The Best Meatball Sub with Juicy Homemade Meatballs
These easy homemade meatball subs are the kind of recipe you’ll keep coming back to. The meatballs are flavorful, freezer-friendly, and incredibly versatile. Perfect for subs today and leftovers tomorrow.
Ingredients
For the subs:
- Olive oil
- 8 Hoagie rolls or sub rolls
- 8 slices mozzarella or Swiss cheese
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 1 yellow onion - diced
- 4 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 slices bread - pulsed into crumbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Sauté the aromatics:
- Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning, and sauté for another minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Make the meatball mixture:
- In a large bowl, add the rest of the meatball ingredients as well as the sautéed onions and garlic. Lightly oil your hands and gently fold and mix until combined - avoid overmixing.
Shape and brown the meatballs:
- Roll the mixture into meatballs, about 2½ tablespoons each. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer (working in batches if needed) and cook for about 2-3 minutes without moving, until browned on the bottom. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until browned on the other side. Remove and set aside. (They don’t need to be fully cooked yet.)
Simmer in marinara:
- Carefully drain excess oil from the pan. Add in the marinara sauce, sugar, and a pinch of salt, stirring to combine. Return the meatballs back to the pan and stir gently to coat the meatballs with the marinara sauce. Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid, and cook on low for 20 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through and tender.
Prep the oven:
- While the meatballs simmer, preheat the oven to broil.
Assemble the subs:
- Slice the hoagie rolls open and spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on each. Place 4 meatballs into each roll, spoon 2-3 tablespoons of marinara over the top, and finish with a slice of mozzarella or Swiss cheese.
Broil:
- Place the subs on a baking sheet, cheese-side up. Broil on high for 1–2 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the bread edges are lightly golden.
Finish and serve:
- Spoon a little bit extra marinara sauce over the cheese and top with some more chopped parsley, if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
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