Easy Meatball Sub Recipe (30 Minutes)
Tender meatballs simmered in a simple marinara sauce, topped with melted cheese in a buttery toasted sub roll. This easy meatball sub recipe is satisfying comfort food with options for a homemade or shortcut version.
Either way, the results will be pretty darn delicious. If you like Italian food, it’s highly likely you will enjoy this easy weeknight meal.
Choose homemade or shortcuts
No judging here. Yes, homemade is usually better because you have full control over ingredients and seasonings. But there’s a trade off of course. More work.
Convenience foods have their place though. If the ingredients are simple, they can be just as nutritious, not to mention a huge time saver. In fact, we’re big believers in shortcuts when time is short or we’re feeling tired (or lazy). Check out these 13 convenience foods to shortcut meal prep that don’t compromise taste or nutrition.
Bottom line: Make homemade meatballs and homemade tomato sauce (40-45 minutes) – both easily made ahead. Buy the meatballs and the sauce (about 20-35 minutes). Or make one and buy the other. Your choice. Options are included in the recipe card.
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
Meatballs: Buy your favorite frozen or fresh meatballs or make your own using any combination of ground beef, chicken, veal or Italian sausage. Here is our easy recipe for Italian meatballs.
Marinara sauce: The recipe includes a quick and delicious marinara sauce, but you can take a shortcut and buy a sauce like Rao’s or White Linen from Costco. Or a longer route with a fresh San Marzano tomato sauce. You can even use a meat sauce if you prefer.
Buns/Rolls: Buy sub rolls or use regular hotdog rolls if your meatballs are on the smaller side, slider buns, hoagie rolls or French rolls.
Cheese: The most common cheeses used for meatball sandwiches are Mozzarella cheese and Provolone sliced cheese. Some people like to sprinkle on Parmesan cheese too.
Variations:
- Seasoning: I keep very simple, but you can add Italian seasoning, fresh chopped basil leaves and a little bit (or more) of red pepper flakes for heat.
- Add-ins: Purists stick to meatballs, sauce and cheese. If I’m feeling energetic, I like to add sautéed onions and bell pepper or mushrooms.
Step by step instructions
Tips on making juicy flavorful meatballs
- Use a combination of meats like beef, pork, chicken or Italian sausage. – not too lean. You want 15-20% fat for flavor and moistness
- Mix meat with a “panade”, a mixture of bread and milk (or other liquid)
- Add seasoning, chopped fresh Italian parsley and sautéed onions to meat for great flavor.
- Don’t over-mix the meatball ingredients and don’t pack the meatballs too tightly.
Recipe FAQ
Marinara sauce is a simple, quick sauce – chunky or smooth – made with tomatoes (canned are fine), olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. Sometimes basil is added as well.
San Marzano tomatoes are the best types of tomatoes to cook with because they have a sweet flavor, low acidity, firm pulp and low seed count. They simply make the best sauce.
What to serve with meatball subs
For a casual meal, a nice soup and salad do the trick. Soups that pair well: pastina soup with vegetables and kale potato and sausage soup. Both take under 30 minutes to make. Another good option is fresh vegetable sticks with a dip.
Shortcuts
- Buy pre-made frozen or fresh meatballs
- Buy a good quality marinara sauce
- Get shredded Mozzarella cheese or Provolone slices
Make Ahead
- The meatballs can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for 3-4 days or frozen (cooked or uncooked) for 2 months.
- The tomato sauce can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for a 4-5 days and in the freezer for 3 months or more.
- Assembly of the meatball sandwiches should be done just before serving.
Meatball recipes you might like
- Hungarian chicken paprikash with meatballs
- Saucy baked chicken meatballs
- Meatball stew
- Wedding soup recipe with zest
- Easy ground chicken meatballs (sweet and sour)
Or how about using your ground beef in a different form? Try our ground beef stir fry (one pan, 30 minutes) or meatloaf with mushroom gravy.
Easy Meatball Sub Recipe (30 Minutes)
Ingredients
- 16 cooked meatballs, Note 1
- 4 sub rolls, Note 2
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1 cup (110 grams) grated Mozzarella cheese or 4 Provolone cheese slices
- Optional: sprinkle of garlic powder, grated Parmesan cheese
easy marinara sauce, Note 3
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 540 ml canned diced tomatoes (1 can), Note 4 I use San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons (or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- MAKE MEATBALLS: For store bought meatballs, bake according to package instructions. For your own meatballs, make these old fashioned Italian meatballs. You will need to heat the oven to 500F/260C to bake them. I prefer baking them, but you can also pan fry them in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
- MAKE MARINARA SAUCE: For a shortcut, 2 cups/473 ml use a good bottled or canned sauce, Note 4. Otherwise…. In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil on medium heat, add garlic and stir for a minute (make sure it doesn't burn as it will become bitter). Add the diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Stir. Cook uncovered for about 20 minutes until thickened. Adjust seasonings (and add basil or Italian seasoning if you like).
- SIMMER MEATBALLS IN SAUCE: Add meatballs to sauce and cook on medium for 10-20 minutes to allow meatballs to soften and absorb the sauce
- ASSEMBLE MEATBALL MARINARA SANDWICH: ° Slice hoagie rolls or sub rolls in half, butter insides or brush with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder if you like. Place on baking sheet. ° Toast rolls in toaster oven or place them butter side up baking tray and broil 2-3 minutes 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) from top of oven (set your oven rack higher). Set aside top half of roll.° Add 3-4 meatballs with sauce on bottom half of each sub roll. ° Sprinkle on grated cheese on top of the meatballs (about 2 tablespoons per sandwich). Broil for 3 minutes until melted. ° Serve: Spoon on a bit of extra sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese if desired. Place top half of sub roll on cheesy meatballs and serve.
Recipe Notes
- Meatball options: For homemade meatballs, I use our old fashioned Italian meatballs recipe. Or I make chicken meatballs used in our Hungarian chicken paprikash recipe. Alternatively, buy any frozen or fresh meatballs and cook according to package directions.
- Roll options: Use sub rolls, hoagie rolls, hot dog buns (for smaller meatballs), French rolls or slider buns (for one big meatball).
- Marinara sauce options (shortcut): Good options for store-bought sauces are White Linen from Costco, Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce and Whole Foods 365 Marinara Sauce. If not available where you live, just buy one that has the least additives. You will need about 2 cups/474 ml for this recipe.
- Canned tomatoes: If you only have canned whole tomatoes, drain out half of the liquid, then squish the tomatoes into the pot with your clean hands. With less liquid, the sauce will cook faster. If you prefer a smooth sauce without any chunks, blend it with an immersion blender. I don’t bother.
- Make ahead:
- The meatballs can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for 3-4 days or frozen (cooked or uncooked) for 2 months.
- The tomato sauce can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days and in the freezer for 3 months or more.
- Assembly of the meatball sandwiches should be done just before serving.
