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Best Easy Mini Football Meatball Subs for Game Day

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Print Recipe

These Easy Mini Football-Shaped Meatball Subs are the perfect game day snack—fun, flavorful, and totally stress-free. They look like you spent hours on them, but come together in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 12 slider buns or small hoagie rolls
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • Fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. If you have a cooling rack that fits inside the baking sheet, set it on top.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, Parmesan, minced garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and milk. Use your hands to gently mix everything together until evenly incorporated.
  3. Take about 1.5 tablespoons of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Then, using your palms, gently shape it into an oval. Pinch the ends slightly to taper them, like a tiny football. Place each shaped meatball on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about an inch of space between them. You should get about 18-20 mini footballs.
  4. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and lightly browned on the outside. If using a cooling rack, you won’t need to flip them. If directly on the sheet, flip halfway through. An internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) means they’re done.
  5. While the meatballs bake, warm the marinara sauce in a small saucepan over low heat. About 5 minutes before the meatballs are done, split your slider buns and place them on a separate baking sheet, cut side up. Brush the tops with melted butter. Toast in the oven for 3-4 minutes until lightly golden.
  6. Remove the toasted buns from the oven. Place 2-3 mini football meatballs on the bottom half of each bun. Spoon a little warm marinara over the meatballs. Top with a generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella. Return the assembled subs to the oven for 2-3 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  7. Remove from the oven, place the top bun on each sub, and garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Keep your hands damp when shaping meatballs to prevent sticking. Don’t skip the milk—it keeps meatballs tender. Toast the buns to prevent sogginess. Use a thermometer to ensure meatballs reach 160°F (71°C).

Nutrition

Keywords: mini football meatball subs, game day snacks, meatball subs, football shaped meatballs, easy appetizer

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