Air Fryer Meatballs Subs

Air fryer meatball subs are the best meal to serve any day of the year. Not only are they delicious, but they are also hearty enough to keep everyone full for several hours.

Why I love cooking air fryer meatball subs

As my kids get older, I realized that I needed a few recipes that could fill everyone’s stomach and wouldn’t cause a lot of resistance when I was serving them. So when I found out how easy it was to make this meatball sub with an air fryer, I had to try it. 

The first time I made these sandwiches, I knew that this was a new staple meal in my home. The entire family devoured them within minutes and no one complained about being hungry for hours.

I just know that these air fryer meatball subs would be a constant in your meal planning as well- they are that good. 

We love to have them on busy days like a game day or when I am working late since it’s a full meal with easy ingredients that you can grab at the grocery store. Besides, everyone loves sub sandwiches- so you know everyone will leave happy.

Fresh or frozen meatballs?

You can use either for juicy meatballs. For best results, I have found this great recipe with just frozen meatballs from the freezer section of the store. You can use any meat variety that you choose- ground pork, ground beef, Italian sausage, or anything else that you can find.

With frozen meatballs, the biggest concern is how the meat stays intact. From my experience, the air fryer doesn’t make the meatball lose their shape at all as long as you take them directly from the freezer bag and place them in your air fryer basket.

Ingredients

This easy recipe is one of my go-to’s when feeding my hungry kids. Not only is it hearty and delicious, it only requires a few ingredients to make so it’s a win for the entire family.

Sandwich Bread: hoagie roll (also known as a sub roll)

Cheese: mozzarella cheese or parmesan cheese (I have used cheddar cheese in a pinch)

Meat: Bag of frozen meatballs at the store. It is so much easier than having to make your own meat mixture to make homemade meatballs with lean ground beef and Italian sausage

Marinara Sauce: Any jar is fine but makes sure they have Italian seasoning, onion powder, and garlic powder.

Toppings (optional): fry up some vegetables like diced onions, mushrooms, or sliced bell peppers.

 

 

How To Make Air Fryer Meatballs Subs

Add all of the frozen meatballs to your air fryer basket, then set the time for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. (air fryer setting) Then flip them after 5 minutes and do another 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the sauce in a small saucepan, add the meatballs to a serving bowl, pour the sauce over it, and then scoop the meatballs into a sub roll.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you make the most delicious meatball subs that your entire family will love. 

• I always make enough for leftover meatball sandwiches by making a big batch. That way I have extra lunches for the week for myself and my kids. 
• If I am serving these meatball subs at a party, I will keep the meatballs and sauce warm in a slow cooker so that people can enjoy the sandwiches at their leisure.
• Before serving, check the internal temperature so that the meat is at 160 degrees F by using a meat thermometer. With frozen meatballs, you can also check to see if they were precooked before they were frozen. If that’s the case, then you can skip this step. 
• For little mouths, I would recommend serving this sandwich with a hot dog bun instead of a full-sized hoagie. Since little kids tend to be messy eaters, this could help. 
• For a toasted bun, lay the bread on a baking sheet and set in a preheated oven at 350 for a few minutes. You won’t regret it!
• Spray with cooking spray before you place your meatballs in a single layer into the air fryer basket. 

Tasty recipes to serve with meatball subs

This recipe is a hit on its own, but if you are looking for something light to serve on the side, here are a few ideas:

• Pasta salad
• Sliced veggies like baby carrots, bell peppers, and broccoli
• Dipping sauces like ranch or more marinara sauce
• Side Salad

How to make your own air fryer meatball sub

Place the meatballs in your air fryer basket while still frozen. Cook on the air fryer setting for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. After 5 minutes, flip the meatballs over and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. 

While the meatballs are heating up, warm up the marinara sauce on the stovetop in a small pan. Once the meatballs are done, add the meatballs to the pan and coat them with the sauce. 

Next, assemble your meatball sub by adding the sauce and meatball mixture to your bread. Top with cheese and eat away. 

Storing leftover subs

If you find that you have leftover sub sandwiches or want to save a few for the week, storing the leftovers is easy. 

Take any constructed subs that remain uneaten and wrap it in aluminum foil(this will help prevent the bread from getting soggy). Store in the fridge for up to 5 days and reheat when you are ready to enjoy. 

Reheating meatball subs

Chances are, you won’t have any leftovers. If this happens, reheating with an air fryer is as easy as unwrapping the sub and waiting a few minutes.

To reheat your meatball sub, set the air fryer to 320 degrees F, air fryer setting, and then place your refrigerated or cold sub into the basket. Air fry for 3-5 minutes, or until the sandwich is hot.

More Air Fryer Recipes:

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