Are you looking for the ultimate easy, cheesy, and incredibly satisfying dinner that will have the whole family cheering? A comforting and hearty meal that takes all the delicious, savory flavors of a classic Italian-American meatball submarine sandwich and transforms them into a fun, one-dish baked casserole? This amazing Meatball Sub Casserole is your new weeknight hero!
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s the perfect solution for a busy night when you’re craving a crowd-pleasing comfort food classic without all the fuss. We’ll show you how to use a few smart shortcuts, like frozen meatballs and your favorite jarred pasta sauce, to create a stunning, bubbly, and golden-brown casserole that tastes like you spent hours on it, but actually comes together in about 30 minutes.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Family-Friendly Casserole
What makes this Meatball Sub Casserole so spectacularly delicious and easy is its brilliant, deconstructed approach to a beloved sandwich. The “bread” of our sub is a sturdy base of toasted, garlicky sourdough bread croutons, which soak up the delicious sauce without turning to mush. This is then topped with a rich and savory mixture of hearty Italian meatballs, your favorite pasta sauce, and a generous blend of gooey mozzarella and salty Parmesan cheese. The entire dish is then baked to bubbly, golden-brown perfection. It’s a foolproof recipe that delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 30 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 6 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Shortcut Casserole
This iconic dish uses a handful of smart shortcuts and pantry staples to create its signature comforting and cheesy flavor.
- The Shortcut Stars:
- Frozen Italian Meatballs: Using a 12-ounce package of your favorite brand of frozen, fully cooked Italian meatballs is the key to making this a super-fast and easy meal. There’s no need to spend time making meatballs from scratch!
- Jarred Pasta Sauce: A high-quality, store-bought pasta sauce is a fantastic shortcut that provides a deep, slow-simmered flavor with zero extra effort. A version with mushrooms adds an extra layer of savory, earthy flavor.
- The Garlic Bread Crouton Base:
- Sourdough Bread: A sturdy bread like sourdough is the perfect choice for the base of this casserole. It has a wonderful, tangy flavor and a robust texture that can soak up the delicious sauce without completely disintegrating.
- Fresh Garlic: The simple but brilliant step of rubbing the hot, toasted bread with a fresh garlic clove is the secret to infusing the entire casserole with an incredible, authentic garlic bread flavor from the bottom up.
- The Cheeses: A classic, crowd-pleasing combination of a mild, perfectly melty, and gooey part-skim mozzarella cheese and a salty, nutty, and flavorful grated Parmesan cheese.
Step-by-Step to the Easiest Meatball Casserole
This delicious, one-dish meal is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Prepare the Garlic Bread Croutons and Heat the Meatballs
Step 1: First, preheat your oven’s broiler. Grease an 11×7-inch baking dish.
Step 2: Arrange your 4 slices of sourdough bread on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush one side of the bread with the 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil.
Step 3: Broil the bread about 4-6 inches from the heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until it is a beautiful golden brown.
Step 4: While the bread is still hot, rub the toasted side of each slice with the cut surface of your halved garlic clove. The heat from the toast will melt the garlic slightly and release all its fragrant oils. Discard the garlic clove.
Step 5: Tear the garlic toast into large, bite-sized pieces and transfer them to your prepared baking dish, creating an even layer on the bottom.
Step 6: Reduce your oven setting from broil to a bake setting of 350°F (175°C).
Step 7: Place your 12 ounces of frozen meatballs in a microwave-safe dish, cover them, and microwave on high for 4 to 6 minutes, until they are heated through.
Part 2: Assemble and Bake to Bubbly, Cheesy Perfection
Step 1: In a medium bowl, add the hot meatballs, the 1 1/2 cups of pasta sauce, 1/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup of the grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together to combine.
Step 2: Pour this saucy meatball mixture evenly over the top of the garlic bread pieces in your baking dish.
Step 3: Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the remaining 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese and the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
Step 4: Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 18 minutes, until the cheeses are completely melted and the casserole is hot and bubbly around the edges.
Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.
