Just toss together these 5-ingredient meatball subs with frozen meatballs for an easy dinner in the oven or Crock Pot — with just 5 minutes of prep!
Table of Contents
If you have extra frozen meatballs on hand, try this slow cooker meatball stroganoff, this dump-and-bake meatball casserole, these sweet and sour meatballs, and this dump-and-bake Italian meatball and rice casserole, too!
Sooo easy and so delicious! This is like a better version of Subway’s meatball subs!
– Kristy
Frozen Meatball Subs in the Oven or Crock Pot Make Weeknight Dinners Easy
This hardly qualifies as a “recipe,” because it’s really just a simple idea. My frozen meatball subs are a “mom hack” that helps get dinner on the table, even when you don’t feel like cooking!
You guys regularly request recipes that serve just one or two people, and this just happens to be one of those flexible options. You can make one meatball sub for a single diner, or you can prepare multiple trays of meatball subs to feed a crowd on game days! Just thaw as many meatballs and hoagie rolls as you like, and leave the rest in the freezer for another meal. They’re truly the best “homemade” meatball subs!
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- Look for frozen Italian meatballs for great flavor. We really love Simek’s brand, but any similar variety works well. You can use turkey meatballs, beef meatballs, or meatballs made with a combination of beef, pork, and veal.
- If you’re baking the meatballs in the oven, make sure to thaw your frozen meatballs first. If you’re using the slow cooker, they can go into Crock Pot while they’re still frozen.
- If you have homemade baked meatballs on hand, use those!
- For the cheese, I recommend provolone or shredded mozzarella and Parmesan, but you can use a combination of all three, or a shredded Italian cheese blend, too.
- Rao’s is our favorite store-bought marinara sauce, but you can also use homemade marinara when you’ve got it.
- For meatball subs, you want a bread that’s sturdy enough to hold up to the sauce and meatballs without getting too soggy but still soft enough to bite into easily. Good options include hoagie rolls or sub rolls, Italian bread rolls, French bread, ciabatta rolls, and even garlic bread!
- Provided ingredient measurements are really just ballpark estimates. You can certainly add more sauce, more cheese, and more meatballs to get your meatball subs exactly how you like them!
How to Make Meatball Subs with Frozen Meatballs
You’re going to love how simple this recipe really is! I’m telling you — 5 minutes of prep, 5 minutes in the oven, and 5 ingredients! That’s the best kind of weeknight cooking. If you prefer the set-it-and-forget-it method, you’ll find Crock Pot instructions for these easy meatball subs in the recipe card as well.
- Let the frozen meatballs thaw in the fridge overnight, and then bring them to room temperature on the counter.
- You’ll start by laying your hoagie rolls open on a large sheet pan. Get them nice and toasty in the oven for about 2-3 minutes — but don’t let them get too dark, because they’ll go back in with the meatballs in just a second!
- Toss together the meatballs and marinara sauce.
- Arrange meatballs and sauce on each roll, and then top with cheese.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake the subs at 425°F until the meatballs are heated through and the cheese melts on top, about 3 to 5 more minutes. For a more charred, crispy finish you can place the hoagies under the broiler for a minute or two at the end. Just keep a close eye on them since the bread and cheese can burn quickly.
- Sprinkle each of the sandwiches with chopped fresh basil or other herbs, and serve with extra marinara on the side for dipping.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this meatball sub recipe with sides like a green salad dressed in Italian balsamic vinaigrette or red wine vinegar salad dressing; a classic Caesar salad recipe or this garlic roasted broccoli recipe; a cucumber tomato onion salad; or French fries, potato chips, or onion rings.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Meatball Subs with Frozen Meatballs
Ingredients
- 10 ounces Italian style frozen meatballs, thawed
- 1 cup marinara sauce, plus extra for dipping
- ½ cup grated provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 4 hoagie rolls, split
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or oregano
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. While the oven heats, allow the thawed meatballs to sit on the counter and come to room temperature. Place the open hoagie rolls on a large rimmed baking sheet. Toast the rolls in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss together the meatballs and marinara sauce. If the meatballs are very large or still really cold, you'll want to warm them up before adding them to the rolls. To do so, you can warm them in a saucepan with the marinara on the stovetop over low heat, or place them in a microwave-safe bowl with the sauce and warm in the microwave.
- Place the meatballs and sauce on the bottom half of each hoagie roll. Top with cheese.
- Bake the subs, uncovered, until the meatballs are heated through and the cheese is melted, about 3 to 5 minutes. If you'd like the cheese more browned on top and the rolls toastier, place the subs under the broiler for a minute or so at the very end. Just keep a close eye on them because they can burn quickly. Close the subs and serve with additional marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- For a lighter option, use frozen turkey meatballs. We love Simek’s turkey meatballs.
- Use whole slices of provolone cheese and slices of fresh mozzarella cheese if you prefer.
- For even more flavor, season the meatball sub sandwiches with Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes (for heat), or salt and pepper to taste.
- Use hot dog buns instead of hoagie rolls in a pinch.
- Butter the rolls and season with a little bit of garlic powder before toasting for an extra layer of flavor.
- Use any pasta sauce that you enjoy — store-bought or homemade — it doesn’t have to be labeled marinara. A tomato basil sauce or a spicy arrabbiata would also be great.
More Frozen Meatball Recipes
Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs
2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Dump-and-Bake Creamy Tomato Pasta with Turkey Meatballs
55 minutes mins
30-Minute Meatball Tortellini Soup
35 minutes mins
Originally published in March, 2018, this post was updated in April, 2025.
Sooo easy and so delicious! This is like a better version of Subway’s meatball subs!
Exactly! I almost called it a “Subway Copycat” recipe, but I wasn’t sure if that would be a good thing. 🙂 These are way better!
What side dishes would you recommend ?
Hi, Dona! I usually just serve the subs with a side salad and maybe potato chips or baked French fries. This Italian Green Bean Salad would also be a nice addition if you want something other than a regular lettuce salad: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/simple-italian-green-bean-salad/