Mini Meatball Subs with Frozen Meatballs and Dinner Rolls
Looking for a delicious and easy dinner idea? Try mini meatball subs with frozen meatballs made with Hawaiian rolls, spaghetti sauce, and shredded mozzarella cheese. This mini meatball subs recipe is quick, easy, and perfect for busy weeknights.
These mini meatball sandwiches are packed with flavor and perfect for a crowd. Simply assemble the meatball sliders with frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, and cheese on Hawaiian rolls, then bake until the cheese is melted and gooey. If you’re looking for a simple meatball sub recipe with frozen meatballs, this is it!

I distinctly remember the first time I had a meatball sub. My sister and I had gone with our artist aunt and uncle to a craft fair for a week in Ohio back in the 1990s – back when craft fairs were such a huge thing! My aunt an uncle were incredibly talented and made a living off of their beautiful creations.
One day for lunch, my sister and I ventured with our uncle to the food area and there was a stand for meatball subs. Both my sister and I had never heard of these before – to which, my uncle probably found funny because unlike my mom, my aunt was an adventurous eater!
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So, all three of us got meatball subs and I have loved them ever since! {Check out my recipe for Homemade Meatball Sub Sandwiches Recipe}
I recently had to make meatball subs for a company I create weekly recipe reels for and got a lot of comments for asking for the recipe when I shared a photo on Facebook. So…here you go, the easiest mini meatball subs, ever!

Ingredients Needed
Literally, this is the easiest recipe ever…just buy store-bought items that are already made!
- dinner rolls – I used the Hawaiian bread brand “dinner rolls” (they were not sweet)
- meatballs – in the meat section at Walmart, I bought the premade Italian meatballs that just needed to be cooked. These were good, but next time I make them, I will make my homemade meatballs {recipe: The Best Meatball Recipe Ever!} because they are hands down the best in the world, or use frozen meatballs in the freezer section
- spaghetti sauce – use your favorite pasta/spaghetti sauce
- shredded mozzarella cheese – you could also use provolone slices instead of mozzarella if you prefer

How To Make Mini Meatball Subs
- STEP 1: Align dinner rolls in a 9×9 baking dish
- STEP 2: Cut out the centers of the dinner rolls making a hole for the meatballs
- STEP 3: Place one cooked meatball inside of each dinner roll. If you’re making mini meatball subs with frozen meatballs, be sure to heat them according to the package instructions first
- STEP 4: Spoon a tablespoon of spaghetti sauce on top of each meatball
- STEP 5: Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on each sub
- STEP 6: Bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and melted. These meatball sliders with frozen meatballs are best served warm for maximum cheesiness!

When you’re ready to serve the mini sliders, use a spatula to dish them out onto plates. Either pick them up with your hands and eat like a sandwich or use a fork and knife to cut inside and see the delicious and juicy meatball!

These were definitely a crowd pleaser dish! They would be perfect for taking to a party for an appetizer. Store them in a Pyrex hot/cold travel dish and enjoy at your next party!
I love dishes that can double as a meal or as an appetizer! If you’re looking for more easy meals like this, check out my 5 Last Minute Easy & Delicious Appetizers.


Mini Meatball Subs with Frozen Meatballs and Dinner Rolls
Equipment
- sheet pan or baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 pkg dinner rolls
- 1 pkg premade meatballs fresh or frozen
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 pkg mozarella cheese shredded or sliced
Instructions
- STEP 1: Align dinner rolls in a 9×9 baking dish
- STEP 2: Cut out the centers of the dinner rolls making a hole for the meatballs
- STEP 3: Place one cooked meatball inside of each dinner roll. If you're making mini meatball subs with frozen meatballs, be sure to heat them according to the package instructions first
- STEP 4: Spoon a tablespoon of spaghetti sauce on top of each meatball
- STEP 5: Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on each sub
- STEP 6: Bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and melted. These meatball sliders with frozen meatballs are best served warm for maximum cheesiness!
Notes
*If using frozen meatballs, thaw and cook them according to the package instructions before adding them to the bread rolls


Love Meatballs? Check Out These Recipes!
- Swedish Meatballs Over Mashed Potatoes – a great comfort food!
- The Best Meatball Recipe Ever! – really, hands down, the best!
- Meatballs & Rice Recipe – a classic my mom always made!
- Homemade Meatball Sub Sandwiches Recipe – crusty bread, gooey cheese – yes please!
- Meatball Burgers with Sun Dried Tomato Pesto – a fun twist on a regular burger!


Stephanie—home cook, DIY addict, seasonal decor fanatic, and proud chicken wrangler living in a Victorian house that’s always a project. Whether I’m cooking with garden-fresh ingredients, herding mischievous chickens, or tackling another DIY, I’m here to share the fun (and chaos).