While spaghetti and meatballs are mostly an American dish, these round balls of beef are on menus worldwide. Considering the many uses and cuisines, it’s no surprise that the Costco Italian meatballs are one of the most popular items sold in the warehouse.
This product is easy to cook and, despite the Italian style in the name, versatile. But are they any good?
Let’s get to it.
What Kind Of Meatballs Does Costco Sell?
Costco sells several meatballs, including Amylu Teriyaki Pineapple Meatballs, Amylu Organic Paleo Meatballs, and Kirkland Signature Italian Style Meatballs. The Amylu products are refrigerated, and the Kirkland version is frozen. The store variety is very popular.
This article discusses Costco Italian meatballs.
Are Costco Italian Meatballs Pre-Cooked?
Like most prepacked meatballs, the Kirkland Signature variety is fully cooked. They are sold frozen, so you will want to heat them before serving. You don’t need to worry about a pink center, but it’s best practice to have the internal temperature reach 165 degrees.
What Are Kirkland Meatballs Made Of? Costco Italian Meatball Ingredients
Here are the ingredients.
Ground Beef, Water, Breadcrumbs (Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour, [Bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine, Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]. Salt, Leavening [Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Acid, Pyrophosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate], Vegetable Oil [Canola &/Or Sunflower],Dextrose, Yeast, Spice Extractives), Soy Protein Concentrate, Dextrose, Salt, Mustard, Spices, Dehydrated Green Bell Pepper, Dehydrated Red Bell Pepper, Parmesan cheese (Pasteurized Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), ROmano cheese From Cow’s Milk (Cultured Pasteurized Part-Skim Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Dehydrated Garlic, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Chili Pepper, Natural Flavors, Dehydrated Parsley.
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat
Are Costco Meatballs Good For You? Costco Meatballs Nutrition Info
Everyone has different nutrition goals. These Costco meatballs are high in saturated fat (7g per serving) and sodium (520 mg per serving).
Here’s the complete nutrition info.
Costco Italian Meatballs Review
You are probably wondering, are these Costco meatballs any good? We like them, but as someone that often makes meatballs from scratch, I don’t love them. They taste a little more processed than I like, but they make a great simple appetizer.
These meatballs are flavorful but kid-friendly; my little ones love them! They aren’t overly spicy. Although since there are a lot of flavors, keep the sauce simple.
We love these as appetizers since they are the perfect size and heat in minutes. Like the vast array of dips and other Costco appetizers, the Kirkland Signature meatballs are super convenient.
The meatballs are greasy once cooked. We recommend blotting them with paper towels to absorb extra oil before serving.
Costco Meatballs Price
A six-pound bag of Kirkland Signature Meatballs costs $24.99. Each contains approximately 140 small meatballs. This price is comparable to what you would pay at a grocery store.
How To Use Costco Meatballs
- Meatball Subs
- Pizza Topping
- With Pasta
- Shortcut to Stroganoff
- Grape Jelly Meatballs
How To Cook Costco Meatballs: 4 Ways
You can cook Kirkland Signature meatballs in the oven, air fryer, or microwave. You don’t need to defrost the meatballs before using any of these methods. They tend to emit grease after cooking; a quick roll on paper towels will absorb most of it.
How To Cook Frozen Costco Meatballs In The Oven
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Arrange frozen meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet. Heat for 20 minutes.
How To Cook Frozen Costco Meatballs In The Air Fryer
Coat meatballs lightly in cooking oil and preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees. Place them in a single layer in the basket and cook for 8-10 minutes.
How To Cook Frozen Costco Meatballs In The Microwave
Microwave ovens vary, but a general guideline is to cook the meatballs for 10 minutes at 50 percent power.
How To Steam Costco Meatballs
Place the meatballs in a single layer in a steamer basket over boiling water and cover. Cook until heated through
How To Cook Costco Meatballs In The Crockpot
You do not need to defrost meatballs before cooking them in the crockpot. Place the desired amount of meatballs in the slow cooker in one layer. Pour in sauce to cover the meat. Cook on low for four to six hours.
Just because these are “Italian-style” meatballs, there’s no need to stick with just that type of sauce (although we love Rao’s Marinara Sauce which is available at Costco). Any sauce will do; teriyaki, stroganoff, and BBQ are just a few options.
Whichever flavor you choose, cook the meatballs until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
How To Store Costco Meatballs
Frozen meatballs keep best in their original resealable bag. After cooking, place them in a plastic or glass container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Let your senses guide you; if something doesn’t look, taste, or smell right, it’s best to toss it.
Frozen meatballs are good for 3-4 months if properly stored.
Can You Refreeze Costco Meatballs
You could refreeze Costco meatballs if you handle them properly. Freezing doesn’t kill bacteria, but it does stop microbes from multiplying. If you have safely thawed or cooked frozen meatballs, there won’t be bacteria.
Do not leave the meatballs at room temperature for longer than two hours; heat them until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Be aware that refreezing frozen meatballs may slightly degrade the texture.
How Many Meatballs Per Person
The Costco Italian meatballs are 1 inch. The serving size is five meatballs. However, amounts vary based on how you are serving them.
As an appetizer, plan for four meatballs per person. If you are making a meatball main course, you will need more. There are approximately 23 meatballs in a pound and 140 total in the package.
One six-pound bag serves about 28 people as an appetizer.
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