Cheesy Meatball Subs (Printable)
Toasted subs filled with juicy meatballs, marinara sauce and bubbling mozzarella—comforting Italian-American flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
→ Sauce
10 - 2 cups marinara sauce
11 - 1 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
13 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
14 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
→ Assembly
15 - 4 sub rolls (about 8 inches each)
16 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
17 - 2 tbsp butter, softened (optional, for toasting)
18 - Fresh basil leaves, to garnish (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and position the rack for broiling access.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly incorporated without overworking the meat. Shape into 12 uniform meatballs.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and brown on all sides, approximately 5–7 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, cook the onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and stir for 1 additional minute. Pour in the marinara sauce and dried basil, then bring to a simmer.
05 - Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
06 - Slice sub rolls lengthwise and optionally brush the cut sides with softened butter. Place under the broiler cut-side up for 1–2 minutes until golden and lightly crisped.
07 - Place 3 meatballs with sauce into each toasted roll. Distribute the remaining sauce evenly. Top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese and arrange subs on a baking sheet.
08 - Broil the assembled subs for 2–3 minutes until the mozzarella is fully melted, bubbly, and lightly browned in spots.
09 - Top with fresh basil leaves if desired and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The meatballs brown in the same pan you make the sauce in, so every bit of flavor stays right where it belongs.
- Broiling the assembled subs gives you that irresistible cheese pull without deep frying or any extra fuss.
- It scales up effortlessly for a game day crowd or scales down for a cozy dinner for two.
02 -
- Do not overmix the meatball mixture or they will become dense and tough instead of tender and juicy.
- Watch the broiler like a hawk during the final step because cheese goes from perfectly melted to burnt in seconds.
03 -
- Wet your hands slightly with cold water before rolling the meatballs and the mixture will not stick to your palms.
- Let the meatballs rest in the simmering sauce off the heat for 5 minutes before assembling, because they soak up even more flavor during that short rest.