I Tried 7 Frozen Meatball Brands, and the Winner Tastes Homemade

In high school, I worked at a pizza restaurant. While pizza was the focus, we also offered a small selection of pasta dishes, including spaghetti and meatballs. While the pasta itself came from a box, the meatballs were homemade. Making them was no small task. We went through a ridiculous amount of ground meat, bread, eggs, and spices—but they were a customer favorite. As a prep chef, I was often tasked with making them, which taught me a lot about meatballs. Because of all of that gained experience, I couldn’t resist accepting the call to test a variety of store-bought frozen options. Here’s what I tested and which meatball I’d happily eat again.

How I Chose the Meatballs

After perusing the internet and various grocery stores, we settled on seven popular meatball brands. We chose only those made with beef or a combination of beef, pork, and poultry. Plant-based or non-meat versions were excluded, as well as any sauced varieties. 

How I Tested the Meatballs

The meatballs were cooked in the oven according to the individual package directions and presented on numbered plates without labels to remove any bias. Testers were assembled and asked to provide commentary on texture and taste.

The highest rated meatball in our taste test was a unanimous choice, but ranking the others proved a bit more challenging. My team and I realized that what makes a meatball “good” is rather subjective. For example, I learned that texture mattered to me more than I thought. For other testers, size was important, and for others it was simply about flavor. So, as always, take these results with a grain of salt. Just because we didn’t like something doesn’t mean you will, too.

The Best Frozen Meatballs, Ranked

7th place: Good & Gather Beef Meatballs

Target’s Good & Gather brand does some things well, but its frozen meatballs aren’t one of them. All of my testers liked these meatballs the least, calling them “too soft” and “flavorless.” Our advice? Go somewhere else for meatballs.

6th place: Simek’s Angus Beef Meatballs

These were among the smallest meatballs we tested, and also among the saltiest. That combination didn’t appeal to my testers, which is why they landed in sixth place. Could they be saved with sauce? We tried it, but since many marinara sauces are also on the salty side, the meatballs just tasted saltier, not better.

5th place: Rosina Italian Style Meatballs

After his first bite, one of my testers proclaimed, “This tastes like sausage.” When I asked if that was a good or bad thing, he wrinkled his nose and confirmed it wasn’t good. These meatballs were also on the small side and, while flavorful (I recognized fennel and other sausage-forward seasoning), didn’t offer much meat flavor. My teen tester deemed them “mid,” and I agree.

4th place: Cooked Perfect Italian Style Meatballs

Cooked Perfect makes the meatiest, beefiest meatballs of all of those we tested. The texture leaned more towards that of a burger than a meatball, and so did the flavor. No one necessarily disliked it, but no one loved it either. 

3rd place: Trader Joe’s Meatballs Italian Style

This meatball was one of the two larger meatballs we tested. Some of my testers loved the two- to three-bite experience but were less thrilled about the spongy texture. The flavor was mild, but definitely one of the beefier-tasting meatballs on the list.

2nd place: Farm Rich Italian Style Meatballs

Farm Rich meatballs, like Trader Joe’s, are on the larger side. They have a similar spongy texture, but their flavor is mild, with some subtle herbs and seasonings. We agreed that even with the softer texture, these meatballs were a good option for both pasta dishes and even sub sandwiches.

1st place: Kirkland Signature Meatballs

If you have a Costco membership and you love meatballs, you’ll want to grab a bag on your next trip. Kirkland Signature, Costco’s house brand, makes the best frozen meatballs we tested. The size was perfect, with one tester commenting that they “weren’t too big, nor too small.” We also loved the caramelized exterior, which made them look homemade. They also had the best texture among the meatballs, with a perfect balance of tenderness and chew.