Costco Frozen Beef Meatballs Review
Author’s Note: As always, this is not a paid review. I have no affiliation with Costco. Mmmkay.
Bite into the meat cloud.
Welp. These have a much more delicious flavor than I expected. But I had low expectations. Frozen meatballs aren’t high on my list of stellar experiences.
What do they taste like?
It’s a strong savory taste. The ingredients list mustard, garlic, parsley, chili pepper, “spices,” and two kinds of bell peppers. The combination is delicious. Very gentle peppery kick. And the cheese flavor is distinct: the aged twang of parmesan and romano.
There is added “natural flavor” that kicks up the taste in a slightly unnatural-tasting way. More about that later.
The meat is salty enough to pop, but not overwhelm. I truly felt these meatballs did not need any additional salt, pepper, or seasonings to taste great. And I rarely say that.
Do they have a weird texture?
The texture is soft and smooth. And almost “fluffy.” There are a lot of breadcrumbs here. Less meat, and more fillers. And that’s probably why a serving only has 12 grams of protein. If you’re trying to hit your protein goals for the day, you’ll be wanting more than 5 meatballs, that’s for sure.
I have mixed feelings about the soft texture. I don’t hate it, but it’s not my favorite. It doesn’t feel like biting into meat as much as meat-fluff. A meat cloud? If you prefer a firmer meatball without fillers, you might like my review of Amylu Chicken Meatballs.
How big are the meatballs?
These are small-ish meatballs. Not tiny. But suitable for party food, if that’s your jam. They’re roughly the size of a golf ball. They work fine for spaghetti and meatballs, too.
Are they greasy?
They do release some oil. I simmered mine in Rao’s marinara sauce, and there were some small oil puddles forming on top. But, by the time it was done, the extra oil had incorporated into the sauce and wasn’t egregiously “oily.”
Shrinkage
The frozen meatballs are already cooked, and have a thin, browned crust. When I make homemade meatballs, mine shrink considerably. Costco’s don’t change much in size. They were almost the same size after simmering for 2 hours in sauce as when they started.
Ingredients in Costco Frozen Kirkland Beef Meatballs
Here is my best attempt at typing out the ingredients, from the label:
- Ground Beef
- Water
- Breadcrumbs (Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour [Bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Salt, Leavening [Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate], Vegetable Oil [Canola and/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
I’m not the food police, but here are some observations from this ingredient list:
According to Healthline, “natural flavors don’t appear to be any healthier than artificial flavors.” Bummer.
I’m not thrilled by hydrolyzed soy protein and soy protein concentrate. Although it’s a complex and evolving topic, according to Frontiers in Nutrition, soy protein products are classified as “group 4, ultra-processed foods (UPFs).” UC Davis describes Category 4 Ultra Processed Foods as “industrial formulations made from food components. They include additives that are rare or nonexistent in culinary use, like emulsifiers, hydrogenated oils, synthetic colors, texture improvers or flavor enhancers.” Mmph.
Here is some information on Dextrose from WebMD.
Nutrition Facts
A serving is 5 meatballs and contains 230 calories. You get 18 grams of fat (7 grams saturated fat and 1 gram trans fat) and only 12 grams of protein. There are 5 grams of total carbohydrates, of which 1 gram is fiber and 1 gram is sugar (all of which is “added sugars”). There’s 23% your daily value of sodium, and a respectable 10% of iron.
Price and Servings
The six-pound bag cost $19.99 at my local Costco. Since there are 28 servings per bag, each serving would cost a frugal 71 cents. There are 140 meatballs per bag, so each meatball costs 14 cents. Per pound, these meatballs are $3.33.
This is a “Kirkland Signature” (Costco store-brand) product, and the item # is: 88744.
Shelf Life
The “best by” date on my frozen bag allowed approximately a year to consume.
Cooking Instructions
Technically, these meatballs are already cooked. So, you’re just re-heating them. Here is a simplified version of the “Heating Instructions” from the label:
- Steamer: steam in double boiler until warmed
- Microwave: cook 20 meatballs at 50% power for 10 minutes
- Oven: 375 for 20 minutes on a baking sheet
I did none of these things. I just added mine to a large skillet with sauce and simmered. Same with a crock pot.
Dramatic Conclusion
Although I relished the flavor of these meatballs, I am not excited about the ingredients or nutrition profile. I would buy these again for a party, but I wouldn’t want to eat them regularly as sustenance. Not even for 71 cents per serving. I am not that type of frugal.
On my super-scientific “Awesome-o-Meter,” these score a “Maybe.”
The End.
More Reviews You Might Like (or Hate)
Check out these other meaty reviews I’ve written. Or don’t. That’s fine, too:
