Meatball Sub Casserole
Meatball Sub Casserole is a super easy casserole dish that tastes like a meatball sub but in casserole form. So good and a family favorite!
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINNER RECIPE
Raise your hand if you love meatball subs? Now how would you like to take all those flavors you love about a meatball sub and turn it into a casserole? Well, here ya go folks. This was the best tasting casserole I have had in a while. Not only was it super easy to make but the flavors blended so well together. The whole family loved it!
This was so good! I was looking for a recipe to use some meatballs I had in the freezer. I did not toast the bread in advance. I wanted it to soak up the sauce. It was really good. That cream cheese mixture really made it creamy. So good!
– Paige
TIPS FOR MAKING MEATBALL SUB CASSEROLE:
- Homemade meatballs can be used in this dish; however, you want them to be fully cooked before adding them to this dish. This is a family friendly meal and using the pre-made meatballs really makes this quick to make.
- I would definitely serve this with a salad. Perhaps a big, green salad full of veggies and maybe topped with my Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing And for dessert, how about some No-Bake Strawberry Tiramisu?
- For a softer casserole, don’t toast the bread first. For a more firm casserole, toast the french bread slices first.
- For a twist, try using thawed garlic Texas toast rather than the Italian bread.
- Store any leftovers (covered) in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftovers, as long as it is properly wrapped, to protect against freezer burn, for up to 3 months.
- I haven’t tried freezing this meal before cooking. You might be able to do it but you’d have to definitely add onto baking time so you’ll have to play that by ear and check it periodically to make sure the middle is fully cooked.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- Italian bread – French bread can be used here. Basically you don’t want a bread that is too soft or it will get too soggy.
- cream cheese – it’s really important that your cream cheese be fully softened or it will end up with lumps in it when you try to mix it.
- mayonnaise – I know mayonnaise might seem weird in here but I need you to trust me on this. It adds additional creaminess and another layer of flavor that really makes this creamy filling taste so good!
- Italian seasoning – if you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can just combine a bit of dried basil and dried oregano.
- shredded mozzarella cheese – I just buy the pre-shredded mozzarella cheese but you can certainly shred yours by hand if you prefer.
- frozen meatballs – I go with the Italian style meatballs and they do need to be thawed. I usually just put the bag in my refrigerator the night before I make this. They actually thaw out pretty quickly so you can also leave them out on the counter for an hour or two as well.
- pasta sauce – I am a fan of Rao’s pasta sauces but I know they can be on the pricey side so use what you enjoy or can afford. It will still work great!
HOW TO MAKE MEATBALL SUB CASSEROLE:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Arrange bread slices in a single layer in an ungreased 9×13-inch baking dish. Just fill in any gaps with smaller bits of bread. I did have a couple slices of bread leftover since my loaf of Italian bread was pretty wide. I used those extra slices to make some garlic bread to serve with this.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise and seasonings.
Spread mixture over bread slices.
Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
Gently mix together spaghetti sauce and meatballs.
Spoon this mixture the over cheese layer.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes. If you notice it is getting too brown, you can always cover the dish loosely with a bit of aluminum foil.
Allow to cool for a few minutes then slice and serve!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Meatball Sub Cups
- Meatball Sub on a Stick
- Texas Toast Meatball Subs
- Italian Sub Squares
- Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Bacon Wrapped Meatballs
- Crock Pot Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Crock Pot Swedish Meatballs
- Homemade Meatballs
- Meatball Alfredo
- Salisbury Steak Meatballs
Originally published: May 2012
Updated photos & Republished: June 2023
Meatball Sub Casserole (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Italian bread, cut into 1-inch thick slices
- 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided use
- 1 bag frozen Italian style meatballs, thawed
- 24 ounce jar pasta sauce
- dried parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Arrange bread slices in a single layer in an ungreased 9×13-inch baking dish. Fill in any gaps with pieces of bread.
- In a bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise and seasonings. Spread mixture over bread slices.
- Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Gently mix together spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Spoon over cream cheese layer.
- Sprinkle the top evenly with remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes. If you notice it is getting too brown, just loosely cover it with some aluminum foil.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes then slice and serve.
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my tips and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- For a firmer bread base, I recommend toasting the bread first. You can place the dish into the oven (on the broiler setting) and toast both sides. It should only take a minute or two.
- Note: frozen meatball packages come in varying sizes – anywhere from 18 ounces to 32 ounces. This recipe will accommodate most of those sizes. As long as you are grabbing a standard size bag and not a family size bag, it will work.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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I would love to win this because my husband and I are getting into an eating rut. Tired of the same menus week after week. Would love some new ideas and one dish entrees. Casseroles are great!
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I made this tonight with veggie "meatballs" and it was delicious!
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This and others would be great easy summer casserole recipes. I need easy!
i would love to win this cookbook, as i have been a fan of yours for years. Moreover, i have lupus, but still have to work 40/week. Having "gourmet" tastebuds, it is difficult to have enough energy left to actually cook. These easy, tasty recipes are exactly what i need.
i would be truly grateful!
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Our family just loves casseroles and I love how easy they are to put together for any occasion! 😀 And, easy to pack up to take to a neighbor or friend who needs some help and cheering up. Plus, they taste good too! 😉 {And anything from Gooseberry Patch is good in my opinion}
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Im also follow Gooseberry Patch on Facebook and Pinterest. Love the cookbooks.
