Easy Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Subs Recipe

Slow Cooker Meatball Subs 

If you’re tired of eating the same thing again and again, then make sure you make these Slow Cooker Meatball Subs!

Looking for a comforting and delicious meal that’s easy to make? Look no further than Slow Cooker Meatball Subs!

This recipe takes classic meatball sub ingredients, like juicy meatballs, zesty tomato sauce, and melty cheese, and transforms them into a hearty and satisfying dinner that’s perfect for any day of the week.

And the best part? You can let your slow cooker do all the work, leaving you free to go about your day while the aroma of delicious, home-cooked food fills your kitchen. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• With just a few simple ingredients and your slow cooker, you can whip up a delicious and satisfying meal that’s perfect for a busy weeknight.
• Who doesn’t love a good meatball sub? This recipe takes all the traditional flavors you love and turns them into an easy-to-eat sandwich.
• Want to add some extra veggies like peppers or onions? Go for it! Want to try a different type of cheese? No problem! This recipe is versatile enough to adapt to your tastes and preferences, so feel free to get creative in the kitchen.

Ingredients Needed

• Italian style frozen meatballs – For this recipe, I use Italian style meatballs to give our subs that classic flavor. I recommend using good quality frozen meatballs like Farm-Rich, but any brand of Italian style meatballs will work.
• Olive oil – This is used to sauté the onions and garlic until they are soft and translucent. It also helps to add some extra flavor to the tomato sauce.
• Tomato sauce – A base for the recipe, the tomato sauce is what gives the meatballs their saucy flavor. You can use any store-bought brand you like, or even make your own sauce from scratch. A jar of pasta sauce works too!
• Sweet onion – Chopped and sautéed in olive oil, the sweet onion adds a touch of sweetness to the tomato sauce.
• Minced garlic – To add some extra flavor to the onion and tomato sauce.
• Italian seasoning, sweet basil, ground oregano, brown sugar, garlic salt, and seasoned black pepper: A blend of herbs and spices that give the sauce its classic Italian flavor.
• Brown sugar – The brown sugar helps to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes, while the garlic salt and seasoned pepper add some extra depth of flavor.
• Sub sandwich buns – Store-prepared sub buns make a perfect vehicle for meatballs and sauce. Make sure to choose buns that are sturdy enough to hold up to the saucy meatballs!
• Don’t forget the Parmesan cheese for this recipe! You can also feel free to add mozzarella cheese for these meatball sandwiches. Add as many extra cups of sauce that you’d like to the recipe as well!

Optional: Italian sausage, onion powder, garlic powder, ground pork, marinara sauce, cup onion, red pepper flakes.

Serving options: sub sandwiches, side salad, chicken wings, top with bread crumbs…

FAQs for Easy Meatball Subs

Why are my slow cooker meatballs falling apart?

There are a few reasons why your meatballs may be falling apart in the slow cooker:

1. The size and shape of the meatballs – If your meatballs are too large or too round, they may not cook evenly in the slow cooker. Try making smaller, flatter meatballs instead.
2. The moisture level of the meatballs – Meatballs are too dry?  They may crumble in the slow cooker. Try adding a little bit of milk or breadcrumbs to the meat mixture to help keep them moist.
3. The temperature of the slow cooker – If your slow cooker is too hot, the meatballs may cook too quickly and fall apart. Make sure to cook the meatballs on the low setting to ensure even cooking.
4. Adding the meatballs too early – Try adding them about halfway through the cooking time so that they have enough time to cook through, but not so long that they become overly soft and mushy.
5. Cook on a single layer – Another way to ensure your meatball recipe doesn’t come out mushy is to cook the homemade meatballs on a layer in the crockpot.

What can I serve these Italian meatballs on?

In our family, we love serving Italian meatballs on hoagie buns. On busy nights when you don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking, crockpot meatballs do the trick, and serving them on hoagie rolls is an excellent idea! You can also use sub rolls, crusty bread, or whatever you have on hand.

These easy dinner recipes are great for during the school year, when you don’t have a lot of prep time. The Italian-style meatballs in the crockpot come out perfect every single time. I also use crock pot liners to make cleanup even easier. What’s your favorite part of this recipe?

If you are looking for more amazing delicious lunch recipes be sure to check out this comprehensive list –> The Best Quick and Easy Lunch Recipes!

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Before you go, check out these great posts!

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