Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

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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.

Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe (1)

The ingredients are simple — you will need meatballs, pasta sauce,mozzarellacheese, and sandwich rolls.

Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe (2)
Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe (3)

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:

Cooking Equipment needed for Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches:

Here’s how to make this easy dinner idea:

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.

Want anothereasy, cheesy sandwich recipe? Check out ourBuffalo Chicken Panini Recipe!

Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Tips

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.

Easy Dinner Idea:
Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe

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Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches

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Ingredients

  • Sandwich rolls (cut with one side intact)
  • Cooked Meatballs (your favorite recipe or frozen, pre-made meatballs)
  • Pasta Sauce (homemade or jarred)
  • Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

  1. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Bake until cheese is melted, hot, and bubbly.

Recipe Card powered byEasy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe (10)

Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe (11)
Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with meatball sandwiches? ›

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.

How do you keep meatball subs from getting soggy? ›

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.

What is a good side to go with meatballs? ›

10 Side Dishes to Pair With Meatballs Besides Spaghetti
  • Jen's Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
  • Tasty Spicy Rice Pilaf.
  • Fried Cabbage and Egg Noodles.
  • Peperonata.
  • Peanut Butter Noodles.
  • Tasty BBQ Corn on the Cob.
  • Disney's Ratatouille.
  • 8. ' Chinese Buffet' Green Beans.
Jul 30, 2019

What veggies go best on meatball sub? ›

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?

Should meatball subs be toasted or not toasted? ›

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.

What makes meatballs taste rubbery? ›

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.

What can I eat with meatballs instead of pasta? ›

Jump to:
  • Spaghetti.
  • Cold Pasta Salad.
  • Lemon Brown Rice.
  • Mashed Potatoes.
  • Egg Noodles.
  • Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles)
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
  • Garlic Bread.
Aug 27, 2023

What goes with meatball subs for dinner? ›

What to Serve with Meatball Subs [11 Best Side Dishes]
  • Produce. • 1 Baked potato, Wedges. • 1 Jalapeno poppers, Baked. • 1 Zucchini fries.
  • Condiments. • 1 Chips and salsa.
  • Bread & baked goods. • 1 Focaccia.
  • Dairy. • 1 Mozzarella cheese.
  • Deli. • 1 Caprese salad. • 1 Classic caesar salad. • 1 Coleslaw, Creamy.

What can I use instead of grape jelly? ›

Replace the Grape Jelly with apricot preserves, orange marmalade, canned cranberry sauce, raspberry preserves, or hot pepper jelly.

Do people put veggies on a meatball sub? ›

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!

Do you put veggies on a meatball sub? ›

I love, love, love cheese with meatballs (vegetarian) and marinara sauce, if you can, take pepper jack, awesome. You can also have some vegetables on there, I think that bell peppers, spinach, corn and carrots go especially well with a meatball sub. And don't forget to add pickles!

Can you put mayo on a meatball sub? ›

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.

What to serve with meat sandwiches? ›

23 MOST Delicious Sides for Sandwiches (exactly what to serve!)
  • Produce. • 1 Beans, Baked. • 1 Potato, wedges. • 1 Sweet potato fries. ...
  • Canned Goods. • 1 Applesauce. • 1 Soup.
  • Condiments. • 1 Chips and dip. • 1 Pickles. ...
  • Pasta & Grains. • 1 Mediterranean couscous. • 1 Orzo.
  • Deli. • 1 Broccoli salad. • 1 Carrot raisin salad.

What goes good on a meatball marinara sandwich? ›

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!

How many sides does a meatball have? ›

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!

What sides to serve with sandwiches at a party? ›

Soup, salad, chips, potato salad, coleslaw, pickles, carrots, fruit, basically any other preparation of potatoes you can think of… the list is basically endless. There isn't a whole lot of things that don't go with a simple sandwich.

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