Trader Joe's Party Size Mini Meatballs Review: Ball-istic Flavor

Review

Trader Joe’s Party Size Mini Meatballs come in a 20-ounce bag, offering approximately 42 fully cooked, frozen meatballs. Made from a blend of beef and pork, these meatballs are seasoned with a mix of spices, including onion and garlic powders, nutmeg, and allspice. The ingredients also include breadcrumbs and textured soy flour, contributing to their tender texture.

Right out of the bag, these mini meatballs look like meatball perfection: uniform, golden-brown, and just the right size to pop in your mouth. They’re the kind of thing you’d pile on a platter with toothpicks for a party or toss into a simmering sauce on a busy weeknight.

Cooking these is a breeze. I tried them three ways—microwave, stovetop, and oven—because, hey, research is important.

First up: microwave. Two minutes and done. Honestly, for a quick snack, it’s shockingly decent. They came out hot and surprisingly moist, though the flavor was a little muted without sauce.

Next, stovetop. I tossed them in a pan with some marinara sauce, let them heat through, and gave them a little time to soak up the flavors. This method was my favorite. The sauce gave the meatballs a welcome boost of flavor, and they stayed juicy and tender.

Finally, oven. I baked them at 375°F for about 20 minutes. They held their shape nicely but did dry out a bit. Still good for parties if you’re serving them with dipping sauce, but I’d skip this method for a main course.

Flavor-wise, these meatballs are mild. They’re not seasoned to knock your socks off, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Think of them as a blank canvas, perfect for dressing up with your favorite sauce or spices. They have that classic meatloaf-y vibe: meaty, a touch of sweetness from the breadcrumbs, and a soft, tender texture that makes them easy to bite into.

What I love most about these meatballs is their versatility. Throw them in pasta, skewer them on toothpicks with BBQ sauce, toss them in a salad, or sandwich them between two slider buns with melty cheese. They’re basically dinner insurance, ready to step up on those nights when cooking feels like a chore.

At $4.99 for the bag, they’re a pretty good deal, especially considering how many you get. Just don’t expect them to blow your mind straight out of the bag; they need a little sauce or seasoning love to really shine.