Meatball Subs
These meatball subs are made with frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, toasted garlic butter hoagie buns, and shredded mozzarella cheese. They make an easy weeknight meal.
I can’t say enough good things about these meatball subs. Not only is this recipe incredibly easy to make, but it’s also hearty and filling.
I use toasted garlic butter hoagie rolls, frozen meatballs, and a jar of marinara sauce. Then, the subs get topped with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese and popped in the oven until the cheese is melted and gooey.
That’s it! Dinner is done, and it only takes about 30 minutes.
You may also like our one pot meatballs and rice or easy meatloaf if you’re looking for more easy dinner ideas.
Keep the Bread from Getting Soggy
If there’s one thing that can ruin a burger or sandwich, it’s soggy bread. These meatball subs are no different.
That’s why I like to use hoagie buns instead of hot dog buns. They’re sturdier, hold more filling, and don’t fall apart quite as fast.
The garlic butter helps, too. Spread it inside the buns, then toast them before adding the meatballs and sauce. It gives the bread a little structure and adds flavor, so the sandwich tastes better and holds together longer.
Meatball Sub Ingredients
This recipe only uses a handful of ingredients, so use ones you already like.
For the sauce, grab your favorite marinara. It’s one of the main flavors in the sandwich, so this probably isn’t the time to try something new.
Grab a bag of frozen meatballs from the freezer section of the grocery store. Original, homestyle, and Italian all work.
For the buns, hoagie rolls are my favorite. Hot dog buns will work in a pinch, but they’re softer and won’t hold as many meatballs.
The garlic butter is made with softened butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. It’s simple, but it adds a lot more flavor than leaving the bread plain.
I use mozzarella shredded off the block because it melts better than pre-shredded cheese. Provolone would also work if you prefer sliced cheese. If you use pre-shredded cheese, my favorite is Kraft Creamy Melt Shredded Mozzarella.
How to Make Meatball Subs with Frozen Meatballs
Add the marinara sauce and frozen meatballs to a large pan. Let them simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the meatballs are heated through.
While the meatballs cook, mix the softened butter with the garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
Split the hoagie buns lengthwise, but don’t cut all the way through. Leave the bottom attached so the meatballs and sauce don’t slide out the bottom.
Spread the garlic butter on the inside of each bun, then place the buns on a baking sheet. Broil them for 2 to 3 minutes, just until they start to toast and the butter melts.
Keep an eye on them. Bread can go from toasted to burnt pretty fast under the broiler.
Remove the buns from the oven, then divide the meatballs between them. Add several spoonfuls of marinara sauce over the meatballs, then top with shredded mozzarella.
The number of meatballs per sub will depend on the size of your meatballs and buns. Some frozen meatballs are small, and others are pretty large. Add as many or as few as you want, and cut larger meatballs in half if they fit better that way.
Return the subs to the oven at 300°F for another 2 to 3 minutes, just until the cheese melts.
Serve them immediately while the buns are still toasted and the cheese is warm.
You can also make the meatballs and sauce in the slow cooker if that works better for your schedule. Add the marinara and frozen meatballs to the slow cooker, then cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours or on HIGH for about 1 ½ hours.
You’ll need to stir the sauce every 30 minutes or so to make sure it doesn’t burn. The garlic butter and toasted buns still need to be done separately.
What to Serve with Meatball Subs
These meatball subs are filling, so I usually keep the sides simple. Roasted broccoli is great if you want a vegetable side that doesn’t take long.
Broccoli bacon salad works well if you want something cold and crunchy with the hot sandwiches. For a potato side, ranch potatoes or potato chips both work well.
How to Store and Reheat Meatball Subs
If you have leftovers, wrap the meatball subs in foil or place them in an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
To reheat, wrap the sandwiches in aluminum foil if they aren’t already wrapped, and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
If you know you’ll have leftovers, store the meatballs and sauce separately from the buns when possible. Then toast fresh buns and assemble the subs when you’re ready to eat.
Ingredients
- 24 ounces marinara sauce, 1 jar
- 16 ounces frozen meatballs
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 hoagie buns
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded off the block
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Instructions
- In a large pan, simmer the marinara and frozen meatballs for 10 to 15 minutes. While the meatballs simmer, make the garlic butter.24 ounces marinara sauce16 ounces frozen meatballs
- In a small bowl, combine softened butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Split the hoagie buns in half lengthwise, leaving them attached at the bottom. Apply the garlic butter to the inside of the buns.4 tablespoons unsalted butter½ teaspoon garlic powder¼ teaspoon onion powder¼ teaspoon salt4 hoagie buns
- Place the buns on a baking sheet or in a pan, and broil them for 2 to 3 minutes until they begin to toast and the butter begins to melt.
- Remove the buns from the oven and divide the meatballs between each of the buns with several spoons of marinara sauce. Top with shredded cheese, and return to the broiler.1 cup mozzarella cheese
- Bake at 300°F for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve hot.
Very easy and tasty. Just toasted mine in my air fryer.
Thanks so much, Pat! We’re glad you enjoyed the sandwiches. Have a fantastic week! 🙂
Honestly I generally hate meatballs but I think this recipe may have won me over. I definitely need to try this for dinner with the hubby one night.
You’re absolutely right! This is a great option for families-it offers the best of everything☺️ Yum!