Frozen or refrigerated pre-cooked meatballs are one of the greatest inventions for busy family cooks around. Of course, you can use them to make spaghetti and meatballs. But there are so many more creative ways to take those babies and turn them into something completely fresh and different, from meatball pizzas to meatball subs to sweet and sour meatballs, as you'll see below. Look for good-quality, all-natural meatballs for these recipes. There are many varieties, from Italian to Buffalo chicken to turkey. Just be sure that if you pick a flavored meatball that it will complement, not compete with, the flavors in the dish you're making.
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Meatball Subs
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Who knew four ingredients could taste so good? The key to this recipe (and really, all recipes with few ingredients) is to make sure the ingredients you do use are the very best quality. Look for a nice bakery style roll for these subs. Italian rolls work well. An Italian or turkey meatball works great here. And be sure to choose a good-quality spaghetti sauce. Want to take this recipe over the top? Use fresh mozzarella. Yum!
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Stephanie Gallagher
The sauce for this recipe is a combination of green peppers, garlic, tomato sauce, lemon juice and brown sugar. I like to serve this dish with rice.
Baked Beefy Mac and Cheese Recipe
Chia Chong
The addition of pre-cooked meatballs makes this mac and cheese recipe a hearty one-dish meal that kids will go crazy for. The good news is adults tend to like this recipe, too.
Meatball Pizza Recipe
Stephanie Gallagher
I like to use a spicy meatball for this recipe, but if your family prefers milder food, go with what they like. Look for smoked mozzarella cheese in the gourmet cheese section of your local supermarket. Or substitute regular mozzarella or an Italian cheese blend for the smoked mozzarella.
Hash Brown Potato Casserole with Meatballs
Stephanie Gallagher
If you're a fan of the popular hash brown casserole at Cracker Barrel, you will enjoy this hearty meat and potatoes dish. Creamy hash browns are cooked with meatballs and red peppers (for color) in the slow cooker for a hearty one-dish meal the kids will adore.
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Chili Mac Recipe for the Slow Cooker
Stephanie Gallagher
Tomato salsa, salsa con queso and green chiles lend a Mexican flavor to this chili mac recipe that's made with meatballs instead of ground beef. Don't worry - this dish is not spicy at all. And it's a perfect, easy weeknight meal, because you can make it in advance.
Meatball Pie Recipe
Stephanie Gallagher
This rustic savory pie starts with a refrigerated pie crust. If the meatballs you're using are very large, cut them in half. You want people to be able to bite into the pie easily. For variety, try using turkey meatballs for this recipe.
