Meatball Sub is a hot delicious sandwich packed with tender Italian meatballs, marinara sauce, and gooey, melted Mozzarella Cheese. I’m sharing a few tips to make the best Meatball Subs right at home. You can easily make them with leftover meatballs or make meatballs specially for the subs ahead of time.
If you’re a fan of sub sandwiches, make sure to try our White BBQ Chicken Sub, Tomato Mozzarella Italian Sausage Hoagies, and the Baked Italian Sub.
The Best Sandwich In The World
Meatball sub is my second favorite thing to order at pizzerias, besides pizza of course. You just can’t beat Italian meatballs packed into a fresh hoagie, surrounded in marinara sauce, and topped with extra Mozzarella cheese. Oh, and the whole thing is toasted hot in the oven to create a perfect hot and cheesy sandwich.
These subs are so easy to make at home, it will take about 20 minutes and you will be sinking your teeth onto one. Just make sure to let it cool first!
What you need is a killer Italian Meatballs to start with. I happen to have one right here, so make sure to use this awesome recipe for the sandwich. Homemade meatballs and homemade marinara sauce is what will make this sub unlike anything you can buy.
You can also prepare the meatballs and the sauce ahead of time or use leftovers. Meatball sub is the best use of leftovers after a family Spaghetti and Meatballs night. Meatballs and sauce can be kept in the fridge for 3-5 day, stored in an air-tight containers. Both can also be portioned and frozen.
If you have some meatballs and marinara sauce in the freezer, you can make Meatball subs fast and easy any day of the week. Just make sure to pull everything from the freezer the night before and slow-thaw it in the refrigerator.
Tips For The BEST Results:
- As I mentioned above, homemade meatballs and sauce will make your sandwiches the best.
- Get the recipe for Homemade Meatballs and you can make them right for the sandwich or a day before.
- Make Homemade Marinara sauce at the same time as the meatballs and you can store them together or in separate containers.
- Get deli-fresh hoagies or sub rolls for the best bread. Deli hoagies have a great texture because it’s crunchy on the outside but soft and spongy on the inside.
- Spread some marinara sauce on the bottom of the sandwich, before adding the meatballs, to soak some of it onto the bread.
- Add some freshly grated Parmesan cheese under meatballs as well, to add more amazing classic Italian flavors.
- Use shredded cheese on top instead of slices so it spreads more evenly over the meatballs and bread.
- Meatballs subs make great party food too. Bake several meatball subs at the same time and then slice each hoagie into 3 or 4 pieces. Place mini sandwiches on the tray and your guests will be all over it.
How To Make It:
Meatball subs are best made in the oven.
Slice hoagie rolls in the middle, on top, but not all the way through. Place hoagies in the baking dish or rimmed baking sheet side by side. Depending on the dish, you may need to lightly grease it or cover with some aluminum foil.
Spread a couple of tablespoons of marinara sauce on the bottom of each hoagie and sprinkle some fresh grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
Depending on the size of the hoagie roll and size of the meatballs, you can fit 4-5 meatballs in each roll. Place the meatballs inside the roll, side by side.
Spread a little more marinara sauce over the meatballs.
Generously spread shredded Mozzarella cheese over each hoagie and sprinkle some dried oregano.
Bake for 15-17 minutes. (If using cold meatballs and marinara sauce, you would need to add about 5 minutes to bake time.)
Storing and Reheating Instructions:
Leftover meatballs subs can be reheated easily in the oven.
Wrap each cooled sub in aluminum foil air-tight and store it in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
To easily reheat them, preheat oven to 350° and place wrapped sub on a baking sheet and into the oven.
Reheat for about 10 minutes and then open the foil. Let the sub toast for about 5 more minutes and it’s ready to enjoy again.
