Hearty Meatball Sub Sandwich (Print version)

Tender meatballs in rich marinara nestled in soft rolls topped with melted provolone cheese.

# What You Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - ½ lb ground pork
03 - 1 large egg
04 - ½ cup breadcrumbs
05 - 2 tablespoons milk
06 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - ½ teaspoon black pepper

→ Marinara Sauce

12 - 2 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
13 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
14 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
15 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Assembly

16 - 4 long sandwich rolls (sub or hoagie rolls)
17 - 8 slices provolone cheese
18 - 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for toasting rolls)
19 - Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, Parmesan, minced garlic, chopped parsley, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - Shape the mixture into 16 meatballs, approximately 1¼ inches in diameter each.
04 - Place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking tray and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
05 - While meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
06 - Pour marinara sauce into the saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer.
07 - Transfer baked meatballs to the simmering sauce and cook gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
08 - Optionally, slice sandwich rolls lengthwise, spread butter on the insides, and toast under the broiler or in a pan until golden.
09 - Place 4 meatballs with sauce in each roll. Top each with 2 slices of provolone cheese.
10 - Place assembled subs on a baking tray and broil for 2 to 3 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
11 - Garnish sandwiches with fresh basil or parsley and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The meatballs stay tender because you don't overwork the mixture, a small detail that changes everything.
  • Broiling the assembled subs melts the cheese into the sauce, creating pockets of gooey richness you can't get any other way.
02 -
  • Baking the meatballs first instead of browning them in a pan is the difference between a dinner you enjoy and one that feels like work; the oven does all the browning for you evenly.
  • Don't skip the broiler step at the end—it's what transforms this from just meat and sauce in a roll into something molten and irresistible.
03 -
  • Make extra meatballs and freeze them uncooked; they go straight from freezer to oven with no thaw needed, perfect for weeknight dinners.
  • If you want deeper flavor, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce or a splash of red wine while it simmers.
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