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.
Bake in an oven at 400 degrees until cheese is melted, hot, and bubbly! Serve with a salad or chips for a super easy meal.
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.
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.
Crusty bread, marinara and mozzerella cheese. Buttered egg noodles (or spaetzle) or alternately buttered and parsleyed boiled potatoes, steamed green beans. Or go with mashed potatoes, green peas and lingonberry jam. Rice and tomato sauce, white asparagus.
You can use any vegetables you have on hand, but in this recipe, they use broccoli, red peppers, and sweet potatoes. If you have the time to prepare these, you won't regret it. Jalapenos pair delightfully with meatball subs, and so why not serve them on the side?
Slice the sub buns in half, then spread some spicy mayo on each. Add the meatballs, then bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and add cucumbers, carrots, green onion, basil and a drizzle more sauce. Enjoy!
For utmost flavor, spread garlic butter on the buns and toast them under the broiler for a few minutes before filling. This easy step adds so much to your sandwiches. Fill buns. Place the meatballs with some sauce in the bun, cover with lots of shredded cheese.
If the meatballs are packed together too tightly, they will cook up rubbery, chewy, and tough. If the meatballs are different sizes, they will cook unevenly. The smaller meatballs may end up dry and overcooked, while the larger ones may end up undercooked.
Mashed potatoes are a classic pairing for meatballs, like these Grape Jelly Meatballs. Photo by Jennifer Stevens. For a change from the usual plain rice or noodles, give this rice pilaf a try on the side of some Lamb Meatballs and Sauce. "On the surface it doesn't seem like this would be anything special...but it was.
If you are making 1-ounce meatballs for a main course you should make 6 meatballs per person. If you have some big eaters at the party I suggest making 6-10 bite sized meatballs per person. As you can see, the number of meatballs you need depends on their size.
French fries or onion rings are a favorite of many. A simple green salad dressed with Italian Balsamic Vinaigrette. Easy Broccoli Casserole. 10-Minute Creamy Cucumber Salad.
Comes with a generous helping of Italian-style meatballs bathed in our own tangy tomato marinara sauce (our founder's mom's secret recipe) served hot with your choice of fresh vegetables and condiments on freshly baked bread.
I love to add sautéed veggies to these meatballs subs. You can use peppers and onions or even mushrooms to add some extra flavor. I also like to add some wilted arugula for a peppery bite as well. Pickled veggies like giardiniera or jalapeno are a great way to add a little zing as well!
The best side dishes to serve with Italian beef sandwiches are French fries, coleslaw, grilled vegetables, Caprese salad, blooming onion, stuffed mushrooms, cheeseburger macaroni, Tabasco, tomato bruschetta, honey glazed carrots, crispy green beans, wedge salad, zucchini fritters, cauliflower pizza bowl, and potato ...
Potato chips, pickles, coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, pretzels, a side garden salad, Doritos, soup, just the name a few of my favorites. Enjoy! Originally Answered: What sides to serve with sandwiches? Depending upon which sandwich, coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad are solid choices.
Meatball Sub Sandwiches feature homemade meatballs covered in tangy marinara sauce, topped with gooey fontina (or mozzarella cheese) AND provolone cheese, all loaded on a hoagie roll! Top with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor. And serve with plenty of napkins!
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Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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