Description
Juicy beef meatballs baked until tender, tucked into soft mini slider buns, topped with rich marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. These Meatball Sub Bites are warm, cheesy, and perfect for parties, game nights, or a cozy family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 12 mini slider buns
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into 12 evenly sized meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the mini slider buns in half, brush lightly with olive oil, and toast in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes until lightly golden.
- Place one meatball inside each bun, spoon marinara sauce over the top, and sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Return the assembled bites to the oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving, then enjoy warm.
Notes
- Do not overmix the meat mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- Lightly toasting the buns helps prevent sogginess.
- You can prepare the meatballs one day in advance and store them in the refrigerator before assembling.
- Cooked meatballs can be frozen for up to 2 months and thawed before use.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: meatball sub bites, mini meatball sliders, party appetizers, cheesy meatball sandwiches, baked meatball bites