Freezer meals are a lifesaver for busy weeknights, and this Pioneer Woman BBQ Meatballs recipe is a fantastic addition to your freezer stash. Inspired by Ree Drummond’s flavorful Comfort Meatballs, this recipe is adapted to be freezer-friendly without compromising on taste or texture. These meatballs are seriously delicious and incredibly convenient – just as tender and tasty when cooked from frozen as they are fresh. Perfectly paired with mashed potatoes, these BBQ meatballs are a comforting and satisfying meal that your family will love.
Close-up shot of raw meatballs on a baking sheet before freezing, showcasing the texture and preparation process for Pioneer Woman freezer meatballs.
Pioneer Woman’s BBQ Meatballs Freezer Meal: Your Go-To Comfort Food
This recipe takes the deliciousness of Pioneer Woman’s BBQ Meatballs and makes it even more convenient as a freezer meal. By prepping these meatballs ahead of time, you can have a hearty and flavorful dinner ready with minimal effort on busy days.
Ingredients for Freezer-Friendly BBQ Meatballs
Meatballs:
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 3/4 cup quick oats
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped onions
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- Ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/3 cup canola oil
BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Assembling Your Freezer Meatball Meal
Meatball Preparation:
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, quick oats, milk, egg, chopped onions, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything together with your hands until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into medium-small meatballs. Using a cookie scoop can help ensure uniform size for even cooking. Place the meatballs on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Freeze the cookie sheet of meatballs for about 10 minutes. This quick freeze helps them hold their shape.
- Remove the meatballs from the freezer and dredge each meatball in flour, then place them back on the cookie sheet.
Browning the Meatballs:
- Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, using enough oil to coat the bottom of the skillet.
- Brown the meatballs in batches, making sure to brown them on all sides. You are not cooking them through at this point, just browning the exterior.
- Place the browned meatballs back onto a cookie sheet.
- Return the cookie sheet to the freezer and freeze until the meatballs are solid.
- Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a gallon-size freezer bag. Label the bag with cooking instructions and freeze.
BBQ Sauce Preparation:
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together all BBQ sauce ingredients until well blended.
- Pour the BBQ sauce into a quart-size freezer bag and freeze flat. Freezing it flat helps it thaw faster.
Image showing frozen BBQ meatballs and sauce in freezer bags, ready for easy meal preparation, emphasizing the convenience of Pioneer Woman freezer meals.
Cooking Instructions for Pioneer Woman Freezer Meatballs
- Thaw the BBQ sauce in the refrigerator overnight. Keep the meatballs frozen until you are ready to cook them.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Place the frozen meatballs in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Pour the thawed BBQ sauce over the meatballs, using a spoon to ensure they are all coated in sauce.
- Bake for an additional 30 minutes uncovered at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), or until the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) on a meat thermometer.
Enjoy these Pioneer Woman freezer BBQ meatballs with mashed potatoes, rice, or your favorite side dishes for a comforting and easy meal any night of the week!
