Mini Meatball Subs

Mini Meatball Subs

Juicy, tender mini meatballs simmered in a rich marinara sauce and piled into soft slider rolls with melted mozzarella — a crowd-pleasing, kid-friendly dinner that comes together in under an hour. Perfect for weeknight meals or casual get-togethers.

6 servings · Prep 20 min · Cook 30 min · Total 50 min

American · Italian · Dinner · Lunch · Main Course

Main

  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio
  • 0.25 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 2 tbsp whole milk
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 12 piece slider rolls soft, such as Hawaiian or potato rolls
  • Hawaiian rolls
  • potato rolls
  • 1.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped, for garnish

Sauce

  • 1 can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp white sugar to balance acidity

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Stovetop
  • Saucepan
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Baking Sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Pot
  • Broiler
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Saucepan (1 Quart)
  • Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your #[Oven] to ![400°F] and line a #[Baking Sheet] with #[Aluminum Foil] or #[Parchment Paper]. In a large #[Mixing Bowl], combine the @[Ground Beef], @[Italian-Seasoned Breadcrumbs], @[Large Egg], @[Milk], @[Garlic] minced, @[Italian Seasoning], @[Salt], and @[Black Pepper]. Mix gently with your hands until just combined — don't overwork the meat or the meatballs will be tough.
  2. Roll the meat mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter (roughly 1 tablespoon each), and place them on the prepared #[Baking Sheet] spaced about 1 inch apart. You should get around 24 mini meatballs. Bake for ~[15–18 minutes], until cooked through and lightly browned on the outside.
  3. While the meatballs bake, combine the @[Crushed Tomatoes], @[Tomato Sauce], @[Dried Basil], and @[White Sugar] (if using) in a large #[Saucepan] over ^[medium heat]. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer. Once the meatballs are done, add them directly to the sauce and let everything simmer together for ~[8–10 minutes] so the meatballs absorb the flavors.
  4. Split the @[Slider Rolls] and place them open-faced on the #[Baking Sheet]. Spoon 2 meatballs with sauce onto the bottom half of each roll. Top generously with @[Shredded Mozzarella Cheese]. Return to the #[Oven] (or #[Broiler] on ^[high]) for ~[3–5 minutes] until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Close the rolls, garnish with @[Fresh Parsley] if desired, and serve immediately.