Easy 30 Minute Meatballs Subs (2024)

This meatball sandwich recipe takes 30 minutes from start to finish and will quickly become your family's favorite dinner! The secret ingredient that makes this meatball sub better than the rest is the garlic cheese bread base which prevents the bun from getting soggy!

You Will Love This

• This is hands down, THE BEST meatball sandwich you will ever have! The base of the sub is a garlic cheese bread hoagie with homemade garlic butter and a layer of melty provolone cheese - which also prevents the sub from getting soggy! There is nothing worse than a soggy meatball sub and the layer of cheese ensures that your meatballs stay saucy and your hoagie stays toasty!
• If you loved this meatball sandwich recipe, but sure to check out my Easy Ravioli Lasagna, my Italian Meatloaf Recipe, or my One Pot Sausage Penne Pasta.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Spaghetti Sauce - Use your family's favorite. We like Prego best.
• Dried Oregano - I like to jazz up store bought pasta sauce with some dried herbs. If you don't have dried oregano on hand, you can use dried thyme or dried rosemary in its place.
• Frozen Italian Meatballs - Again, you can totally make your own if you prefer, but there are plenty of delicious store bought meatballs out there now. I like to find one with a short ingredient list made with things that I recognize.
• Butter - I prefer to use unsalted butter for this recipe and then just add my own salt to taste. The butter is used as a base for a quick garlic butter mixture that coats the bread and adds another layer of flavor!
• Parsley - Fresh chopped parsley will give you the best flavor. You could try dried or dehydrated in place of the fresh.
• Garlic - I recommend using finely minced fresh garlic or a yummy store bought garlic paste.
• Hoagie Rolls - I like to use the hoagie rolls that come from the bakery section at the grocery store. You're looking for a long roll that has a bit of a crusty exterior with a tender inside. French bread is a bit too tough for this recipe and something like a hot dog but will be too soft.
• Provolone Cheese - I love the flavor that provolone cheese brings to these meatball sandwiches but you could use shredded mozzarella instead. As much as I love fresh mozzarella, I wouldn't recommend it for these subs as it will release too much moisture and potentially make them soggy.
• Grated Parmesan - I love to finish my meatball sub with a hearty sprinkle of grated Parmesan. You could also use shredded or shaved Parmesan instead.

Instructions

Simmer meatballs in spaghetti sauce and dried oregano.

While the meatballs are cooking, combine butter, garlic, parsley, and a couple large pinches of salt.

Slice hoagie rolls lengthwise down the top of the roll, cutting a "V" shape out of the top of each hoagie roll.

Spread the garlic butter inside the hoagies, Bake for 5 minutes to get them nice and toasty.

Then add slices of provolone and broil for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese melts.

Once the meatballs are warmed through, divide them evenly between the garlic cheese hoagie rolls.

Garnish with grated Parmesan and fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!

Tips

• If you don't have time to make your own garlic butter (although it really does take just a couple minutes) check your local grocery store! Some sell their own garlic butter. Whether you opt for homemade or store bought, just make sure you don't skip the garlic butter. It really adds such a delicious layer of flavor; it's like garlic cheese bread married Sunday night meatballs and lived happily ever after in this garlicky, toasty hoagie house.
• These meatballs sandwiches are perfect for a party! To serve these as more of an appetizer or finger food, just follow the recipe instructions, and then after you bake the hoagie rolls with the garlic butter and cheese, use a sharp serrated knife to cut the rolls into quarters. Then add one meatball to each quarter, garnish and serve. You're basically cutting each meatball sub into fourths, creating cute little meatballs sliders for an easier grab and go snack!

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Recipe

Quick and Easy Meatball Sandwich Recipe

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5 from 6 reviews

This meatball sandwich recipe takes 30 minutes from start to finish and will quickly become your family's favorite dinner! The secret ingredient that makes this meatball sub better than the rest is the garlic cheese bread base which prevents the bun from getting soggy!

• Author: Kylie
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 subs 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Stove Top
• Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

UnitsScale

• 24 oz. spaghetti sauce
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 24 oz. frozen Italian meatballs
• 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 1.5 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley + more for garnish
• 2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 6 hoagie rolls
• 8 oz. sliced provolone cheese
• ½ cup grated Parmesan

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Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Heat spaghetti sauce to a large pan along with oregano and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper, over medium heat.
3. Add frozen meatballs and cover. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and stir.
4. Reduce heat to medium low and gently simmer, covered, for about 25 minutes or until the meatballs are heated through.
5. Once the meatballs have about 10 minutes left, combine butter, garlic, parsley, and a couple pinches of salt until well combined.
6. Slice hoagie rolls lengthwise down the top of the roll, cutting a "V" shape out of the top of each hoagie roll.
7. Spread the cut side of the with garlic butter. and divide hoagies between a couple baking dishes.
8. Bake for 5 minutes to get them nice and toasty.
9. Then add slices of provolone and broil for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese melts.
10. Once the meatballs are warmed through, divide them evenly between the garlic cheese hoagie rolls.
11. Garnish with grated Parmesan and fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!

Equipment

9x13 baking dish

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measuring cup

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Notes

• If you don't have time to make your own garlic butter (although it really does take just a couple minutes) check your local grocery store! Some sell their own garlic butter. Whether you opt for homemade or store bought, just make sure you don't skip the garlic butter. It really adds such a delicious layer of flavor; it's like garlic cheese bread married Sunday night meatballs and lived happily ever after in this garlicky, toasty hoagie house.
• These meatballs sandwiches are perfect for a party! To serve these as more of an appetizer or finger food, just follow the recipe instructions, and then after you bake the hoagie rolls with the garlic butter and cheese, use a sharp serrated knife to cut the rolls into quarters. Then add one meatball to each quarter, garnish and serve. You're basically cutting each meatball sub into fourths, creating cute little meatballs sliders for an easier grab and go snack!

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 783
• Sugar: 15.5 g
• Sodium: 1795 mg
• Fat: 52.6 g
• Saturated Fat: 23.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 43.6 g
• Fiber: 6.3 g
• Protein: 34.8 g
• Cholesterol: 136.2 mg