The Easiest Cheesy Meatball Sub Casserole
An easy, deconstructed version of a meatball submarine sandwich, all baked into a hearty casserole. This simple recipe uses several convenient shortcuts, including frozen, fully-cooked meatballs and jarred pasta sauce. The base of the casserole is made from toasted and garlic-rubbed sourdough bread. The meatballs are heated and tossed with pasta sauce and a mix of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, then poured over the bread, topped with more cheese, and baked until melted and bubbly.
Ingredients
- 1 package (12 ounces) frozen fully cooked Italian meatballs
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, halved
- 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce with mushrooms
- 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler.
- Microwave the meatballs, covered, on high for 4-6 minutes, until heated through.
- While the meatballs are heating, place the sourdough bread on an ungreased baking sheet and brush one side of each slice with olive oil. Broil 4-6 inches from the heat for 1-2 minutes, until golden brown.
- Rub the toasted bread with the cut surface of the garlic clove. Tear the bread into bite-sized pieces and place them in a greased 11×7-inch baking dish.
- Reduce the oven setting to 350°F.
- In a bowl, add the heated meatballs, the pasta sauce, 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Toss to combine.
- Pour the meatball mixture over the bread pieces in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15-18 minutes, until the cheeses are melted and the casserole is bubbly.
Notes
- This is a very quick and easy recipe, using several store-bought shortcuts like frozen meatballs and jarred pasta sauce.
- Toasting the bread and rubbing it with garlic before adding it to the casserole creates flavorful, crouton-like pieces for the base.
- This casserole is a great way to enjoy the flavors of a meatball sub in a shareable format.
How to Serve Your Meatball Sub Casserole
This fun and hearty casserole is a fantastic, all-in-one meal. It’s perfect for a family pizza night, a fun party, or a game day gathering. It doesn’t need much else, but it is delicious served with a simple side of Caesar salad or some steamed green beans.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This Meatball Sub Casserole is a fantastic make-ahead meal for a busy week or a potluck.
- Make-Ahead: You can fully assemble the entire, unbaked casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Simply cover it tightly with foil and store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, you may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time since it will be starting from cold.
- Storage: Store any leftovers, well-covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: This casserole freezes beautifully! You can freeze it either before or after baking. Let it cool completely, then wrap the pan very well in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking or reheating.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Add Some “Peppers and Onions”: For that classic, street-fair sausage sub flavor, you can sauté about 1/2 cup each of chopped green bell pepper and chopped yellow onion in a little olive oil until they are soft. Stir them into the pasta sauce along with the meatballs.
- Use a Different Kind of Bread: If you don’t have sourdough on hand, you can easily substitute it with an equal amount of a crusty Italian loaf, a French baguette, or even leftover hamburger or hot dog buns.
- Make it Spicy: For a delicious, spicy kick, you can add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to your pasta sauce, and use a shredded pepper jack cheese instead of the mozzarella.
Enjoy The Ultimate Comfort Food Mash-Up!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of fun, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. This Meatball Sub Casserole is a testament to the power of a few smart shortcuts to create a meal that is both incredibly comforting and wonderfully easy. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new, much-requested family favorite.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and cheesy bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and comforting meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute best kind of bread to use for a casserole like this one?
A sturdy bread with a good, chewy crust is the best choice because it will soak up all the delicious sauce without turning into complete mush. A classic sourdough or a crusty Italian loaf are both fantastic choices.
Q2: Can I make this casserole ahead of time for a party?
Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead meal! You can fully assemble the entire unbaked casserole, cover it tightly, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to bake, just remove the cover and pop it in the oven (you may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time, as it will be starting from cold).
Q3: How do I keep the bread on the bottom from getting too soggy?
The key is to toast the bread first, as the recipe directs. By broiling the bread until it is golden brown and slightly dry, you are creating a sturdy crouton that is perfect for absorbing all that delicious sauce without completely losing its texture.
Q4: Can I use my own homemade meatballs instead of frozen?
Yes, absolutely! This is a fantastic recipe for using up leftover homemade meatballs. You will need about 12 ounces of fully cooked meatballs for this recipe.
Q5: Can I use a different kind of cheese?
Of course! While the mozzarella and Parmesan are a classic combination, this casserole would also be delicious with an equal amount of shredded provolone, an Italian cheese blend, or even a sharp cheddar cheese.