Freezer meal kit
The meatballs are done; you just warm them and melt cheese on a roll.
Everyone wants something hot and you have maybe fifteen minutes before the next thing.
The meatballs simmered in sauce last weekend, so tonight is just warm, spoon, and broil.
Ingredients
The list below keeps freezer meatball subs kit sized for makes 6 subs (freeze the parts, assemble fresh) without turning prep into a long project.
- 1.5 pounds ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 6 sub rolls (frozen separately, fresh, or store-bought)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
How to Make It
The best way to cook freezer meatball subs kit is the way that makes pickup, homework, and bedtime easier.
- Mix the meat, breadcrumbs, egg, and seasoning; roll into 24 small meatballs.
- Bake at 400F for 18 to 20 minutes, until cooked through (165F).
- Simmer the baked meatballs in the marinara for 5 minutes so they soak up sauce.
- Cool completely before freezing.
Freeze It
Freeze the saucy meatballs and the cheese as a kit, and keep the rolls separate so nothing goes soggy. You assemble the hot sub fresh on practice night.
- Freeze meatballs in their sauce in a flat, labeled bag or container (up to 3 months)
- Bag the shredded mozzarella separately
- Freeze rolls in their own bag, or buy fresh the day you need them
Thaw and Reheat on Practice Night
Warm the meatballs from frozen, split the rolls, and broil the assembled subs just long enough to melt the cheese.
- Meatballs from frozen: simmer in a covered pan with a splash of water, 12 to 15 minutes, until hot
- Or microwave the meatballs from frozen, 4 to 6 minutes, stirring once
- Spoon onto split rolls, top with mozzarella, broil 2 to 3 minutes until melted
- Serve with: a simple salad, baby carrots, potato chips
Parent Tip
Serve the meatballs over rice or pasta instead of rolls if you are out of bread.
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Turn the meatballs into spaghetti and meatballs
The saucy meatballs drop straight onto pasta when bread runs out.
Make them as cocktail meatballs in grape jelly and chili sauce
Same baked meatballs, a sweet party-style sauce instead of marinara.
Use turkey meatballs for a leaner kit
Swaps the beef without changing the bake or the freeze.
Build a meatball sub casserole
Layer meatballs, sauce, and cheese over torn rolls and bake as one pan.
Serve over polenta or mashed potatoes
A no-bread, fork-and-knife dinner from the same meatball kit.
Plan The Next Step
Build the kit
Use the planner to schedule a meatball batch and stock a few subs worth.