Pin These Subs For Later
Meatball Subs
Ingredients
For Meatball Subs:
- 3 hoagie rolls
- 12 Italian Meatballs (12-15 meatballs)
- 1- 1.5 cup Marinara Sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 3 tbsp fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 1-1.5 cup thick shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 2 tsp dried oregano
For Homemade Meatballs:
- 1/2 lb ground beef 85%/15% preferably
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1 egg
- 1 thin slice of whole wheat bread soaked in milk squeezed
- 1/4 cup minced yellow onion
- 1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 2 garlic cloves pressed
- 1 tbsp fresh minced basil
- 1/2 tbsp fresh minded parsley
- 1/2-1 tsp kosher coarse or sea salt to taste
- 1/8-1/4 tsp black pepper to taste
Instructions
- For the best results, we love to use leftover Italian Meatballs because they are cooked right in the sauce. If you wish, you can make the meatballs below just for the subs or use other meatballs you love.
For Homemade Meatballs:
- Combine the ground beef, ground pork, egg, minced onion, parmesan cheese, pressed garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in large mixing bowl. Squeeze out the slice of bread, break it up, and add it to the bowl. Mix everything very well.Try to mix quickly but thoroughly.
- Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a baking sheet with some oil or cover it with parchment paper.
- Grease your hands with some cooking spray. To get even meatballs, use a cookie scoop. I use #40 scoop but you can use a slightly larger one. Try to keep the meatballs about 1 inch in diameter. (You can make meatballs a little bigger or smaller according to your own preference. Just remember to adjust cooking time if making bigger or smaller meatballs.)
- Quickly roll all the meatballs and add them to the baking sheet, close together but not touching.
- Bake the meatballs for 20-22 minutes, depending on the size.
To Make Meatball Subs
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Slice hoagie rolls in the middle, on top, but not all the way through. Place hoagies in the baking dish or rimmed baking sheet side by side. Depending on the dish, you may need to lightly grease it or cover with some aluminum foil.
- Spread a couple of tablespoons of marinara sauce on the bottom of each hoagie and sprinkle some fresh grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
- Depending on the size of the hoagie roll and size of the meatballs, you can fit 4-5 meatballs in each roll. Place the meatballs inside the roll, side by side.
- Spread a little more marinara sauce over the meatballs.
- Generously spread shredded Mozzarella cheese over each hoagie and sprinkle some dry oregano.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes. (If using cold meatballs and marinara sauce, you would need to add about 5 minutes to bake time.)
Video
Nutrition
Ashley Jackson says
Can u use frozen Italian meatballs ?
LyubaB says
Sure, just make sure to thaw them first!
Darnell says
So easy — cuz I had extra meatballs left over from night before — my hubby had been wanting a meatball sub for long time🤗
I saw your recipe & like it & I had everything— so just put all together 🤗
My hubby is trying it now & it’s a 👍👍 up!!
Will be doing it again !!❤️
LyubaB says
I am so glad you liked it, Darnell!
Marie says
THEY LOOK DELICIOUS, WOW!
Denise says
My hubby loves these. Easy to make & very tasty.
Tammy says
Hoagie was so much bread! But delicious nonetheless.
LyubaB says
You could scrap some of the bread out of the middle next time if you don’t like a lot of bread.
Pam says
Made these tonight! So good I added garlic butter to my bread. Thank you! I will definitely be making these again!
LyubaB says
Yum! Love garlic butter! I am so glad you liked the recipe, Pam!
Deedee Fiffie says
That’s sounds good next time I’m definitely trying that.
Yueretia says
I love this recipe hands down great. I did add sauteed onion and bell pepper it made it awesome
LyubaB says
I am so glad you liked it, Yuertia!
Jay moon says
Tried this recipe. Will not be putting sauce as first layer again. Flavor was good however bread became soggy.
LyubaB says
I haven’t had that result, sorry that happened to you.
Crissy says
These were amazing, I used your meatball recipe, so perfect! So smart to cut the rolls down the middle, the sandwich held together perfectly! Will definitely make these again! I baked them about 10 minutes!
LyubaB says
Aw, thank you for your kind comment! I am so glad you liked them 🙂
Michele says
I’m guessing you cook the meatballs first??
LyubaB says
Yes, you cook the meatballs first! 🙂
Miriam W Jones says
VERY NICE MUST TRY IT
LyubaB says
Miriam, Thank you!