Meatball Sub Recipe: Delicious Homemade Meatball Subs!

Meatball Subs are a real crowd-pleaser and super easy to whip up! Whether you’re making your meatballs or using frozen ones, just let them simmer in a tasty tomato sauce before stuffing them into a roll and adding cheese. Then, pop them under the broiler until they’re golden and the cheese is all melty—it’s delicious!

These hot submarine-style sandwiches are packed with meatiness, sauciness, and cheesiness! They’re perfect for lunch, dinner, or your next game-day get-together!

Imagine juicy homemade meatballs soaking up a tangy-sweet tomato sauce, nestled in a buttery toasted bun with lots of gooey cheese—yum! The best meatball subs have big, soft, tender, and juicy meatballs. They shouldn’t be crispy or browned at all.

I like to keep things simple with melty mozzarella cheese and sauce, but feel free to get creative with toppings like onions, peppers, mushrooms, provolone, pepperoncini, jalapeños, parsley—the options are endless!

And when it comes to bread, use whatever you like best. I used a baguette in the photos because I love them, but sometimes I prefer a soft and squishy submarine sandwich roll or a hoagie roll. You could even use hot dog buns if that’s what you have on hand. It’s all about making your taste buds happy!

Meatball Sub Recipe

These meatball sub sandwiches are a hit with everyone! They're made with homemade meatballs and tangy marinara sauce, piled onto a hoagie roll with melted mozzarella and provolone cheese. Sprinkle on some fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor. Don't forget to grab plenty of napkins! The homemade meatballs are super juicy, packed with flavor, and really simple to make. You can even store them in the fridge for up to 5 days. Once you try these meatball subs, you'll want them again and again!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 5

Calories 680 kcal

Equipment

• Cutting Board
• Knife
• Baking sheet
• Spatula or Tongs

Ingredients

  

For the Sandwiches:

• 2 cups Pasta sauce or marinara sauce
• 4 Hoagie rolls
• 4 tbsp Garlic butter
• 1 cup shredded Provolone or mozzarella cheese

For the Homemade Meatballs:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• ½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp Onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Mix ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
• Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or until fully cooked.
• Put the cooked meatballs in a saucepan with pasta sauce.
• Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Spread garlic butter inside each hoagie roll.
• Broil the rolls until they are golden brown, about 3 minutes.
• Put the toasted rolls in a 9×13 baking dish.
• Place 4 meatballs in each roll.
• Add a little extra sauce and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
• Broil the sandwiches for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Serve with extra sauce on the side for dipping, if you like.

Nutrition Facts:

What Toppings Go On a Meatball Sub?

You can keep it classic with melty mozzarella cheese and sauce. Still, you can also try adding onions, peppers, mushrooms, provolone, pepperoncini, jalapeños, and parsley you can add whatever you like!

What Kind of Bread For a Meatball Sub?

You can use any long bread you like. We used a baguette in the photos because I love baguettes, but sometimes I prefer a soft and squishy roll like a submarine sandwich roll or a hoagie roll. You can even use hot dog buns. Sliders and pull-apart buns work well too!

Can I Fully Make the Meatballs Ahead of Time?

You can, but they might not turn out as soft and juicy if you fully cook them ahead of time. However, if you prefer to prepare them in advance, you can store them in the fridge or freezer and then simmer them in sauce as needed.