the meatballs in a single layer allows them to firm up, so when you add them to the bag or container in layers, they will keep their shape and not squish together.
How to Freeze Uncooked Meatballs
- Prep the freezer and pan: Clear enough space in the freezer for a baking sheet or whatever plates you plan to partially freeze the meatballs on before transferring them to a freezer-proof bag or container. Line a baking sheet or a few plates with parchment paper, or lightly coat them with cooking oil.
- Shape the meatballs: Make your favorite meatball mixture. Roll portions of the meat mix by hand or use an ice cream or cookie scoop to form the meatballs. As you form the meatballs, transfer them to the baking sheet or plates in a single layer. The meatballs can just barely touch but should not be stacked.
- Quick-freeze the meatballs: Freeze the meatballs, uncovered, for about 20 minutes until they’re quite firm on the outside.
- Move meatballs to a container and freeze: Transfer the meatballs to a freezer-proof zipper top bag or freezer-proof container. Make sure to label the bag or container with the type of meatballs and the date you froze them. The USDA suggests freezing meatballs for up to 4 months.
How to Freeze Cooked Meatballs
Cooled, cooked meatballs can be stacked in a sturdy freezer-proof zipper-top bag or a freezer-proof container. Mark the container (lots of meatballs look alike!), and use within 3 months, as per the USDA’s recommendation. You can defrost them in the fridge overnight or warm them directly from the freezer in a pot of gently simmering sauce until they heat through.
How to Defrost Frozen Meatballs
You can thaw frozen meatballs overnight in the refrigerator. If you want to make sure they preserve their shape, the best way to do that is to remove them from the bag or container and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, plate, or platter. They can be touching. Cover them well with plastic wrap and defrost overnight in the fridge.
Kitchen Smarts
Do not defrost meatballs at room temperature, which could allow bacteria to grow.
How to Cook Frozen Meatballs
You can cook meatballs straight from the freezer.
If you want to add them directly to a sauce, just add them to a pot of gently simmering sauce over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and gently until they are cooked through, which will take between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on the size and amount of meatballs. Don’t stir vigorously, especially at the end, which could cause the meatballs to fall apart.
If you want to bake frozen meatballs, follow the directions for the recipe, but plan to add an extra 15 minutes or so to the baking time.
Meatball Recipes
My family adores meatballs, and I have a lot of recipes for them! This freezing advice works with everything from Swedish Meatballs to Jumbo Meatballs to Japanese Meatballs.
More Tips For Freezing Foods
- How to Freeze Leftover Turkey
- How to Freeze and Defrost Casseroles
- How to Freeze Asparagus
- Chili Recipes to Big Batch Cook and Freeze
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How to Freeze Uncooked Meatballs
Equipment
- Baking sheet (or plates)
- Zipper-top freezer bag (or freezer container)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Clear enough space in the freezer for a baking sheet or whatever plates you plan on partially freezing them on before transferring them to a freezer-proof bag or container.
- Line a baking sheet or a few plates with parchment paper, or lightly coat them with cooking oil.
- Shape your meatballs. As you form the meatballs, transfer them to the baking sheet or plates in a single layer. The meatballs can be just barely touching, but not stacked.
- Freeze the meatballs, uncovered, for about 20 minutes until quite firm on the outside.
- Transfer the meatballs to a freezer-proof zipper top bag or freezer proof container. Make sure to label the bag or container with the type of meatballs, and the date you froze them. Freeze for up to 6 months.
I always freeze meatballs fully cooked, but they would probably taste better if I froze them uncooked and then cooked them in sauce when I was ready to use them. I’m gonna try it!