Using frozen meatballs in spaghetti

[mariannas]

I just picked up some frozen meatballs from Trader Joes and I'm wondering what is the best way to add them to my spaghetti. Should I pan fry them first or just add them to the sauce as is and let them cook?

[Bacardi1]

When I buy commercial frozen turkey meatballs, I thaw them first in the microwave, then just toss them into pasta sauce to heat through. They're already cooked, so pan-frying is pretty much a waste of time & will most likely just make them tough.

[GH1618]

My frozen meatballs are fully cooked. I heat them in the oven in an iron skillet. If they were uncooked, I would do the same, but for a longer time. I wouldn't cook a meatball in the sauce, because it might be underdone.

[wyogal]

I do the same thing, my biggest cast iron frying pan in the oven. No splatters, they get a nice brown crust, then I drop them into the sauce to simmer and blend flavors.

[alkapal]

mariannas, how did you fix them? are they good? does tj have more than one type of meatball?

[digkv]

If they're cooked already just toss them in the sauce. Even then, it's awful pan frying frozen food; the moisture never goes away and it makes all sorts of messes.

[DaisyM]

Gosh, because they are already cooked I just have simmered them in sauce.

[malibumike]

Definately pan fry them, it seems to add a crust that flavors the sauce.

[alkapal]

i would just throw in the sauce.

[valerie]

Aren't they already cooked? I can see pan-frying them before they are cooked, but why would you need to pan-fry them if they are cooked already?

I always just heat cooked frozen meatballs in sauce.

[Kagey]

Dissenting opinion here: I never pan fry my meatballs. Sometimes I freeze my own, then add them to the sauce as it simmers.

[Alan408]

Recent discussion

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/453444

[mamamia]

Definitely pan fry them first. I've been known to throw them in from time to time - the kiddos love them and I just don't have the time to make them from scratch during the week.

Costco has pretty good ones as well.