‘Twas the month before Christmas, and all through the kitchen, chefs were frantically working, their stress levels twitchin’. The bookings were filling with holiday cheer, while cooks wondered how they'd craft menus so dear. But then from the pantry, a hero arose — the meatball, so simple, a favorite everyone knows!
For breakfast, for dinner, for catering delights, this versatile dish saved all the busy nights. With labor-saving ease and flavors so fine, the meatball became this year’s holiday star to shine.
From Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve, the industry balances large parties, high demand, and the need for diverse menu offerings. With excitement building to deliver trendy dishes, easy-to-prep options are essential for boarding the holiday train.
Fa-La-La-Labor Saving!
Channel your inner Clark Griswold and deck those menus with holiday flavor. Meatballs take center stage like a holiday light show — they’re quick, easy to serve, and are endlessly customizable to brighten up a variety of festive dishes. You can experiment with different sauces, toppings, and sides to create signature dishes and wow your guests.
From casual catering spreads to elegant entrées, meatballs offer something for every occasion while keeping costs low and remaining as tasty as ever. Pre-prepared bite-size meatballs offer portion control, minimize food waste, and ease labor costs as fewer hands are needed for preparation.
In the Fro-zone
According to research, beef and pork meatballs are the most popular variety in the Pizza and Italian segment, making up almost 40% of that category. Roma® Meatballs, Gourmet Beef and Pork blend, are ready in minutes and come in uniform shape, size, and weight — just heat and serve. These frozen meatballs are the key to streamlining operations while maintaining high quality taste.
The pros for going with frozen? They have a longer shelf life — stock up without worrying about spoilage, saving you money down the line. With consistent quality and ease of use, selecting meatballs as your protein can help ensure that each dish maintains a high standard while alleviating Grinch-level chaos back of house.
Meat Me Under the Mistletoe
Bah Humbug! For appetizers and entrées, presentation is the key to elevating this humble ingredient. For meatball appetizers, consider a Meatballs with Sauces Trio, Cranberry and Chili Glazed Meatballs, or for an added crunch, a Meatball Olive Tapenade Crostini. Pair them with festive sauces or serve them on bite-sized toasts to make even the most Scrooge-like diners happy.
Partner meatballs alongside their most traditional side companion — pasta! As an appetizer or entrée, depending on shell size, Roma Stuffed Shells can be plated with a colorful sauce, a few meatballs, and garnished with fresh basil and Parmesan. Look to serve the stuffed shells and meatball combo with a creamy Alfredo sauce to enhance the richness, a béchamel sauce to add a smooth creamy layer that accents the filling, or a pesto sauce that will add holiday vibrance and a fresh kick to go along with the Florentine-filled spinach and cheese flavors.
Research indicates that ravioli makes up about 50% of all frozen-filled pasta in the Italian market. Piancone® Jumbo Round Gourmet Cheese Ravioli, made with Bacio® cheese, can be featured in a variety of settings — from a light lunch offering with an olive oil drizzle to a heartier dinner entrée that features rich sauces, blending creative flavor combinations and thoughtful plating ensures that even frozen, ready-made items look and taste gourmet. Portion with meatballs for a dish so delicious it would make even Buddy the Elf put down his syrup and dig in!
Cater with Cheer
Like Santa’s sleigh taking off on Christmas Eve, catering events skyrocket during the holidays — having a go-to menu item that works for a variety of occasions is great for consistency and provides easy preparation. The meatball paves the way like the bright light of Rudolph’s nose. Their versatility allows you to dress them up or down, depending on the event. For more casual gatherings, offer them as part of a shareable appetizer platter, and for higher-end catering events or private parties, transform your meatballs into elegant entrée options.
For catering events, frozen provides convenience, flexibility, and is perfect for large orders, allowing you to serve quality dishes without the labor-intensive effort of hand-making everything from scratch. So, as you prepare to deck the halls and serve holiday cheer, remember that with the help of meatballs, your kitchen will run as smoothly as Santa’s workshop, ensuring that this season’s gatherings are as magical as the North Pole.
