Description
Classic and comforting Meatball Subs made with seasoned ground beef meatballs baked to perfection, coated in rich marinara sauce, and topped with melted mozzarella cheese inside warm hoagie rolls. This easy-to-make sandwich is perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound 85% lean ground beef (or leaner beef, turkey, or chicken)
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (reduce by half if using finer salt)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (Italian or panko breadcrumbs work too)
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 large egg
Sauce and Assembly
- 16 ounces marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade, about 1 jar)
- 4 hoagie rolls (submarine rolls or hot dog buns are alternatives)
- 2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese (or Parmesan or provolone cheese)
- Chopped fresh basil and/or Italian parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, finely chopped onion, fresh parsley, kosher salt, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and the egg. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the mixture into 16 evenly sized meatballs and place them spaced out evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 160°F, with crispy edges.
- Heat Marinara Sauce: While the meatballs bake, warm the marinara sauce in a saucepan over low to medium heat until simmering gently.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: As soon as the meatballs are done, transfer them into the saucepan with the marinara sauce and gently coat all the meatballs with the sauce.
- Assemble Subs: Spoon four sauced meatballs into each hoagie roll and top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Broil Subs: Place the assembled subs under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the broiler and sprinkle with freshly chopped basil and/or Italian parsley before serving warm.
Notes
- You can substitute the beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Adjust salt quantity depending on the type of salt used to avoid oversalting.
- Use fresh herbs for best flavor, but dried Italian seasoning can be used if fresh is unavailable.
- If you prefer softer rolls, skip the broiling step or reduce the broil time.
- Homemade marinara sauce enhances flavor but store-bought works well for convenience.
- Ensure meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F for safe consumption.
- Feel free to add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Meatball Subs, Meatball Sandwich, Italian Subs, Meatballs, Hoagie, Sandwich Recipes
