Description
These Mini Italian Meatball Subs are bite-sized sandwiches featuring juicy homemade meatballs cooked in savory marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese on soft slider rolls. Ideal for appetizers, lunch boxes, or party trays, they combine classic Italian-American flavors in a convenient, crowd-pleasing format.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef (or beef/pork blend)
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for cooking)
Sauce and Assembly
- 1½ cups marinara sauce (homemade or jarred)
- 12 mini slider rolls or small dinner rolls
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 °F (190 °C) to prepare for baking the assembled subs.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly and form into 1-inch mini meatballs.
- Cook Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook them for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally until they are evenly browned on all sides.
- Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Pour marinara sauce into the skillet with the meatballs and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for an additional 10 minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked and flavorful.
- Prepare Slider Rolls: Slice the mini slider rolls horizontally and arrange them cut side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.
- Assemble Subs: Place one meatball with sauce onto each roll base. Sprinkle each meatball with shredded mozzarella cheese for a gooey topping.
- Add Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, combine melted butter with garlic powder and optional dried parsley. Brush the tops of the rolls generously with this mixture for enhanced flavor and browning.
- Bake Subs: Bake the assembled sliders in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and the rolls have turned golden brown.
- Serve Warm: Remove from oven and serve the mini meatball subs warm for the best taste and texture experience.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute ground beef with turkey or chicken.
- Use store-bought frozen meatballs to reduce preparation time.
- Add sliced provolone cheese or extra Parmesan on top for richer flavor.
- These subs work great for parties when served on trays or skewered with toothpicks for easy handling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
