Meatball Sub

Big, juicy meatballs, melty cheese, and plenty of sauce - this meatball sub is pure comfort in a sandwich!

Whether you’re making it for game day, a cozy dinner, or just because you’re craving something amazing, this is the recipe for you 🙂

With its flavorful Italian-style meatballs, cooked in a fresh marinara sauce, smothered in gooey cheese, nestled in a warm, toasty bun, there's nothing better.

Recipe Video

Why This Recipe Works

This is the best meatball sandwich because it's incredibly easy to prepare and highly customizable.

Using simple ingredients, these meatballs are flavorful without being complex. Additionally, the cooking process is streamlined by baking the meatballs instead of frying, which allows you time to prepare the sauce while you wait.

Plus, you can easily swap ingredients to suit your taste or dietary preferences. Whether it's using different cheeses, like mozzarella or provolone, or adjusting the seasonings, the choice of buns or toppings, its adaptability makes this easy meatball sub perfect for any palate or occasion.

Ingredients

Ground Beef: 

Ground beef is traditionally used in Italian meatballs; however, for a variation on your meatball sub recipe, you can substitute ground pork, turkey, chicken, or a combination of these proteins to create a lighter or more flavorful homemade sub. For a vegan meatball sub, make your own vegan meatballs using plant-based alternatives like lentils, chickpeas, or vegan meat substitutes made from soy or pea protein.

Meatball Seasonings:

This recipe keeps the seasonings simple with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper because the parmesan cheese brings so much added flavor. However, you can create your own recipe for meatballs using your favorite seasonings. Try Italian seasoning for a classic taste, paprika for a subtle smokiness, fresh parsley for freshness, or cumin for added warmth.

Panko:

Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb known for its light, airy texture that absorbs less moisture, unlike traditional breadcrumbs, which are finer and denser. This leads to a lighter textured meatball that is juicy and tender. If you don't have any panko, traditional breadcrumbs, crushed crackers, and even oats can work to create delicious meatballs. 

Parmesan Cheese:

Parmesan cheese is added to these Italian-style meatballs for a burst of flavor, so it's best to choose a block of parmesan that you can grate fresh for use in your meatball sub. This will give you the boldest and freshest flavor, however you can also buy pre-grated parmesan at the store. Ensure you choose a good-quality premium brand, as some are known for adding anti-caking agents to their products. Grated asiago, grana padano, or pecorino romano are all delicious alternatives to parmesan cheese. You can also opt for vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast to add that cheesy flavor.

Egg:

The egg acts as a binding agent along with the breadcrumbs to hold your meatballs together. Alternatively, you can use mashed potatoes, apple sauce, silken tofu, or a mixture of water and flaxseed or chia seeds in place of egg in this easy meatball sub recipe.

Aromatics:

Garlic and red pepper flakes are sauteed in a hot pan to give the sauce a savory and warm aromatic flavor. To experiment with your marinara sauce, you can try sauteing shallots, onions, leeks, celery, carrots, or fennel before adding the tomatoes.

Crushed Tomatoes:

To make these subs with marinara, ensure you use high-quality crushed Roma tomatoes for the best flavor. San Marzano, plum, heirloom, and vine-ripened tomatoes also work well for a marinara sauce.

Basil Leaves:

Basil enhances the Italian flavors in a homemade meatball sub sandwich and pairs well with garlic, tomatoes, and cheese. If it's hard to access or out of season, you can also season your sauce with some fresh oregano, thyme, parsley, rosemary, or cilantro.

Gouda and Parmesan:

These two kinds of cheese complement the meatball sub and each other well. The gouda melts well, and its sweet and mild flavor pairs well with the sharp, salty taste of the parmesan. However, you can always use your favorite melty cheeses to create your own homemade meatball subs. Mozzarella, provolone, fontina, cheddar, and meltable vegan cheeses are all popular alternatives.

Sub Buns:

The buns that make the best meatball subs are buns that can hold up against the sauce without getting soggy. Italian hoagie rolls, French baguettes, ciabatta buns, and sub rolls are all excellent options.

Extra Toppings:

When it comes to building your homemade meatball sub, feel free to experiment with additional toppings. Some popular toppings include sauteed onions, roasted red peppers, banana peppers, caramelized onions, arugula, spinach, and pickled jalapenos.

How to Make a Meatball Sub

Step One: 

Combine the ground beef with the onion powder, garlic powder, panko, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and egg. Mix well to incorporate all the ingredients.

Step Two: 

Add ¾ cup water, enough to make the meat slightly tacky.

Step Three: 

Form 2" meatballs and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake them at 400F for 15-20 minutes.

Step Four:

Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Step Five: 

Add garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for 30 seconds to 1 minute until aromatic.

Step Six: 

Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, and basil leaves. Stir and bring to a simmer.

Step Seven: 

Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce, cover, and cook for 5-10 minutes.

Step Eight: 

Top each of the meatballs with some gouda and parmesan cheese. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes until the cheeses have melted.

Step Nine: 

Slice your sub buns and line them with some sauce, then place the meatballs in, cheese side up.

Step Ten: 

Serve your homemade meatball sub topped with some extra cheese, and enjoy!

Tips

• Ensure you don't overstuff the sub bun. Too many meatballs can make your baked meatball sub challenging to eat, so keep it balanced.
• Serve your Italian meatball subs immediately, as the sauce can cause the bun to get soggy when left sitting for too long.

What to Serve With a Meatball Sub

When considering what to serve with your meatball sub, there are a variety of sides to consider that pair perfectly with its rich, savory flavors. For a classic combo, serve your homemade meatball sub with crispy fries or Parmesan Crusted Potatoes.

A fresh Coleslaw or Caesar salad offers a lighter contrast. For something heartier, a side of spaghetti or fettuccine complements the Italian flavors of the meatball sub recipe. A cup of Italian wedding soup or tortellini soup also makes great accompaniments. 

You can also check out What To Serve With Meatball Subs for 15 more delicious ideas. 

FAQs

Can I make the meatballs ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the meatballs in advance and either refrigerate them for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. This is an excellent idea for assembling this quick meatball sub recipe.

How do I prevent the bread from getting soggy?

Toast the buns before adding the meatballs and sauce. This creates a barrier between the sauce and bread, keeping your meatball sub sandwich from becoming soggy.

Can I make a gluten-free meatball sub?

Yes, you can use gluten-free breadcrumbs in the meatballs and gluten-free sub rolls to create a gluten-free Italian meatball sub.

What's the best way to store a leftover meatball sub?

To store leftover meatball subs, separate the meatballs and sauce from the bread to prevent sogginess. Refrigerate both in airtight containers for up to 3 days. To freeze, place meatballs and sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat the meatballs separately before assembling your meatball sub.

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