Twenty frozen meatballs, simmering since four o'clock.
Frozen meatballs need a solid ten minutes in sauce to heat all the way to the middle. That is the whole delay, and it is exactly the part you can do before you leave, pot covered on the lowest burner.
Walk in at 8:10, split four rolls onto a sheet pan, five meatballs and sauce into each, mozzarella over the top, then two or three minutes under the broiler. Stand there and watch it. Broilers do not forgive a phone call.
Ingredients
The batch makes 4 subs. Plan on 12 minutes to finish (meatballs precooked).
- 20 frozen fully-cooked meatballs
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 4 sub or hoagie rolls
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
How to Make It
- Simmer the frozen meatballs in the marinara with the Italian seasoning over medium heat for 10 minutes, until the meatballs reach 165F.
- Split the rolls, leaving a hinge, and lay them open on a sheet pan.
- Spoon 5 meatballs and sauce into each roll, then top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Broil 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling, watching closely so the bread does not burn.
Do the Slow Part Early
Heat the meatballs in sauce earlier and keep them warm, so the after-practice step is just filling and broiling. The toaster oven handles the broil while you set the table.
- Simmer the meatballs in sauce in the afternoon and keep them in a covered pot
- Slice the rolls and shred the cheese ahead
- Reheat the sauced meatballs while the broiler preheats
Store and Reheat
Store the meatballs and sauce separate from the bread so nothing turns soggy. Toast fresh rolls when you reheat.
- Microwave the sauced meatballs 2 minutes, then build on a fresh toasted roll
- Stovetop: reheat the meatballs 5 minutes over medium with a splash of water
- Sauced meatballs keep 4 days in the fridge or 3 months frozen
- Serve with: potato chips, carrot sticks
Make it fit tonight
Small changes that make this one fit your night
The toaster oven does it
It broils four subs without heating the big oven, which matters a lot in August.
Bread and sauce live apart
Store the sauced meatballs alone; a pre-built sub goes soggy within the hour.
Provolone slices
They melt faster than shredded mozzarella and one slice covers a whole roll.
Chips and carrot sticks
Those two on the plate mean you cooked one thing tonight instead of three.
Three months in the freezer
Sauced meatballs hold four days chilled, longer frozen, for the next late Thursday.
Plan the next step
Map out your fast-finish meals
Use the planner to slot in a few dinners that come together right after you walk in.