Meatball Sub
Italian-American meatball submarine — saucy meatballs in a soft sub roll with melted mozzarella. Classic deli sandwich. The trick is good homemade meatballs and proper bread that holds up to the sauce.
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
20 min
Servings
4
Calories
609 cal
🛠 Interactive Recipe Tools — Use them right here on this page
Smart Servings Scaler
- Meatballs1
- Bread2 slices
- Cheese1 cup
- Lettuce2 cups
- Tomato2 medium
- Onion1 medium
- Mayonnaise3 tbsp
- Salt1 tsp
- Black Pepper½ tsp
All quantities scaled automatically from 4 servings.
Ingredients
Makes 4 servings · Use the Servings Scaler above to adjust
- Meatballs1
- Bread2 slices
- Cheese1 cup
- Lettuce2 cups
- Tomato2 medium
- Onion1 medium
- Mayonnaise3 tbsp
- Salt1 tsp
- Black Pepper0.5 tsp
Instructions
- 1
Make meatballs: mix 1 lb ground beef + ½ lb ground pork, 1 cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup milk, 2 beaten eggs, ½ cup grated Parmesan, 4 minced garlic cloves, ¼ cup chopped parsley, 1.5 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Form into 16-20 meatballs.
- 2
Brown the meatballs: heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Brown the meatballs 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
- 3
Simmer in sauce: in the same skillet, add 1 jar (24 oz) of marinara sauce. Return meatballs. Simmer covered 20-25 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is reduced.
- 4
Slice 4 sub rolls in half (don't cut all the way through). Toast lightly under broiler.
- 5
Fill each roll with 4-5 meatballs, generous sauce, and top with shredded mozzarella (¼ cup per sandwich) and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
- 6
Return to the broiler 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with chopped fresh basil. Serve immediately with chips or a side salad.
Watch how to make Meatball Sub
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💡 Expert Tips
- 1.Mix of beef + pork. Beef alone is dense; pork adds tenderness.
- 2.Breadcrumbs + milk panade. Keeps meatballs tender.
- 3.Brown then simmer. Develops flavor and gentle cooking keeps them tender.
- 4.Toast the bread first. Untoasted bread goes immediately soggy under sauce.
🔬 Why It Works
Meatball subs balance multiple elements: tender saucy meatballs, melted cheese, toasted bread. The bread soaks up some sauce (intentional and delicious) but stays structural because of the initial toast. Mozzarella melts beautifully and binds everything. The combination is comfort food at its peak.
Frequently Asked Questions
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