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Meatball Marinara Sub

This meatball marinara sub is an easy meal to make when you want something satisfying, quick, and easy. We all need these simple recipes that the whole family loves in our recipe box.

This recipe is sure to become a family favorite because it’s easy, tasty and versatile.  The flavors in the marinara sauce and tender meatballs complement each other nicely. And at our house, everything just tastes better with melted cheese.

Meatballs in tomato sauce with melty cheese on a lightly toasted baguette. These hearty Meatball Sandwiches are a great meal to serve on a busy weeknight, game day, any time you need to feed a hungry crowd.  

Baked Meatball Sub Recipe

Yes, I said baked sub recipe. The meatballs are baked in a delicious spaghetti sauce topped with lots of melty cheese. With just a few easy steps, you can have this meal ready. My whole family loves this sandwich and so do I because it tastes great and is easy to make. Clean up is a breeze too.

Spoon this over toasted baguettes and you have yourself the best version of a Subway copycat sandwich ever. Yes, this is just as good if not better.

Meatball Marinara Sub
Meatball Marinara Sub

Meatball Marinara Sub Recipe

The Meatball Marinara Sub is a delicious sandwich that you can make at home in just minutes.

Guess what? No one will ever know that you used frozen meatballs.

If you have any sauce left in the baking pan, spoon that into bowls and use that as extra dipping sauce. Just Scrumptious!

If you happen to have the time, making your own homemade marinara sauce, and homemade meatballs is a delicious way to add the ingredients you prefer.

Frozen Meatballs and Marinara Sauce
Frozen Meatballs and Marinara Sauce

Can you cook frozen meatballs in sauce?

Yes, I just add the frozen meatballs to a baking dish and pour the pasta sauce over the top. When the flavorful meatballs cook, some of their juice leaks out and adds to the complex flavors of the sauce. This is such an easy way to cook meatballs. Perfect for those times when you did not plan ahead for the meal.

Make the Marinara Sauce and Meatballs in a Slow Cooker

Just add the frozen meatballs and sauce to a slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 1 ½ hours.

Assemble the sandwiches, top with cheese. You can pop in a medium heat oven for 5-10 minutes to crisp up your bun and melt the cheese. However, the saucy meatballs should be hot enough and you can just top with a few slices of cheese as the cheese melts within a few minutes.

Baked Meatballs with Sauce and Melty Cheese
Baked Meatballs with Sauce and Melty Cheese

What Kind of Cheese is Good for Meatball Subs?

To help make these subs taste more like a hearty comfort food type of meal, I like to use a good melting cheese like mozzarella cheese, provolone cheese, gouda cheese, or parmesan cheese.

Saucy and Cheesy Meatball Sub
Saucy and Cheesy Meatball Sub

What Kind of Sauce Goes on a Meatball Sub?

I like to use a jarred spaghetti sauce, one that is loaded with vegetables. However, whatever your favorite jar of sauce is can be used. I often have one in my pantry for quick meals like this. If you prefer to make your own marinara sauce you certainly can.  

How do you reheat a meatball sub in the oven?

Just reheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the sub on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake for 10-15 minutes. The bun will be toasty, and the meatballs and sauce will be hot.

Sub Sandwich Loaded with Lots of Meatballs
Sub Sandwich Loaded with Lots of Meatballs

What Toppings go on a meatball sub sandwich?

I prefer to keep things simple using just 5 ingredients. Juicy meatballs, flavorful tomato sauce, and shredded mozzarella cheese.

These sandwiches are perfect just the way they are with the meatballs, marinara, and cheese. However, some prefer other toppings. Here are a few for you to try.

  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Cucumber
  • Tomatoes
  • Pickles
  • Onions
  • Banana peppers
  • Jalapenos
  • Sriracha mayo sauce
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Italian seasoning
Party Appetizers
Party Appetizers

What to Serve with Homemade Meatball Subs

Make this a meal and serve these homemade meatball subs along side an easy and fresh large bowl of salad or coleslaw. Cilantro Lime Slaw, fresh fruit, Three Bean Salad, and Ramen Cabbage Salad.

Turn these Meatballs Into Sliders

It is so easy to place one or two meatballs on a small bun. It’s a good sandwich to serve as a hearty quick snack or party appetizer. Your guests will be full and satisfied.

Meatballs are a perfect finger food to serve at any party. They’re easy to eat and can be paired with almost any dipping sauce or side dish, making them an all around crowd pleaser. There is no one way that they should be served; they pair well with many different appetizers and sides, so there’s something for everyone.

Meatball Marinara Sub
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Meatball Marinara Sub

This meatball marinara sub is an easy meal to make when you want something satisfying, quick, and easy. We all need these simple recipes that the whole family loves in our recipe box. Meatballs in tomato sauce with melty cheese on a lightly toasted baguette. These hearty Meatball Marinara Sub Sandwiches are a great meal to serve on a busy weeknight, or for when you need to feed a hungry crowd. Baked Meatball Sub Recipe
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Sandwich
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: easy appetizer, easy meals, game day, meatballs, savory sandwich
Servings: 10 Servings
Calories: 558kcal

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Ingredients

  • 26 ounces frozen meatballs I used an Italian style made with beef, pork, and chicken
  • 45 ounces spaghetti sauce I used Ragu Chunky Sauce Garden Combination
  • 8 ounces Mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 10 Hoagie Rolls
  • 10 Tablespoons Butter

text ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the meatballs in a 9 X 13 baking dish and pour the marinara sauce over the top.
    26 ounces frozen meatballs, 45 ounces spaghetti sauce
  • Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and bake for 35 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling in an oven preheated to 375 degrees F.
    8 ounces Mozzarella cheese
  • While the meatballs are baking, cut the rolls almost in half lengthwise. Spread lots of butter to each roll spreading it on both halves. Place them on a baking sheet with the butter side up and bake for 15 minutes until they are lightly toasted.
    10 Hoagie Rolls, 10 Tablespoons Butter
  • To make the sandwiches, spoon meatballs in the center of the bun adding more sauce as needed.

Your Own Private Notes

Notes

If you have any sauce left in the baking pan, spoon that into bowls and use that as extra dipping sauce. Just Scrumptious!

How do you reheat a meatball sub in the oven?

Just repeat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the sub on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake for 15 minutes. The bun will be toasty, and the meatballs and sauce will be hot.

Turn these Into Sliders

It is so easy to place one or two meatballs on a small bun. Great to serve as a hearty quick snack or party appetizer.

Nutrition

Calories: 558kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1145mg | Potassium: 663mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 719IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 167mg | Iron: 13mg
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I hope that you liked this recipe for Italian Meatball subs. If you are looking for more ideas on what to make, here are a few other recipes that you may enjoy.

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