Looking for an easy and budget-friendly dinner to make this fall? Try this cheesy meatball sub recipe for the perfect family meal on busy weeknights.
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I’m always on the lookout for easy, quick, and cheap meals that I can feed my family with little to no-fuss, especially after a busy day. And, these super simple meatball subs made with frozen meatballs are the perfect solution as they only require a few ingredients and take very little effort to prepare. Plus, my whole family loves them and that is a huge win (since I have some picky eaters in my home).
To make these cheesy meatball subs, just add some frozen meatballs to your favorite pasta sauce and cook until warmed through. Place in some inexpensive hot dogs buns (or sub rolls if you’d prefer), top with mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and a quick sprinkle of Italian seasoning. Then, stick them in the oven for a few minutes until the cheesy is nice and melty and you have a kid-approved dinner that your entire family will enjoy.
Why You Will Love These Meatball Subs
- Quick to make and budget-friendly with just a few inexpensive ingredients you can enjoy a stress-free dinner without spending hours in the kitchen after a busy day.
- Minimal prep so it’s the perfect shortcut dinner as there is no need to make homemade meatballs or sauce.
- Easy to customize with your favorite sauces, meatballs, cheese, and rolls.
- Great for leftovers as you make a lot at once and they reheat well so you can enjoy them for a simple lunch or dinner the next day.
Looking for more easy meatball recipes?
- 30 Easy Recipes Made with Frozen Meatballs
- Baked Ziti with Meatballs
- Easy Meatball Stroganoff With Buttered Garlic Noodles
- Shortcut Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Easy Meatball Sub Recipe
Ingredients for Meatball Subs
Skip takeout and try making these easy meatball subs at home. These cheesy meatball subs are made with a few simple ingredients and can be ready in just 30 minutes.
You will need:
- 24 frozen meatballs
- pasta sauce
- 8 pack of hot dog buns (or sub rolls if you’d prefer)
- mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Italian seasoning
How to Make Easy Meatball Subs
- Add the frozen meatballs and pasta sauce to a medium saucepan, stir to coat the meatballs and then cover and cook over low-medium heat for about 20 minutes until meatballs are warmed through, stirring occasionally.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and place the hot dog buns, opened on a baking sheet.
- Carefully add the meatballs to the hot dog buns (3 per bun), spoon some additional sauce over the top.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the rolls are lightly toasted.
Helpful Tips
- Don’t overfill the rolls with too many meatballs as they will be harder to eat. (We usually use 3 on hot dog buns or 4-5 on sub or deli rolls.)
- Also, don’t overfill with sauce as it can make the rolls soggy. If you want to ensure that your rolls stay crunchy, you can always toast them before adding your meatballs and sauce.
Variations
- Try these meatball subs with turkey, beef, or Italian-style meatballs.
- You can switch up the cheese or make them extra cheesy by adding some provolone.
- Brush the rolls with some garlic butter before adding meatballs and cheese for even more flavor.
Storage
- Wrap any of the leftover meatball subs in aluminum foil or place in an airtight container and store for up to 3 days in the fridge. They can be reheated in an oven or air fryer for a few minutes until heated through.
Easy Meatball Sub Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 frozen meatballs
- 24 ounce pasta sauce
- 8 hot dog buns
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- sprinkle Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs and pasta sauce to a medium saucepan, stir to coat the meatballs and then cover and cook over low-medium heat for about 20 minutes until meatballs are warmed through, stirring occasionally.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and place the hot dog buns, opened on a baking sheet.
- Carefully add the meatballs to the hot dog buns (3 per bun), spoon some additional sauce over the top.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the rolls are lightly toasted.
Notes
Helpful Tips
- Don't overfill the rolls with too many meatballs as they will be harder to eat. (We usually use 3 on hot dog buns or 4-5 on sub or deli rolls.)
- Also, don't overfill with sauce as it can make the rolls soggy. If you want to ensure that your rolls stay crunchy, you can always toast them before adding your meatballs and sauce.
Variations
- Try these meatball subs with turkey, beef, or Italian-style meatballs.
- You can switch up the cheese or make them extra cheesy by adding some provolone.
- Brush the rolls with some garlic butter before adding meatballs and cheese for even more flavor.
Storage
- Wrap any of the leftover meatball subs in aluminum foil or place in an airtight container and store for up to 3 days in the fridge. They can be reheated in an oven or air fryer for a few minutes until heated through.
Find More Shortcut Dinner Ideas:
- 12 Quick Shortcut Dinner Ideas for Busy Nights
- Shortcut Chicken Parmesan Bake
- Shortcut Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo Bake
- Shortcut Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry
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