Meatball Sub Bubble Up has become my favorite go-to solution for crazy weeknights. With just five ingredients and minimal prep, it delivers saucy, cheesy comfort food goodness without much effort!
This recipe turns a beloved sandwich into a casserole that feeds the whole family. The refrigerated biscuits “bubble up” through the sauce as they bake, creating pockets of doughy goodness that soak up all that marinara sauce. You can use store-bought frozen meatballs to make this even easier—because, let’s be honest, some nights we need all the shortcuts we can get!
Unlike traditional subs that can get soggy before you take your second bite, this version maintains the perfect texture from the first serving to the last. This easy, family-style casserole is like your favorite sandwich got a comfort food makeover!
If you think casseroles are boring, this recipe will change your mind. It’s practically foolproof, and the combination of seasoned meatballs, zesty marinara, and melty, gooey cheese creates layers of flavor that taste like you spent hours in the kitchen. It smells amazing as it bakes, too!
Let me show you the simple steps to turn these five ingredients into a hearty meal that’ll have everyone at the table asking for seconds. The best part is that you probably already have most of these ingredients in your pantry and freezer!
Looking for more quick and easy dinner recipes? Try Thai basil beef, pizza bubble up, or cilantro lime shrimp tacos for more recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights.
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🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Refrigerated biscuits
- Frozen meatballs: Italian-style meatballs work best, but regular ones are fine, too. There’s no need to thaw them first—they’ll cook perfectly from frozen.
- Spaghetti sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: Shredded mozzarella adds a classic Italian flavor and ensures a nice cheese pull.
- Sliced provolone cheese: The slices create a beautiful, melty, absolutely irresistible top layer.
🥣How to Make Meatball Sub Bubble Up
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. While it’s heating up, grab a 13×9-inch baking dish and coat it with cooking spray.
- Open the biscuits and cut each one into six pieces. Using kitchen shears is way faster than using a knife, and the pieces don’t need to be perfect. I usually do this right over the baking dish to save on cleanup.
- Toss the biscuit pieces into your prepared dish and pour the spaghetti sauce over them. Stir until all the biscuit pieces are coated in sauce.
- Add your frozen meatballs, nestling them down into the biscuit mixture.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over everything, then layer those provolone slices on top.
- Bake it in the oven for 30-40 minutes. It’s done when everything’s bubbly, the biscuits are cooked through, and that cheese on top is perfectly melted and starting to get golden spots.
- Let it rest for about 5 minutes after taking it out of the oven. This helps everything set up nicely and makes serving easier (plus, it won’t burn your mouth!).
🍴Serving Ideas
This meatball sub bubble up is a complete meal in itself! But when I’m feeding my hungry family, I like to round it out with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad is my go-to choice—the fresh vegetables provide a nice contrast to the rich, cheesy casserole.
I usually serve this with some extra warm marinara sauce on the side to dunk those little pieces of cheesy biscuits. Sprinkle some fresh basil or parsley on top just before serving. It adds a pop of color and fresh flavor, making the whole dish look like it came from a restaurant!
Here are some other excellent sides:
- Caesar salad with homemade croutons
- Steamed broccoli or green beans
- Garlic bread (because you can never have too many carbs, right?)
💭How to Store
Let the casserole cool completely, then cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer portions to an airtight container. It’ll keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing it.
The best way to reheat this bubble up bake is in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated. You might want to add a little extra cheese on top (because why not?). If you’re in a hurry, the microwave works too—just heat individual portions for 1-2 minutes, though the biscuits might be a bit softer this way.
⭐Tips & Tricks
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Kitchen shears are your best friend when cutting biscuits. While you can use a knife, scissors quickly cut the biscuits into sixths.
- For the best cheese pull (because who doesn’t love that?), let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes after baking. This helps the cheese set slightly, so you get those stretchy cheese moments!
- You can use homemade meatballs, just make sure they’re fully cooked before adding them to the casserole. The baking time remains the same.
- If the casserole is browning too fast but the biscuits aren’t quite done, cover the dish with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking time.
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Meatball Sub Bubble Up Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can biscuits 10 biscuits
- 1 pound frozen meatballs
- 1 ½ cups spaghetti sauce
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- 4-6 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Remove the biscuits from the can and cut each one into six pieces. Kitchen shears work well for this.
- Put the sliced biscuits in the baking dish. Add the spaghetti sauce and stir until the biscuit pieces are well coated.1 can biscuits, 1 ½ cups spaghetti sauce
- Add the meatballs, pushing them down into the biscuits.1 pound frozen meatballs
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top. Then, add a layer of provolone over the entire casserole.½ cup mozzarella cheese, 4-6 slices provolone cheese
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until the dish is bubbly and the meatballs are cooked through.
Notes
- Kitchen shears are your best friend when cutting biscuits. While you can use a knife, scissors quickly cut the biscuits into sixths.
- You can vary the type of cheese or just use all mozzarella cheese if you prefer.
- Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes after baking.
- You can use homemade meatballs, just make sure they’re fully cooked before adding them to the casserole. The baking time remains the same.
- If the casserole is browning too fast but the biscuits aren’t quite done, cover the dish with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking time.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
