• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work with Me
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizer
    • Dinners
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Grilling
    • Condiments and Spice Mixes
  • Shop
  • FAVORITES
  • Subscribe

Juggling Act Mama logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Game Day Menu
  • Holidays
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Quick Meals
  • Reader Favorites
  • DIY
  • Holidays
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Quick Meals
    • Reader Favorites
    • DIY
    • Holidays
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches

    Easy Meatball Subs

    [published_or_updated] · by Angela Paris · Leave a Comment[affiliate_disclosure]

    Pin
    Share
    Easy Meatball Subs start with homemade or store-bought Italian meatballs simmered with tomato sauce in your crockpot until tender. These are perfect for get togethers or easy weeknight meals.
    Total Time 6 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe Add to Favorites Go to Collections

    Easy Meatball Subs combine all your favorite Italian flavors in one easy slow cooker recipe perfect for busy weeknights.

    Slow Cooker Meatball Subs with cheese on a plate.
    The whole family is going to love this easy and quick meal!
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Storage
    • 🍴 Serving Suggestions
    • Similar Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Meatball Subs
    • 💬 Comments

    This recipe is so easy to make and tastes just as good! You can easily make your own homemade meatball subs from home and let your slow cooker do all the work! Not only will this make your home smell amazing while it cooks, but it only requires four easy ingredients.

    My favorite recipe for homemade Italian meatballs includes parmesan cheese, a large egg or two, breadcrumbs, and a combination of ground beef and ground pork. However, if you don't have time to make your own meatballs, you can absolutely grab some from the grocery store!

    To make this easy recipe, you will need a slow cooker - I highly recommend this programmable one. This is the model I have and I love it.

    Ingredients

    This is meant to be a brief overview of this recipe for making meatball subs. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.

    • Meatballs: Either store-bought or homemade meatballs work for this recipe. You can make the meatballs using one of our recipes but instead of baking them, place the balls into the slow cooker with the tomato sauce (pictured below).
    • Rolls: I like to use sub rolls or hoagie rolls. However, anything from French bread to hot dog buns will work! You can even use slider buns to make meatball sliders.
    • Tomato Sauce: Both store-bought or homemade tomato sauce work for this recipe.
    • Cheese: I like to use freshly grated mozzarella cheese because it's mild an allows the flavor of the meatballs and sauce to shine. My husband prefers the tangy flavor of provolone cheese. A sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese on top adds a little extra nuttiness.

    Variations:

    • Sprinkle some Italian seasoning or fresh basil on top before serving.
    • For a low-carb option, try these keto chicken meatballs with your favorite low-carb bread substitute.

    If you have a few extra minutes, you can slather your rolls with garlic butter and pop them under the broiler for just a minute or two. This takes your classic meatball sub and makes it totally amazing!

    Meatballs in a slow cooker.
    Tender meatballs cooked in the crock pot are perfect for meatball sub sandwiches.
    Hand holding a Slow Cooker Meatball Sub.
    Meatball subs are an easy dinner idea and a great way to use up leftover meatballs.

    Storage

    To Store: Meatball Subs are really best eaten right when you assemble them because. However, if you do have leftover subs, you can keep them in the fridge for 1-2 days. (These are my favorite airtight containers.)

    To Reheat: Microwave individual portions in 30-second intervals until heated throughout.

    Be sure to check out my Juggling Act Mama Storefront on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of great products that will make your life easier! Thanks so much for being a part of Juggling Act Mama ❤

    🍴 Serving Suggestions

    Serve with tomato sauce for dipping, or try our cowboy butter dipping sauce for something a little different. I like to add a fresh salad and some potato chips to go with these sub sandwiches.

    Try our Caesar salad with Caesar dressing, honey lime fruit salad, or winter citrus salad.

    • Close up of Asian Purple Cabbage Slaw with serving utensils.
    • Apple Feta Salad with walnuts in a bowl with a fork.
    • Close up of Taco Salad with Doritos in a wooden bowl.

    Similar Recipes

    I love making quick meals out of meatballs! Next time, try our chicken meatball subs or one of these other family favorites:

    • meatball calzone - easily customizable to suit everyone's tastes!
    • cheesy meatball casserole - perfect with pasta or zucchini noodles.
    • meatball cupcakes - these are a great weeknight meal or an easy game day snack.
    • easy meatball sliders
    • Cheesy Meatball Sub Cubcakes on a bed of greens.
    • Close up of Meatball Calzone cut into pieces.
    • Close up of Cheesy Meatball Casserole on top of a bowl of zuchcini noodles.

