There are some recipes every homemaker should keep in her freezer, and homemade meatballs are at the top of my list.

With just one afternoon of cooking, you can have the foundation for several comforting meals throughout the month. Instead of wondering what's for dinner, you'll already have the hardest part finished. All that's left is adding a sauce, a side dish, or your favorite pasta.

Homemade meatballs are inexpensive to make, freeze beautifully, and taste so much better than store-bought. I like to bake a large batch, let them cool completely, and freeze them in meal-sized portions. Whenever I need a quick supper, I simply pull out a bag and dinner comes together in minutes.

My All-Purpose Freezer Meatballs

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef

• 1/2 -1 pound ground pork/sausage

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

• ½-1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• ½ cup milk

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• 2 teaspoons onion powder

• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. In a large bowl, gently mix all of the ingredients until just combined. Avoid overmixing, which can make the meatballs tough.

4. Roll into meatballs about 1½ inches in diameter.

5. Arrange on the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.

6. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

7. Let cool completely before freezing.

Freezing Instructions

Place the cooled meatballs on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour, just until firm. Transfer them to freezer bags or containers, removing as much air as possible.

Label each bag with the date and the number of meatballs inside.

They'll keep well in the freezer for up to three months.

An alternative is to freeze the meatballs uncooked. After forming the meatballs, freeze them separately on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. When frozen, put in a labeled freezer bag until use.

Seven Easy Meals Using One Batch

1. Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs

Warm the meatballs in your favorite marinara sauce while the spaghetti cooks. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve with garlic bread and a green salad.

2. Meatball Subs

Place warmed meatballs and marinara inside toasted hoagie rolls. Top with mozzarella or provolone cheese and broil for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

3. Swedish Meatballs

Prepare a simple creamy beef gravy and stir in the meatballs until heated through. Serve over mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles with steamed green beans.

4. Italian Meatball Soup

Add meatballs to simmering beef broth along with carrots, celery, onions, diced tomatoes, spinach, and small pasta such as ditalini or orzo. It's hearty, comforting, and perfect for chilly evenings.

5. Meatball Alfredo

Heat the meatballs in Alfredo sauce and serve over fettuccine. Add steamed broccoli or peas for an easy complete meal.

6. Meatball Pizza/Calzone

Slice the meatballs and scatter them over homemade or store-bought pizza dough with marinara sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.

7. Easy Meatball Casserole

Combine cooked pasta, marinara sauce, meatballs, and mozzarella cheese in a baking dish. Bake until hot and bubbly for a comforting family meal.

More Ideas

Don't stop there! Homemade meatballs are also wonderful for:

• Barbecue meatball appetizers

• Meatball Stroganoff

• Rice bowls with brown gravy

• Meatball sliders

• Stuffed baked potatoes

• Italian meatball wraps

• Meatball calzones

Keeping a bag of homemade meatballs in the freezer is one of those simple habits that makes weeknight cooking so much easier. It's a little bit of work today that saves time and effort for weeks to come.

I hope you'll give this recipe a try and enjoy having homemade dinners ready whenever life gets busy.

Happy homemaking!