Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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A meatball sub transformed into a comforting casserole! Garlic Bread, Cheese, Italian flavors and Meatballs come together for this perfect weeknight family dinner! Best of all, it’s done in under 45 minutes!

Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (1)

A few summers ago I had an addiction to food magazines. It was bad. I spent most of my spare time flipping through them, salivating over photos, excited to make a million different recipes. I still have my enormous stash and over the years Dan has occasionally threatened to throw them away. The audacity! Of course I always say “NO,” but recently I have agreed that the magazines are taking up valuable real estate in our shrinking home.

My compromise: to sort through every single magazine and tear out all of the must-makes. It has been a time-consuming process, but it’s been fun! One of the gems I ran across was this recipe from Taste of Home that inspired the casserole detailed in this post. It is just about the most perfect dinner you could ask for. The ENTIRE family will love it. We LOOOOOOVED it and gobbled it up very quickly.

Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (2)

Layer a 9×13 baking dish with: frozen garlic bread (cooked according to package directions), cream-cheese-mayo-Italian-seasoning mixture, shredded mozzarella, marinara sauce, frozen meatballs (no need to thaw) and remaining mozzarella cheese.

Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (3)

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Other Favorite Pip and Ebby Comfort Foods

  • Slow Cooker Chicken Rice Soup
  • Four Cheese Stuffed Shells
Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (4)

Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (5)

Meatball Sub Casserole

Transform a meatball sub sandwich into a casserole that the entire family will enjoy! (recipe adapted from:tasteofhome.com)

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 709.28kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 8 slices frozen garlic bread
  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 24 oz. jar marinara sauce
  • 22 oz. bag frozen meatballs

Instructions

  • Bake garlic bread according to package directions. Decrease temperature on oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and line the bottom of the pan with a single layer of the prepared garlic bread slices.

  • In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayo and Italian seasoning. Mix well and spread evenly over the tops of the garlic bread slices. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella over the top, followed by the marinara sauce and meatballs (no need to thaw meatballs first).

  • Top with 1 cup of mozzarella and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Serve warm!

Nutrition

Calories: 709.28kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.37g | Protein: 23.83g | Fat: 51.68g | Saturated Fat: 18.66g | Cholesterol: 101.79mg | Sodium: 1552.01mg | Fiber: 4.9g | Sugar: 11.08g

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (6)Lin

    Do you have a favorite brand store bought frozen meatball? As a previous post mentioned, many are not very flavorful and I find them to be too solid.

    Reply

  2. Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (7)debbie

    can this be made ahead of time and frozen till ready to bake?

    Reply

    • Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (8)Megan Porta

      Hi Debbie! I’ve never tried freezing this, but if you try it don’t allow the bread to thaw at all. If it does, the sauce will make it soggy. I hope this helps! Let me know how it turns out!
      Megan

      Reply

  3. Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (9)Lauren

    Made this today for lunch for my hubby and boys, it was delicious and super easy! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  4. Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (10)Megan Porta

    Oh no, Bonita! I'm so sorry to hear this! I used frozen meatballs, as well, and it was so good we could hardly stop eating it! No teenagers in our house, either. 🙂
    Megan

    Reply

  5. Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (11)Bonita

    I made this tonight, I got the meatballs from Walmart (iItalian) I only wish I had made my own meatballs…it was awful……just a waste of good cheese & garlic bread…(maybe if you have teenagers they will eat anything)….

    Reply

  6. Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (12)Cassie

    Looks so good. I can't wait to make
    This this weekend!!! Love getting your emails!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Easy Italian Meatball Sub Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the best cheese for meatball subs? ›

Meatballs: Use any Italian-flavored meatballs you like for this recipe, keeping in mind that homemade meatballs are best. Spaghetti Sauce: Use your favorite, well-seasoned spaghetti sauce for the best flavor. Cheese: Thinly sliced provolone is best, but thicker sliced provolone or mozzarella can be used.

What is good on a meatball sub? ›

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!

Do you put mayo on a meatball sub? ›

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!

How to keep meatball subs from getting soggy? ›

Toasty bread: Soggy meatball sandwiches are the worst. And the best way to avoid soggy sandwiches is to build your sub on lightly toasted bread. And for this recipe, we're not just going to toast the bread but turn it into buttery, perfect toasted garlic bread.

What sauce to put on a meatball sub? ›

These homemade Meatball Subs are topped with a simple Italian marinara sauce on a toasted bun with melted cheese. This warm comfort meal is perfect for feeding a crowd or as a freezer meal!

What sauce is good for meatball marinara sub? ›

You can keep the subs un-toasted. If you choose to enjoy it this way, ensure the meatballs are hot and you allow enough time for the cheese to melt on top before serving. Instead of making your own marinara sauce, you can use a spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce instead.

How does Gordon Ramsay make meatball sauce? ›

To make the tomato sauce, heat the olive oil in a pan and gently fry the shallots, garlic and chilli for 2-3 minutes until soft. Deglaze the pan with a splash of white wine, then add the tinned tomatoes along with the basil, oregano and some seasoning.

What veggies go on a meatball sub? ›

Vegetarian Meatball Sub Recipe Ingredients

Vegetables – I added zucchini, onion, red and green bell pepper and garlic for this recipe. You can use any veggies you already have on hand though. The goal is to just bulk up the sauce a little bit and pack those veggies in!

Are pickles good on a meatball sub? ›

In the spirit of fusion cuisine, we're mixing up cultures with a delicious twist in this satisfying meatball sub. Don't skimp on the spicy pickles: they're easier to make than you might think, and they pack a powerful flavor punch.

What does Subway put on their meatball sub? ›

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.

What goes with meatball subs for dinner? ›

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 to make meatballs that don t fall apart in sauce? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce? ›

The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become. 3. Concentration of Flavors: Simmering at a low temperature for an extended period also encourages the sauce to reduce and thicken.

What causes rubbery meatballs? ›

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 cheese goes best on subs? ›

For cheeses, provolone is standard and what I like best, but Swiss is nice too!

What cheese is best for melting on sandwiches? ›

With both meltability and flavor in mind, here are the five best cheeses to use for your next grilled cheese.
  • Mozzarella. From pizza to mozzarella sticks, we already know what mozzarella is capable of when it comes to epic cheese pulls. ...
  • Brie/Bloomy Rind. ...
  • Comté/Raclette/Gruyère. ...
  • Young Gouda. ...
  • American Cheese.
Sep 1, 2023

Which cheese tastes best in sandwich? ›

The best cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich that is as close to your childhood delight as it gets is cheddar. It's perfect for melting, and you can find it in mild or moderately sharp variations. Pair it up with a simple sliced white bread properly coated in butter, and you're just a few minutes away from perfection.

What is the best cheese for hot subs? ›

Sharp cheddar, Gouda, Fontina, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, and brie are all good options. The amount of cheese you use will depend on the size of your bread. I love sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda together.

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