Skip Marinara: Give Frozen Meatballs 10x More Flavor With One Saucy Addition And A Few Staples

Frozen meatballs are so versatile. From sweet-and-sticky two-ingredient slow cooker meatballs to the classic way of piling them on top of spaghetti, you can't go wrong. There's another way to enjoy them, no marinara sauce required. All you'll need to get started is a jar of Alfredo sauce and a bag of frozen meatballs, plus staples like onion, garlic, and black pepper, to create flavor-loaded garlic parmesan meatballs. While garlic parmesan flavor is popularly associated with chicken wings, it's also excellent with any type of meatballs — you can use meatballs made with chicken, pork, beef, or any combination of the three. No matter which kind you pick, opting for Alfredo sauce and these pantry staples gives meatballs a cheesy richness and a savory, umami punch.

To get this meal started, you'll add your frozen meatballs to a pan with some butter or oil (go with a version that doesn't come with marinara or any other sauce — we think the Kirkland Signature meatballs at Costco are some of the best frozen meatballs in the game). Throw some flavor into the pan by adding garlic, onion, and black pepper. Once your garlic has cooked, the onions have softened, and the meatballs have browned nicely, top them off with the jarred Alfredo sauce. Of course, you can go the extra mile and make meatballs and Alfredo sauce from scratch, but using pre-made versions makes things so much more quick and convenient — they're basically shortcuts to deliciousness. Let's take a look at how you can enjoy every bite of your new take on a tried-and-true favorite.

Obviously, it makes sense to serve garlic parmesan meatballs on top of some fettuccine Alfredo. Top the dish off with freshly grated parmesan cheese and enjoy every savory bite (be sure to serve it with a slice or two of ultra flavorful garlic bread so you're able to soak up every drop of the sauce). Pasta dishes aren't your only way to enjoy these saucy meatballs, however. Sliders and subs work well too, creating the perfect way to make sure you don't miss a single drop of that Alfredo sauce.

If you're in the mood for something a little less carby, you have plenty of options still. Of course, you can enjoy these meatballs on their own — feel free to put them in a slow cooker for a gathering. They're also a good fit for a meatball bake. Put your sauced meatballs in a casserole dish with some ricotta cheese, top them off with mozzarella, provolone, and a little more parmesan for good measure, and bake until the cheese becomes nice and bubbly. This idea can also work well with spaghetti squash. Bake the squash, fill the hollowed-out center with the sauced meatballs and a little bit of fresh basil if you're feeling fancy, then broil it until it's melty. With so many ways to serve these, it's worth keeping a jar of Alfredo sauce in the pantry and a bag of frozen meatballs in the freezer so you can enjoy them whenever the mood strikes.