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Home » Recipes » Recipes » Cheesy Italian Meatball Sub Dip

Cheesy Italian Meatball Sub Dip

Published: Feb 2, 2022 by Lynn Polito · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

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Homemade Italian mini meatballs are surrounded by a ricotta and rich tomato sauce in this cheesy meatball sub dip. A fun twist on a classic meatball sub, this dip is easy to make and perfect for the big game!

a hand towel is tied around the meatball sub dip skillet

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, however this is at no cost to you. Read my disclosure policy here.

When I first made this dip for my family, the reviews were raving! Everyone loved eating it while watching the football game. I think the key in this dip is the ricotta. It gives the dip a creamy, luscious consistency that you wouldn't get without it.

These meatballs are some of my family favorites, and I share the recipe in my 5 ingredient meatballs. They come out moist and tender every time!

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love Meatball Sub Dip
  • Ingredients
  • What Type Of Meat is Best for Meatballs?
  • Equipment You'll Need
  • Step By Step Photos
  • How To Make Meatball Sub Dip
  • How To Serve Meatball Sub Dip
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Other Recipes To Try
  • 📖 Recipe
A close up of the meatball subs

Why You'll Love Meatball Sub Dip

  • It's a fun twist on the classic dish! Meatball subs are a favorite in my house. When I was thinking about a fun dip to make for the big game or for a family party, I thought about making a family favorite into a dip!
  • It's easy to make! If you don't want to make homemade meatballs, use your favorite variety of frozen meatballs for an even easier dish!
  • You can make everything ahead of time! No one wants to stress the day you have a party, so make this dip ahead of time, place it in the refrigerator, and when you are ready to serve, bake for 10 minutes and you'll have a piping hot, delicious dip ready to go!

Ingredients

Ingredients for the meatball sub dip
  • Ground Beef- 80/20 ground beef is best.
  • Breadcrumbs- Flavored with Italian seasoning.
  • Eggs- To hold the ground beef together
  • Mozzarella- For the inside of the meatballs as well as to add cheese on top of the dip.
  • Garlic- For extra flavor.
  • Tomato Sauce- Your favorite jarred variety or you can make your own homemade marinara sauce.
  • Ricotta- Whole milk or part skim.

What Type Of Meat is Best for Meatballs?

To make tender and moist meatballs, you need some fat in the meat. 95/5 or even 93/7 ground beef would not have enough fat.

The type of meat you want to look for is 80% fat. Fat adds moisture and richness to the meatballs.

You can mix meat too, if you want to make these 6 ingredients meatballs instead. Ground pork has more fat than ground beef, a combination of both would make a delicious meatball.

To make these meatballs a little lighter, you can use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef.

Equipment You'll Need

  • Bowls
  • Silicone Mat
  • Baking Sheet
  • Mini Ice Cream Scoop- for even size and shaped meatballs.
  • Cast Iron Skillet

Step By Step Photos

The ground meat is in a bowl
Place the meat in a bowl
The bread crumbs, eggs, and garlic are added to the bowl with the meat
Add the eggs, breadcrumbs, garlic, and mozzarella
The meatballs are on a baking sheet
Scoop the meat mixture onto a baking sheet
The tomato sauce and ricotta are in a skillet
Add tomato sauce and ricotta to a cast iron skillet
The meatballs are added to the skillet
Add the cooked meatballs
The mozzarella is topping the meatballs
Top with mozzarella cheese

How To Make Meatball Sub Dip

  1. Preheat the oven to 375.
  2. In a bowl, add the ground meat, breadcrumbs, eggs, ½ cup of mozzarella, and ground garlic.  Mix well until fully combined.
  3. Top a baking sheet with a silicone mat. 
  4. With a mini ice cream scoop, scoop out the mixture and roll into balls.  Place the meatballs onto the prepared baking sheet. 
  5. Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes.
  6. While the meatballs bake, add the tomato sauce to a cast iron skillet. 
  7. Spoon ricotta into the tomato sauce.
  8. When the meatballs are done cooking, add them to the tomato sauce.
  9. Top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
  10. Place the skillet back in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and slightly browned. 
  11. Carefully take the skillet out of the oven and enjoy!
A meatball is being pulled out of the meatball sub dip

How To Serve Meatball Sub Dip

  • I like to serve this meatball dip with crostini. You can purchase them or you can make them. Take a loaf of sourdough bread or Italian bread and cut it into slices. Top with olive oil and salt. Bake for 5-7 minutes until toasted.
  • You can also make these into mini meatball subs. Serve this with small rolls and allow people to create their own mini meatball sub while they watch the game.
  • If you have leftovers, boil some pasta and use this dip as a sauce! It's full of mozzarella, ricotta, tomato sauce, and meatballs, the perfect pasta dinner!
Sourdough crostini are in the corner of the shot with the meatball sub dip in the other corner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make meatball sub dip in advance?

Yes! The meatballs can be made up to 3 days in advance. Then, when you are ready to serve the dip, add the tomato sauce, ricotta, and meatballs to a skillet. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake until the meatballs are heated through and the mozzarella is melted.

Can I use premade meatballs instead of homemade?

Yes! If you have a favorite variety of mini meatballs, those would be great! Add them to the skillet and nestle them into the tomato sauce. Bake until hot and bubbly.

How should leftovers be reheated?

Place any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the leftovers in an oven safe dish and top with mozzarella. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the mozzarella is melted.

I don't have a cast iron skillet, can I still make this dip?

Yes! Any oven safe dish or pan will work for this dip.

The meatball sub dip is in a skillet

Other Recipes To Try

Did you love this Meatball Sub Dip? I'd so appreciate it if you would give this recipe a 5-star review! That will help other hungry readers find my recipes!

And don't forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook and share this recipe on Pinterest! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!

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📖 Recipe

a hand towel is tied around the meatball sub dip skillet

Meatball Sub Dip

Homemade Italian mini meatballs are surrounded by a ricotta and rich tomato sauce in this cheesy meatball sub dip. A fun twist on a classic meatball sub, this dip is easy to make and perfect for the big game!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Author: Lynn Polito

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Ground Beef 80/20
  • ½ cup Breadcrumbs Italian seasoning
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Garlic Cloves
  • 1 ½ cups Mozzarella Shredded
  • 2 cups Tomato Sauce Your Favorite Jarred Variety
  • 1 cup Ricotta Whole milk

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375.
  • In a bowl, add the ground meat, breadcrumbs, eggs, ½ cup of mozzarella, and ground garlic.  Mix well until fully combined.
  • With a mini ice cream scoop, scoop out the mixture and roll into balls.  Place the meatballs onto a silicone lined baking sheet. 
  • Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes.
  • While the meatballs bake, add the tomato sauce to a cast iron skillet. 
  • Spoon ricotta into the tomato sauce.
  • When the meatballs are done cooking, add them to the tomato sauce.
  • Top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
  • Place the skillet back in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and slightly browned. 
  • Carefully take the skillet out of the oven and enjoy!

Notes

  • If you do not have a cast iron skillet, any oven safe pan or dish can be used instead.
  • 80/20 ground beef will make the most moist and tender meatballs. 
  • Whole milk or part skim ricotta can be used.
  • If you do not have a mini ice cream scoop, use a spoon and try to get the meatballs as even in shape as possible.
  • The silicone mat will prevent the meatballs from sticking to the baking sheet.
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LynnsWayofLife or tag #lynnswayoflife!
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Hey there! I'm Lynn and I'm based just outside of Boston. I'm a wife and mom of two with a passion for cooking and creating homemade food for my family.

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