Food & Drink

I Tried 8 Frozen Meatball Brands To Find the Best-and the Winner Surprised Me

By Fred Hernandez Parade - Food and Drink Stories

Updated May 23, 2026 4:29 PM

Frozen meatballs make dinner ridiculously easy. Throw them into pasta, stuff them into rolls for meatball subs, serve them as party appetizers, or pair them with vegetables and rice when there's not much else in the fridge. And while homemade meatballs will always have their place, some frozen versions come surprisingly close in flavor and texture.

Unlike some freezer categories like frozen pizza or chicken nuggets where there's a huge gap between the best and worst products, most of the meatballs I tried were pretty tasty thanks to their blends of herbs and spices. Most were flavorful and tender, and overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how well these came out once cooked.

A good frozen meatball should still have a savory, herby flavor and a texture that doesn't turn rubbery or mushy after heating. The best ones tasted hearty enough to eat straight out of the air fryer, while others felt more like classic freezer staples that would really shine with marinara, melted cheese or tucked into a sandwich roll.

For this ranking, I tried several popular frozen meatball brands, focusing mostly on Italian-style varieties, along with one plant-based option. After testing them side by side, here's how these frozen meatballs ranked from good to best.

How I Chose the Meatballs

Unlike other frozen proteins (like frozen chicken tenders), there weren't a lot of frozen meatball options to choose from, especially in my area, but I was still able to find most of the major brands, including one plant-based option. You can easily find the frozen meatballs I taste-tested at major grocers like Costco, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Albertsons and Sprouts.

I tried to stick with Italian-style versions for the most part, except for the Impossible meatballs because I couldn't find the Italian-style variety. Otherwise, these all have that distinct herby, savory flavor Italian meatballs are known for, along with a mix of beef, pork and chicken.

How I Tested the Meatballs

Most frozen meatballs had instructions for cooking them on the stovetop, oven or microwave. I chose to use my trusty bella air fryer, which includes a baking feature.

I like meatballs a bit crispier, but I also cooked them thoroughly and according to the package instructions as closely as possible.

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8 Frozen Meatballs, Ranked From Worst to Best

After taste-testing eight frozen meatball options, here's my ranking to find the best ones for your freezer.

8. Impossible Plant-Based Homestyle Meatballs

It almost isn't fair comparing these plant-based meatballs to the real thing, especially because I couldn't find the Italian-style version of these, but they stacked up quite nicely in terms of flavor and texture.

I was pleasantly surprised by the meat-like texture, and despite missing some of the herbs found in Italian-style meatballs, the onion and garlic still gave them a delicious flavor that could easily be upgraded with a sauce.

However, I did notice the exterior of some of the meatballs stuck to my teeth a bit, which may be minimized if you crisp them up a little more. Otherwise, they make a worthy alternative to traditional meatballs.

7. Great Value Italian-Style Meatballs

I had high hopes for Great Value's meatballs because I like the brand's frozen tenders so much, but these lacked a bit of flavor compared to others on this list, despite containing onion, parsley and garlic.

They were perfectly fine for an affordable frozen protein, but they definitely benefited from sauce to bring everything together. Otherwise, they work well enough for a quick dinner.

6. Cooked Perfect Italian-Style Meatballs

Similar to the Great Value meatballs, these were a bit milder in flavor than others on this list. I appreciated seeing fennel listed as a prominent ingredient, but it still wasn't enough to make them especially memorable.

The texture was solid thanks to the beef and pork blend, though not anything particularly special. I liked them just fine, but they definitely benefited from some sauce.

5. Bremer Family Size Italian-Style Meatballs

Like some of the lower-ranking meatballs on this list, the Bremer ones could have used a little more seasoning and herbs. They were slightly better than a few of the others near the bottom of my list, but they still tasted somewhat plain on their own.

Otherwise, the texture was solid. They crisped up nicely, and the smaller size made them versatile enough for almost any dish. If Aldi is your main grocery store, these are still worth grabbing-just make sure to have some sauce on hand.

4. Rosina Italian-Style Meatballs

Rosina's meatballs almost had everything going for them. The flavor was on point thanks to the beef, pork and chicken blend, along with the Romano cheese, onion, garlic and breadcrumbs.

However, the outside texture never really crisped up and ended up slightly drier than most other options on this list. I'm not entirely sure why, but after a few bites, it didn't really matter because I still thoroughly enjoyed them.

3. Trader Joe's Fully Cooked Italian-Style Meatballs

Trader Joe's meatballs have a big fan base, and I could see why. These are bigger than almost all the other meatballs on this list and packed with flavor thanks to the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, onion, bell peppers, garlic and parsley.

They taste surprisingly close to homemade, and the size makes them perfect for a variety of meals, whether you're making meatball soup or layering them into lasagna. If you regularly shop at TJ's, there's really no reason to stop elsewhere for a different brand.

2. Good & Gather Italian-Style Meatballs

Good & Gather's Italian-style meatballs were a close runner-up bursting with herby, savory flavor. They stayed juicy on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside, just the way I like them.

These classic-style meatballs are relatively small compared to options like Trader Joe's or Cooked Perfect. Overall, the garlic, breadcrumbs and Romano cheese created a really balanced flavor that helped these rank so high.

1. Kirkland Cooked Italian-Style Beef Meatballs

I was surprised, because while these weren't the classic Italian-style meatballs made with beef, pork and chicken, this all-beef version still had a ton of flavor thanks to the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Romano, and blend of herbs and spices.

There was also a subtle kick from the chili pepper, which I especially enjoyed. These instantly brought back memories of eating sausage pizza from my local pizza shop as a kid. Whether you're making a meatball sub or finishing off your plate of spaghetti, these are definitely the ones to get.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, I'd happily buy any of these frozen meatballs again for pasta night or just to snack on when I need a bit of protein. They're easy enough to cook, especially when you're not up to making them from scratch. If you need a quick dinner for cheap, these are the ones you need to have on hand at all times.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 3:11 PM.