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
Notes
TIPS:
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.
Need to double the recipe? You can easily double the meatballs recipe and double the sub recipe to make 6 meatball sub hoagies.