Making dinner can be a real hassle, especially on busy weeknights. That’s where the magic of freezer meals comes in! And who better to turn to for comforting, flavorful recipes than the Pioneer Woman herself, Ree Drummond? Her recipes are known for being hearty, family-friendly, and absolutely delicious. Today, we’re diving into a fantastic freezer meal recipe inspired by the Pioneer Woman: BBQ Meatballs. This recipe, adapted from her popular Comfort Meatballs, is perfect for making ahead and enjoying whenever you need a quick and satisfying meal. Get ready to transform your dinner routine with these incredibly tasty and convenient Pioneer Woman-inspired frozen BBQ meatballs!
Close-up shot of browned meatballs on a baking sheet, ready to be frozen, showcasing their texture and preparation for a Pioneer Woman freezer meal.
Pioneer Woman BBQ Meatballs Freezer Meal Recipe
This recipe is all about making your life easier without compromising on flavor. These BBQ meatballs are incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with savory goodness. Freezing them doesn’t affect their taste or texture, making them a perfect make-ahead meal solution. Plus, they pair wonderfully with mashed potatoes, rice, or even pasta for a versatile dinner option.
Meatballs Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 3/4 cup quick oats
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped onions
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup canola oil (or other cooking oil)
BBQ Sauce Ingredients:
- 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 (optional, for a little heat)
Instructions:
Meatball Assembly:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, quick oats, milk, egg, finely chopped onions (for the meatballs), salt, and ground black pepper.
- Use your hands to mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Shape the mixture into medium-small meatballs. For uniform size, you can use a medium cookie scoop.
- Place the meatballs on a cookie sheet that has been lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Put the cookie sheet with the meatballs in the freezer for about 10 minutes. This quick freeze helps them hold their shape.
- Remove the cookie sheet from the freezer and immediately dredge each meatball in flour, ensuring they are lightly coated. Place the floured meatballs back on the cookie sheet.
Browning the Meatballs:
- Heat 1/3 cup of canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of your skillet.
- Working in batches, brown the meatballs on all sides in the hot oil. You don’t need to cook them through at this stage, just brown them to develop flavor.
- Once browned, transfer the meatballs to a clean cookie sheet.
- Place the cookie sheet of browned meatballs back into the freezer until they are frozen solid. This will take a few hours.
- Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a gallon-size freezer bag. Label the bag with the name of the recipe, date, and cooking instructions. Store in the freezer.
BBQ Sauce Assembly:
- In a separate small bowl, combine all the BBQ sauce ingredients: ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, finely chopped onions (for the sauce), and cayenne pepper (if using).
- Whisk all the sauce ingredients together until well blended.
- Pour the BBQ sauce into a quart-size freezer bag. Seal the bag tightly, remove excess air, and lay it flat to freeze. Freezing it flat makes thawing faster.
Cooking Instructions (from Frozen):
- Thaw the BBQ sauce bag in the refrigerator overnight or for a few hours until it’s liquid. 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 the meatballs uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and pour the thawed BBQ sauce evenly over the meatballs. Use a spoon to gently toss the meatballs to coat them in the sauce.
- Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes, uncovered, or until the meatballs are cooked through and heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
- Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Pioneer Woman-inspired BBQ Meatballs!
A baking dish filled with Pioneer Woman BBQ meatballs covered in sauce, freshly baked and ready to serve, illustrating a comforting and easy freezer meal.
These Pioneer Woman Frozen Meals BBQ meatballs are a fantastic way to have a home-cooked meal ready even when you’re short on time. Enjoy the convenience and the incredible flavor of this freezer-friendly recipe!
