Meatball Subs on a Stick a unique appetizer or main course the whole family will love! This twist on the classic meatball sub so is so easy and fun to make.
Meatball Subs on a Stick Recipe
This Meatball Sub on a Stick Recipe is a super fun spin on the classic cheesy meatball sandwich that everyone loves! They’re perfect for a quick meal or a unique appetizer. If you’re looking for a healthier option, feel free to substitute and make it with ground turkey instead of beef.
You’re going to love these cheesy stuffed meatballs. Not only is there cheese in them, I brush garlic butter on the sticks for added flavor and bake them again with more garlic butter and cheese for extra gooeyness.
Then there’s the added fun of dunking this cheesy meatball sandwich-on-a-stick in plenty of marinara sauce! What’s not to love about these? It’s a must try and I can guarantee kids of all ages (and adults of course) will have a blast with them.
What is in Meatball Subs on a Stick?
- Meatballs - in this recipe homemade meatballs are packed with flavor with herbs, spices, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and more. You can use store bought frozen meatballs but you won't be able to stuff them with cheese. Or you could check out your local deli for premade meatballs and just stuff a cube of cheese in them!
- Mozzarella Cheese - I love mozzarella cheese as the stuffing for these meatballs. It is the perfectly gooey melty cheese. However, you can really use any cheese. For a bit of spice you can even use a spicy jalapeno Havarti or pimento cheese!
- Pizza Dough - to keep this a quick and easy recipe I use store bought pizza dough. The easiest variety to work with is a tube of Pillsbury pizza dough as it comes pre-rolled! You can also use a ball of store bought pizza dough or homemade pizza dough.
- Garlic Butter - I think we can all agree that a little garlic butter makes everything better! To get a nice golden brown color on the pizza dough and to add extra flavor to the meatballs, garlic butter is brushed on the skewers before baking. Once they are baked a little more garlic butter is brushed on top.
- Parmesan - the perfect garnish for fresh baked meatball subs on a stick! The cheese melts once it hits the baked skewers, simply delicious.
- Marinara Sauce - you can serve the skewers as is, or with a side of marinara sauce to dip! Store bought works great. I like stopping by my local Italian bakery and grabbing a jar of Nonna's secret recipe marinara sauce.
How to Make Meatball Subs on a Stick
Full Printable Recipe at Bottom of Page
Prepare the Meatballs
1 Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Or, preheat Air Fryer to 375°F.
2 In large deep bowl combine all of the meatball ingredients. Mix until just evenly combined. Do not over mix or the meatballs’ with be tough and dense.
3 Shape into 36 meatballs and add one cube of mozzarella cheese into each. Roll the meatball firmly to seal the cheese in.
4 If using a tube of store bought pizza dough, unroll the dough and cut into 12 long strips. If using a ball of store bought pizza dough, roll the dough into a large rectangle and cut into 12 long strips.
Assemble the Skewers
1 Insert a skewer through one end of the dough strip and then through a meatball. Wrap the dough around the top of the meatball and slide onto skewer. Repeat this process with 2 more meatballs, ending the skewer with the end of the dough strip. Repeat with remaining dough and meatballs. Space dough and meatballs away from each other by about ¼″.
Cook the Skewers
1 Combine all of the garlic butter ingredients in a small bowl.
2 Place skewers on the baking sheet and brush with half of the garlic butter mixture. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through and the dough is golden brown.
3 Brush with remaining garlic butter, top with additional parmesan cheese.
Serve with marinara sauce. Enjoy!
Looking for More Easy Appetizers?
Try some of my most popular recipes!
- Bang Bang Shrimp Egg Rolls - the perfect sweet and spicy appetizer for your next get together! Filled with shrimp tossed in an irresistible bang bang sauce and cabbage slaw. These are a must try!
- Meatball Sub Cupcakes - a bite sized version of meatball subs perfect for get togethers and entertaining. A cute 2 bite appetizer your guests will devour.
- Pretzel Dogs - just as delicious as the ones you get from the mall or carnival. It’s easier than you think to make. This is a simple dough recipe, wrapped around the hot dogs, boiled, then baked.
Enjoy!
- Sab
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission.
Meatball Subs on a Stick
Equipment
Ingredients
- 36 cubes mozzarella cheese
- 1 tube store bought pizza dough
- 12 wooden skewers
- Marinara sauce (for dipping)
Meatballs
- 2 lb lean ground beef
- 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
- ⅔ cup bread crumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1 onion (shredded)
- 6 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon chili flakes
- 2 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoon dried basil
- 2 tablespoon dried parsley
Garlic Butter
- ¼ cup butter (melted)
- 4 tablespoon garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoon parsley (fresh choppped, or dried)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Or, preheat Air Fryer to 375°F.
- In large deep bowl combine all of the meatball ingredients. Mix until just evenly combined. Do not over mix or the meatballs’ with be tough and dense.
- Shape into 36 meatballs and add one cube of mozzarella cheese into each. Roll the meatball firmly to seal the cheese in.
- If using a tube of store bought pizza dough, unroll the dough and cut into 12 long strips. If using a ball of store bought pizza dough, roll the dough into a large rectangle and cut into 12 long strips.
- Insert a skewer through one end of the dough strip and then through a meatball. Wrap the dough around the top of the meatball and slide onto skewer. Repeat this process with 2 more meatballs, ending the skewer with the end of the dough strip. Repeat with remaining dough and meatballs. Space dough and meatballs away from each other by about ¼″.
- Combine all of the garlic butter ingredients in a small bowl.
- Place skewers on the baking sheet and brush with half of the garlic butter mixture. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through and the dough is golden brown (or Air Fry for about 15 - 20 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through and the dough is golden brown).
- Brush with remaining garlic butter, top with additional parmesan cheese.
- Serve with marinara sauce. Enjoy!
Peter says
These were so fun and delicious! A real hit with my family.
Kmac says
@Peter, how did you get the dough to stay around the meatballs? My dough is flimsy and well I’m disappointed. Any secrets you can share? Please
fedbysab says
Hi, if you are having difficulty wrapping the dough around the meatballs you can try placing the meatballs on a cutting board spaced apart. Then alternate the dough around the meatballs and then bring the meatballs closer together to squeeze the dough between the meatballs. Then insert the skewer through the meatballs and the dough. For a sturdier dough you can use Pillsbury store-bought pizza dough in a tube. It comes pre-rolled into a rectangle and is not as flimsy as a store-bought pizza dough ball or homemade pizza dough.
B.L. says
Can these be frozen and if so how to reheat? Thanks
fedbysab says
Yes you can freeze these after they have been cooked and reheat them in the oven (350F for about 10 minutes) or in the air fryer (350F for about 5 minutes).
Lesley says
Do you think I could make the meatballs ahead of time and freeze them before cooking?
Then thaw them out, do the pizza dough part and then bake them in the oven?
fedbysab says
Hi Lesley, yes you can do that! You can also use store bought frozen meatballs.
Wendy Anderson says
If using frozen premade meatballs, do you need to thaw them first?
Sabrina says
Yes, I would recommend thawing them first to ensure they cook evenly without the dough getting over cooked. Enjoy!
Alisa says
The recipe calls for "shredded onion". Does this mean using a grater or a special way of cutting? Thanks for any help!
fedbysab says
Yes you can use a grater, it bring out the liquid in the onion which makes the meatballs extra moist! Enjoy 🙂
Ana says
These are on repeat now! Great for lunches, snacks or parties.
Ana says
Delicious and huge hit, especially kids!
B K says
Great for the ones who don't like the sub bun all wet and soggy. Dip in sauce is so much better,