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Juicy meatballs simmered in sauce, piled into buttery garlic bread rolls and topped with melty mozzarella for the ultimate meatball sub!
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Pin It NowGarlic Bread Meatball Subs: Cheesy, Saucy and SO good!
If you are looking for the ultimate family-friendly dinner idea, these Garlic Bread Meatball Subs are a game changer! Tender, slow-cooked meatballs are simmered in a rich marinara sauce then piled into buttery garlic bread rolls and topped with melty mozzarella cheese. It’s everything you love about spaghetti and meatballs but turned into a crave-worthy sandwich.
What makes this recipe even better is the combination of two favorites: meatball subs + garlic bread. Instead of plain rolls, you’ll bake French bread rolls brushed with garlicky butter until golden, giving each bite an extra punch of garlic flavor.
Furthermore, you can always use pre-made meatballs to save yourself some time. I include a quick and easy version too!
Why you’ll love garlic bread meatball subs:
- Hands-off cooking — kind of! You’ll have to prep the meatballs and prep the sandwiches but the slow cooker does all of the work cooking the meatballs.
- Super flavorful — if you haven’t had a meatball sub on a garlic bread roll, you are missing out!
- Crowd pleaser — these make the perfect game-day sandwich!
All in all, whether you’re feeding a hungry family, serving these for game-day, or just want comfort food done right, this recipe is going to be a go-to!
❤️ Ashley
ingredients for garlic bread meatball subs
To make these Garlic Bread Meatball Subs, you will need a mix of pantry staples and fresh ingredients.
For the meatballs:
- ground chuck
- an egg
- Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
- fresh parsley
- minced garlic
- onion
For the sauce:
- marinara – your favorite jarred version
- seasonings: basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, garlic powder
For the subs:
- French bread rolls – I prefer the 4 inch kind
- butter
- garlic powder
- dried parsley
- mozzarella cheese – fresh grated is best!
- chopped fresh parsley – for garnish!
quick and easy variation
Want all the flavor without slow cooking the meatballs? You’ll find the slow cooker version in the recipe card below. If you’re in a hurry, try this shortcut version — perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast!
- Use a 24 ounce bag of frozen Italian-style meatballs (about 28 meatballs)
- Heat marinara in a large saucepan on the stove and add frozen meatballs. Simmer for about 15 minutes or until the meatballs are heated through.
- Prepare the garlic bread rolls: preheat oven to 425 degrees. Make the garlic butter. Brush generously over the cut sides of 8-9 rolls. Bake for 6-7 minutes. Remove then set the oven to broil.
- Assemble: place 3 meatballs on each roll. Spoon over some sauce. Top with shredded mozzarella. Broil for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve
Meatball sub tips and tricks
- Use sturdy French bread rolls that will hold up under the sauce
- Shred your own mozzarella cheese
- Swap homemade meatballs for frozen ones if you’re short on time!
Ultimately, these sandwiches blew me away. They were absolutely delicious! I love g garlic bread, so it was no surprise that I fell in love with these meatball subs. They’re also perfect for a party because the recipe makes a lot – I got about 12 subs from the meatballs. If you don’t need that many or don’t want leftovers, you can freeze half of the cooked meatballs for later. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw completely and heat them in a saucepan with. sauce.
We really enjoyed these subs, and I hope you do too! Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Garlic Bread Meatball Subs
Ingredients
FOR THE MEATBALLS AND SAUCE:
- 1 ½ lbs ground chuck
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 ¼ cups Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- ½ of a small yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 28 oz jar marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
FOR THE GARLIC BREAD SUBS:
- 8-10 French bread rolls (4 inch), sliced open
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- parsley – finely chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In your slow cooker, stir together 1 jar (28 oz) marinara, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine 1 ½ lbs ground chuck, 1 beaten egg, 1 ¼ cups Italian bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, 3 minced garlic cloves, and ½ of a finely chopped small onion. Mix well.
- Shape the meatballs: Roll into 24 meatballs (about 1 heaping tablespoon each/ 1 ounce of mixture). Place them into the sauce in the slow cooker.
- Cook the meatballs: Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 4 hours until meatballs are cooked through.
- Prepare garlic bread rolls: Preheat oven to 425°F. Melt 2 sticks butter in the microwave (about 1 minute). Stir in 2 teaspoons garlic powder and 1 teaspoon dried parsley. Brush generously over the cut sides of 8-10 rolls.
- Bake for 6–7 minutes, until lightly toasted. Remove and set the oven to broil.
- Assemble the subs: Place 3 meatballs on each roll. Spoon over some sauce. Top with 2–3 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Broil for 3–4 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Cool slightly, then dig in!
Notes
Recipe from
CenterCutCook
