These easy meatball subs using frozen meatballs are a quick shortcut dinner when you want something hearty without a lot of prep work. Frozen meatballs simmer in marinara sauce, then get tucked into toasted rolls and topped with plenty of melty cheese.
It’s a simple, family-friendly dinner that feels like comfort food but comes together in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Why This Recipe Works
I'm on team shortcut because life moves fast! Here's how to make this sandwich recipe in 30 minutes.
- Convenient - This recipe uses store-bought frozen meatballs and jarred marinara sauce, making dinner quick and easy.
- Comfort food - These meatball subs are warm, saucy, cheesy, and incredibly satisfying. They're filling enough for hungry teenagers, too.
- Family friendly - Classic Italian flavors make this a dinner approachable and something the whole family will happily eat, even picky eaters.
For another easy meal on a bun, see my air fryer Italian sausage sandwiches.
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🛒 Ingredients
Here's what you'll need from the pantry and fridge.
- Frozen cooked meatballs - Use plain or Italian-style frozen meatballs from the grocery store. Most frozen meatballs are made with beef, pork, or a blend of both, but turkey meatballs also work well.
- Marinara sauce - Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce. Pasta sauce works too and may include additional herbs and seasonings.
- Rolls - French rolls or hoagie buns work best. Slightly crusty bread helps prevent the sandwiches from getting soggy.
- Italian seasoning - Adds extra flavor to the marinara. Italian seasoning is typically a blend of basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. If you don’t have any Italian seasoning in your pantry, try my homemade Italian seasoning recipe.
See recipe card below for specific quantities and ingredient list.
How Many Meatballs Per Sub?
Plan on about 5–6 frozen meatballs per sandwich, depending on the size of your rolls and the meatballs.
If you're serving a crowd, one pound of frozen meatballs typically makes 4–6 meatball subs.
🥣 How to make meatball subs
- Step 1: Simmer the meatballs. Add frozen meatballs and marinara sauce to a skillet and simmer until heated through.
- Step 2: Prepare the rolls. Slice rolls and hollow slightly to create space for the meatballs.
- Step 3: Fill the sandwiches. Add meatballs and sauce to the rolls.
- Step 4: Add cheese. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Step 5: Bake. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
📋 Variations
- Add garlic to the butter when brushing the insides of the buns
- Swap the mozzarella for provolone cheese
- Add sautéed onions or peppers to the sandwiches for extra flavor.
Make Ahead Meatball Subs
Assemble subs completely, then cover and refrigerate.
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Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes. If the rolls seem like they're drying out, tent with foil the first 10 minutes of cooking.
Tips for success
- Taste your sauce when cooking. If it tastes flat, add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of Worcestershire.
- If the sauce is too acidic, add a pinch of sugar. If it needs a little more pizazz, add more Italian seasoning.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Add meatballs, sauce and seasonings to a slow cooker and cook on low for 3 hours. Assemble and bake as directed.
Air Fryer Option
Toast the buns:
Brush the inside of the rolls with melted butter and place them in the air fryer. Cook at 350°F for 2–3 minutes, until lightly toasted.
Heat the assembled subs:
After filling the rolls with meatballs, sauce, and cheese, place the sandwiches in the air fryer and cook at 350°F for 3–5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sandwiches are heated through.
Air fryer times may vary depending on the size of your air fryer basket.
What to Serve With Meatball Subs
These hearty sandwiches pair well with simple sides like:
- potato chips
- pasta salad
- Caesar salad
- tossed green salad
- roasted vegetables
For a bigger meal, serve with garlic bread or roasted potatoes.
Can I use frozen meatballs for meatball subs?
Yes! Frozen fully cooked meatballs are a great shortcut for making meatball subs. Simply simmer them in marinara sauce until heated through, then assemble the sandwiches.
How do you keep meatball subs from getting soggy?
Toasting the rolls before adding the meatballs helps keep the bread from soaking up too much sauce.
Can I make meatball subs ahead of time?
Yes. Assemble the sandwiches, cover, and refrigerate. Bake at 375°F for about 15 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melted.
If you try these meatball subs, I’d love to hear how they turned out! Leave a star rating and a quick comment below.
More Weeknight Dinner Recipes
Recipe
Easy Meatball Subs (Using Frozen Meatballs)
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Heat meatballs and sauce. Add frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes (if using) to a large skillet over medium heat.
- Simmer. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid and simmer 3–5 minutes more if the sauce needs to thicken.
- Prepare the rolls. Slice rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Remove a small amount of the inside bread to create a well for the meatballs.
- Toast the rolls. Brush the inside of the rolls with melted butter and toast in the oven for about 5 minutes.
- Assemble the subs. Place 5–6 meatballs in each roll. Spoon a little extra sauce over the meatballs and top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake. Place sandwiches on a baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges of the rolls are lightly crisp.
- Serve. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and let rest for 2–3 minutes before serving.