    Not ready to make these easy meatball subs yet?

    When you do make this recipe, please come back and comment and leave me a 5-star rating below, which helps other readers (and me!)

    Slow Cooker Meatball Subs with cheese on a plate.

    Slow Cooker Meatball Subs

    Easy Meatball Subs start with homemade or store-bought Italian meatballs simmered with tomato sauce in your crockpot until tender. These are perfect for get togethers or easy weeknight meals.
    Add to Your Recipe BoxGo to Collections
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: easy meatball subs
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours hours
    Total Time: 6 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 363kcal
    Author: Ang Paris

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups marinara sauce
    • 12 sub sandwich rolls sliced
    • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
    • 36 Italian Meatballs
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • Add a small layer of marinara sauce to your slow cooker.
      6 cups marinara sauce
    • Next, add half the meatballs and pour more sauce on top.
      36 Italian Meatballs
    • Add the rest of your meatballs and the rest of your sauce to the slow cooker.
    • Cover your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
    • Once cooked, scoop three meatballs into each sub roll and top with mozzarella cheese.
      12 sub sandwich rolls, 2 cups mozzarella cheese
    • Optional: Add your sandwiches to a casserole dish and broil until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top.
    • Serve with the marinara sauce.

    Equipment

    • Crockpot or Slow Cooker

    Nutrition

    Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 1031mg | Potassium: 560mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 660IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 3mg
    Please Note: I am not a registered dietician. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.
    Tried this recipe? Pin It for Later!Mention @jugglingactmama or tag #jugglingactmama!

    Meatball Recipes

    • Italian chicken meatballs
    • spicy meatballs
    • Korean meatballs
    • classic Italian meatballs
    • sweet and sour meatballs
    • Close up of tomato sauce being poured over Italian Chicken Meatballs.
    • Instant Pot Korean Meatballs in an instant pot.
    • Square image of Keto Chicken Meatballs topped with tomato sauce.
    Pin
    Share
    « Crockpot Hashbrown Soup
    Quick Lime Mayonnaise »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome! I'm Ang'e - the Juggling Act Mama! I love sharing quick and easy recipes, creative DIY projects, and fun family travel with you. Like many of you, I am a multi-tasking mama juggling priorities which is why here I offer solutions to tame your hectic lifestyle.

    More about me →

    Delicious Smoothie Recipes Story

    POPULAR POSTS

    • Homemade Cowboy Butter in a small yellow dish with a butter knife.
      Cowboy Butter
    • Top down view of teriyaki chicken wings.
      Honey Teriyaki Chicken Wings
    • Sheet Pan Pancakes with Pancake Mix: stack of pancakes with strawberries and blueberries.
      Sheet Pan Pancakes with Pancake Mix
    • Cheesy John Wayne Casserole on a plate with a fork.
      John Wayne Casserole

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Republication Policy

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • TikTok

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Copyright Notice
    • Trademarks

    Juggling Act Mama is more than just recipes—it's a trusted resource for busy families looking to make mealtime simple, stress-free, and delicious. Whether it’s a 30-minute dinner, a slow cooker shortcut, or a budget-stretching batch-cook plan, we’re here to help you juggle less and savor more.

    READER FAVORITES

    • Close up square image of Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake in a bowl with a fork.
    • Close up of cowboy spice rub on a small wooden spoon.
    • Close up of Puff Pastry with Chicken on a plate.
    • Pool Pallet Storage with towels, pool noodles, etc.
    • Party Cotton Candy Mocktails surrounded by confetti.
    • Hand holding a ppot with a plant and adding soil.
    • A tall cedar planter box on porch with boxwood.
    • Close up of mashed sweet potatoes.
    • Two glasses of Tropical Storm Punch with straws and drink umbrellas.
    • Summer Beach Tote Hack: bucket with a handle full of summer essentials like sunscreen and bug spray.
    • Close up of Mermaid Drink Lemon Drop cocktail.
    AS SEEN ON

    Copyright © 2011-2025 Juggling Act Mama

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required