Crockpot Meatball Subs with Frozen Meatballs 

Effortless Crockpot Meatball Subs Recipe made with frozen meatballs. Toss the ingredients in the slow cooker and let the crockpot simmer while the aroma of marinara and meatballs wafts through the house.

Just look at the recipe pictures. Everyone will be saying, “Yes Please” to these Crockpot Meatball Subs. 

Effortless Meatball Sub Recipe in the Crockpot

This recipe is so easy and tastes so good! (No judgment here for using frozen meatballs and jarred sauce). Seriously, we’re not running an authentic Italian kitchen. We’re feeding hungry people, and these meatball subs deliver. They’re warm, saucy, cheesy, and totally hit the spot when a meatball sub craving strikes.

Making them is effortless: just dump some frozen meatballs and your favorite jarred marinara sauce into a slow cooker. Let everything simmer low and slow until the meatballs are hot and tender and the sauce is rich and flavorful. Toast up some hoagie rolls, pile on the meatballs and sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella or provolone, and dinner is served. 

If you have a love affair with meatballs like me, you have come to right place. These easy meatball subs are just the beginning. Try my Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs for a sweet and tangy twist that’s perfect for the holidays (or let’s be honest, any day). If bourbon’s your thing, you’ll swoon over my Bourbon Meatballs. Need something with a kick? My Crock Pot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Sweet Chili Sauce are the perfect sweet-heat combo. And when you want cozy comfort in a bowl, my Escarole and Bean Soup with Meatballs has you covered.

From subs to slow cooker appetizers to hearty soups, frozen meatballs are your weeknight hero.

Slow Cooker Meatball Subs Math

My 1.5 bag of frozen meatballs had enough meatballs for 7 sandwiches when each sandwich had 4 meatballs. 

When planning this meatball sub recipe with frozen meatballs check your bag of meatballs for a meatball count. The brand I used had 28 meatballs labeled on the bag. 

How to Make Meatball Subs in a Crock Pot

• First, place frozen meatballs in a slow cooker (no need to defrost in advance).  Next, pour both jars of marinara over the top of the frozen meatballs.
• Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. 
• Before the slow-cooked meatballs are ready prep the rest of your ingredients. Preheat your oven to 350 F. Open your hoagie rolls so the inside will get toasted. Place your rolls on a baking sheet and toast for about 5 mins. 
• Add Mozzarella cheese to the hoagie buns and return the rolls to the oven. Continue to toast until cheese is melted. 
• Add about 4 to 5 meatballs to each hoagie roll. 
• Garnish with grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for seasoning.  
• Serve with a side of additional sauce from the slow cooker. 

Storing Leftovers

Remove meatballs and sauce from your slow cooker and transfer into an airtight container and refrigerate. They are good for up to 4 days. 

I don’t recommend making the sandwiches and then storing them. The sauce will make the hoagie rolls soggy. 

Also, you can change things up. Instead of making meatballs subs again, you can make spaghetti carbonara.