I love casseroles in the cooler months and I also love GP and need more of their books in my collection!
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I Love to cook and casseroles are great family dinners. You can make them ahead of time and freee them for a later fast night meal. I would love to get a copy of the book. I have a 27 year old who will be moving out soon and he can follow a recipe pretty good. To be able to make a casserole for himself would be an accomplishment. Thanks for considering me. mrsnoon@aol.com
This cookbook would be a wonderful thing to have for me because we have Family Dinner Night every other week and I host it once a month. If everyone comes, there are 15 people here. Casseroles are the easiest and most economical way to go. Also, everyone loves a good casserole.
Peg
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I love to cook!! I especially love cooking w/my two little girls. It's nice bonding time & this book would be more encouragement to do it. We love yummy home cooked, easy meals! This seems perfect!
Thanks for sharing what you have!!
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I would love this recipe book i have a large family to cook for My daughter and grandchildren have moved in recently .Yes grandma is happy i have lots of people to cook for i feel needed again .The kitchen is the heart of the home and what better way to show you love them than cooking .
Wow, just found your website and I'm impressed! I love the Meatball Sub casserole recipe and can't wait to try it. Then I found the Coconut Cream Poke cake and that sounds delicious. I've been a fan of Gooseberry for years and already follow them on Facebook and Pinterest. I would love to win the cookbook too! Nothing better than finding a great recipe that gets used for years and passed down through generations!
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I would love to have another one of your cookbooks! I am the head librarian for three libraries so making casseroles would be a super easy dish for me to make when I get home and not so time consuming. Thank you for all your "free" recipes and your wonderful website. Love it!
We call it hotdish instead of casseroles. It would be useful because we eat a lot of casseroles/hotdishes and I am always looking for new ideas.
Our fourteen-year-old football player will LOVE the meatball sub casserole. I'll probably have to double the recipe for a meal with him and his always hungry friends this fall! I would love to win a copy of this new casserole recipe book. With plenty of taste-testers around now-a-days, I need new ideas!
Owning our own business My husband being a Vietnam Veteran became disabled due to complications from when he was there so this cookbook would be "AWESOME" Supper I could make and he could put in oven before I come home or make the recipe for us and "POOF" we have supper done!
This would be a god send to add to my cookbook collection. I am always trying to find new recipes! My boys would love the meatball sub casserole for sure!
Quick and easy and good, that's what my family needs for our busy days!
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My husband and I have a busy life. I would love a cookbook with quick and easy recipes to make meals faster. I love Gooseberry Patch! 🙂 Teri
This looks so good! My son and husband would love this! I would love to win the cookbook! I just bought 101 Homestyle Favorites and love it!
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I need help and ideas with cooking for my family. I say I'm a terrible cook, but I think I need straight forward tasty recipes. This book sounds great! 🙂
I would love to try the new casserole cookbook. My husband works 3rd shift and coming up with things to feed him before he leaves for work is sometimes work. I like to feed him casseroles because the leftovers–if there are any–are good for him to take to work and reheat. I'm always looking for new recipes. Hope I win. Jafontan@Yahoo.com
These recipes look yummy! I can't wait to try some! It would be fun to try them all!
I THINK OF FAST, GREAT TASTING FOOD THE MORE I READ ABOUT THIS COOK BOOK.
I'm an older gal and live alone, so casseroles are great to separate into individual containers and freeze, or also to have on hand in case someone visits unexpected.
Susan
Oh I would really love to win a copy of this casserole cookbook because I cook alot of casseroles. I really get tired of trying to come up with something new. This would be great because its all in one book. Thanks! tmbernecker@gmail.com
My grandbabies would love this! I would love to win the cookbook for more great ideas! Thank you!
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Thanks for posting this wonderful recipe! I love casseroles. They're a great way to feed my family or that of a friend that could use some extra TLC 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win a great cookbook!
Debbie
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Oh My Gosh .. I whipped up the Meatball Sub Casserole… and My My My, Holy Cow, Is It Good! Wow! If this recipe is anything like the other recipes in the book, I think we are all in for a real treat! 🙂
zachwes12@yahoo.com
Love casserols..and being a working mom of 3 kids with 2 jobs..this book would be awesome to have.i have other gooseberry books.and would love to have this one as well…cant wait to try this meatball sub dish..yum..
Nicunurse3@yahoo.com
I would love this book. I have been wishing for an new casserole cookbook. With a big family I need casseroles. Thank you.
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This would be perfect for my all male minus me household… They absolutely love meatballs and I would love to win this particular cook book.. Thanks for the opportunity! Auntlowlee@aol.com, should I win :^)
I am a wife and mother of an 8 yr. old and 6 yr. old. I recently went back to work after 8 years of being a stay-at-home mom. Casseroles work great for me because they are easy to put together and allows me to have more family time in the evening. Also, I am a HUGE fan of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. Would love to win one and try out these great recipes.
-Michelle 🙂
My daughter made the meatball sub casserole yesterday. It was SOOOO good I ate seconds. I love your cookbooks because the recipes are simple using things already in my pantry and fridge. The directions are easy to follow. We love home style, country cooking. Your cookbooks fill our need for that kind of comfort food. Thanks for these wonderful recipes.
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I'd love to win since I'm trying to cook more at home and eliminate fast food from my family's diet. Unfortunately it's hard to find good cookbooks that have easy, inexpensive recipes. This would be so awesome to win!
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