This oven bakedmeatball sandwich recipe is a perfect easy dinner idea for busy days. Also great for large groups, game day, or as an on-the-go meal. It’s one of our most popular posts – pinned over 1 million times!
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These sandwiches are not only incredibly simple to make, but they are total comfort food. The bread smells delicious as it gets toasted in the oven, the meatballs are warm and tender, and the gooey melted cheese might just be the best part! This dinner has been a lifesaver in our home for years.
The ingredients are simple — you will need meatballs, pasta sauce,mozzarellacheese, and sandwich rolls.
Many times I like to make my popularBaked Turkey Meatballs with Spinachfor our Meatball Sandwiches, but I also make them with frozen, pre-made meatballs from the freezer section of my grocery store. I do that A LOT. So, if you want easy, go with the frozen ones. If you have more time, go for homemade meatballs.
Ingredients needed for Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches:
Get your rolls ready. You want rolls that aren’t cut all the way through, they should be connected one side so that they will cradle the ingredients. I usually buy rolls that are already cut like this, or rolls that aren’t cut at all and I cut them myself.
Place your meatballs in a big pot and cover them with your pasta sauce.
If you are using frozen meatballs, place them frozen into the pot — no need to cook them in advance. If you are using homemade ones, put them into the pot after cooking them.
Cover your meatballs with sauce (enough that all the meatballs are covered). You can use homemade pasta sauce or jarred sauce.Gently fold the meatballs with the sauce, this isn’t the time forvigorousstirring or you’ll destroy the meatballs. Heat them on low-medium, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are heated thoroughly.
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Take each roll and fill with as many meatballs as you can fit. I usually do this with a slotted spoon and I avoid scooping the sauce as much as possible. I can generally get 4-5 meatballs into one sandwich roll, but this will vary depending on the size of roll you use.
Top the meatballs with a bit of pasta sauce from your pot. Place your meatball sandwiches, as you fill them, directly on the baking sheet.
Now, top each sandwich with shredded mozzarella cheese. My favorite part…CHEESE.
If you are serving these during a party, game night, or if these are being packed for meals away from home, it might be helpful to wrap each sandwich individually. I liked to do this with foil, before baking. Here’s how:
Tear off one piece of foil for each sandwich (big enough to wrap the sandwich)
With one piece of foil, spray the top of the foil with cooking spray.
Place a sandwich roll in the middle and on top of the cooking sprayed side of the foil.
Fill with meatballs and pasta sauce. Top with cheese.
Fold one large corner of the foil completely over the top of the sandwich. Fold the left and the right sides of the foil over the sandwich. Roll the sandwich towards the top part of the foil so the entire sandwich is secured in the foil.
Bake in a 400 degree F oven for approximately 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted.
Cooked Meatballs (your favorite recipe or frozen, pre-made meatballs)
Pasta Sauce (homemade or jarred)
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Instructions
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place your frozen cooked meatballs or homemade cooked meatballs in a large pot. Cover with your pasta sauce. Gently fold the meatballs with the sauce, Heat the meatballs and sauce on low-medium, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are heated thoroughly.
Fill a roll with as many meatballs as you can fit (usually 4-5 meatballs, depends on size of meatballs and the size of the roll). Top with more pasta sauce from your pot. Place filled sandwich rolls closely on baking sheet. Top each sandwich with shredded mozzarella cheese.
The best side dishes to serve with meatball subs are onion rings, french fries, kale chips, cheese curds, crispy green beans, blooming onion, coleslaw, mac and cheese, Caesar salad, pickles and stuffed mushrooms, antipasto salad, and Italian pasta salad.
You should reheat meatballs subs in the oven or air fryer to keep the bread toasty. To reheat four meatball subs in the oven in a baking dish, reheat them at 400F, covered in aluminum foil for 15 minutes and then remove the foil for the last 5 minutes.
Finally, toast the rolls to prevent them from getting too soggy with sauce. Of course, some crispy-gone-soggy bites are welcome, just as the cheese pulls, sauce drips and messy fingers are, too.
If you are trying to limit carbs, you can have meatballs with tomato sauce and cheese and Zoodles—made with Zucchini and a spiralizer, or Shirataki noodles, which have zero carbs. Or, any kind of roasted or sautéed low-starch veggies, like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach…
Although meatballs cooked in tomato sauce and served with pasta is likely what most Americans first imagine when they think of them, this meatball preparation is virtually nonexistent in Italy. In most regions, meatballs are just fried and eaten as is—enjoyed as a snack or served as a second course without any sauce.
In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, these meatballs should be fully cooked through and evenly browned in about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the meatball should read at least 165 degrees F.
What is the best way to reheat and keep the meatballs warm throughout the party? Editor: Personally, I'd warm the meatballs at 300°F on a baking sheet or casserole dish until warmed through. To keep them warm, your best bet is probably leaving them in a slow-cooker on the “warm” setting.
If you are reheating meatballs that have been stored in tomato sauce, arrange them in a baking dish. Make sure they are in a single layer. Cover the meatballs in tomato sauce and cover tightly with some heavy-duty aluminum foil. Now you want to put the baking dish in the oven and bake meatballs for about 40 minutes.
As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.
Marinara- Our favorite jarred sauce is hands down Rao's. Nothing compares in my opinion. We usually buy the giant jars from Costco anyway, but of course any marinara you like will work. Provolone cheese- You could use provolone or fresh mozzarella here.
If poultry is your meat of choice, pay extra attention not to overcook the meatballs, as they can turn rubbery very easily. Fry in plenty of oil or lard to keep them moist and cook them slowly on low heat after they are seared.
Mixed the ground beef with spices like cumin and Cajun seasoning. Bake the meatballs and put it all on a soft sandwich bun. The sauce for this meatball sub is mayo mixed with more Cajun seasoning and hot sauce.
A meatball sub is a sandwich made of a hoagie roll, meatballs, and cheese. Meatballs have always been a big part of Italian-American cuisine, so when sub sandwiches took over the scene, a cheese and meatball sub was a natural combo. The sandwich is called a sub because of the shape of the hoagie.
Editor: I think your instincts are right on here — two sides for smaller meatballs and four for larger ones. But my favorite way to brown meatballs is actually in the oven, not on the stove!
When it comes to Italian food, there is no such thing as too much cheese -- especially Parmesan. The same goes for saucy meatball subs. To intensify the flavor of marinara, hefty meatballs, and cheese, a side of Whisps Parmesan Cheese Crisps is mandatory.
Traditional Swedish way: Do not make the cream sauce at all. Serve meatballs over plain or stewed macaroni, plain or mashed potatoes, and lingenberry jam (optional)
Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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