By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 11, 2026
Serves 8
1642 cal · 365 min
Easy Slow Cooker Meatball Subs
Recipe GLPRad4f4fc33c59ce
A convenient and satisfying sandwich featuring tender meatballs simmered in marinara sauce, served on toasted buns and topped with melted cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights when you want a hearty meal with minimal hands-on time.
Save recipes you love
Create a free Grocery List Plus account to save recipes, rate them, and add every ingredient to your grocery list in one tap.
Ingredients
1½ pounds frozen meatballs
1 jar marinara sauce (approximately 24 ounces)
8 hot dog buns
8 slices provolone cheese or 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Add the frozen meatballs to your slow cooker. Pour the entire jar of marinara sauce over the meatballs and stir gently to coat.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4 to 6 hours, until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce is simmering gently.
Preheat your oven broiler to high heat. Arrange the hot dog buns on a broiler-safe tray or baking sheet.
Carefully divide the warm meatballs among the buns, spooning 4 to 5 meatballs per bun. Top each bun generously with sauce from the slow cooker.
Place a slice of provolone cheese on each sub, or distribute shredded mozzarella evenly across the meatballs and sauce.
Broil the prepared subs for 2 to 3 minutes, watching carefully, until the cheese is completely melted and the buns are lightly toasted.
Remove from the broiler and let cool for 1 minute before serving warm.
Comments
This recipe wins on availability and cost: meatballs, marinara, hot dog buns, and cheese are staples at every Charlotte chain, and the per-serving cost lands well under $2 even with name-brand ingredients. The stated 365 minutes is honest for slow cooking, though you'll need perhaps 10 minutes upfront to assemble. The real catch is leftovers—reheated meatball subs turn soggy and the bread loses appeal, so this is a same-night crowd-pleaser best suited to feeding a family or gathering where all eight servings vanish at once.
Sign in or create a free account to add your review.
