This delicious submarine-style sandwich is made with savory Italian meatballs and a homemade marinara sauce served on a perfectly toasted Italian roll!
Serves 6
Whether you're preparing for a simple and delicious game day feast or just want an affordable, easy-to-pull-together dinner, these Italian Meatball Sub Sandwiches will definitely be a crowd favorite!
There are several variations of this classic sandwich available all over the internet so we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here. My family and I have tried a few different versions, but we just couldn’t find one that we all loved - until now. Just a few simple tweaks and a homemade marinara sauce were all it needed to become one of our family favorites!
One of the things we love about this recipe is that the meatballs are baked. Pan-frying can take a while and it makes a mess. Meatballs cooked in a slow cooker tend to fall apart more easily. These meatballs are so tender and juicy but still hold their shape perfectly!
As a busy, homeschooling mom who works outside of the home, one of my favorite things when it comes to cooking, are items that can be prepared ahead of time. I need meals to come together quickly before the family threatens a hostile takeover with fast food! The meatball mixture for this recipe comes together in under 10 minutes thanks to simple, budget-friendly pantry staples like dried herbs. I like to prepare them the night before so that they're ready for the oven at a moment’s notice.
Prepared meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen in their raw or cooked form for up to 2 months. Allow frozen meatballs to thaw prior to baking and be sure to use an internal thermometer to check for doneness. It's recommended beef be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.
So, let’s get started! For this Italian Meatball Sub Sandwich recipe, you will need:
Ground Beef
If you're using only ground beef, you’ll want to use at least an 80/20 blend to ensure the meat does not dry out. For this recipe, I use a lean 90/10 because the Italian Sausage will add additional fat.
Ground Italian Sausage
With a fat content of at least 20 percent, ground Italian sausage will increase the fat and moisture in the meatballs, not to mention the flavor. I use a mild blend since I’m serving kiddos but if you enjoy spicy, feel free to use a hot Italian sausage.
Herbs and Spices
When it comes to adding flavor, the right herbs and spices are key. Garlic and onion both offer delicious umami flavor and aromatic powerhouses like oregano and basil are sure to add a mouthwatering goodness to every bite!
Parmesan Cheese
We prefer freshly shredded parmesan cheese for this recipe, but you could absolutely use store-bought grated. I like that the shredded cheese melts easier and enhances the overall flavor. Grated cheese does help to ensure it is more evenly distributed in the meat mixture. Both work great, so don’t fret too much over it.
Homemade Marinara Sauce
We've tried and even liked some store-bought sauces, but we just love homemade marinara sauce. Store-bought sauces tend to be on the sweeter side which can be hard to overcome on the flavor palate. You just can’t beat the freshness of a homemade sauce.
Italian Breadcrumbs
Those random ends of bread that my kids don’t care for aren’t tossed in the trash! I keep them in a quart-sized, freezer-safe bag until I need to make breadcrumbs. For this recipe I like to add about a teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano then I use my food processor to grind them up finely.
Mozzarella Cheese
Can it be an Italian Meatball Sub Sandwich without Mozzarella cheese? No way! Well, I suppose Provolone could be a fantastic substitute. You just want a delicious cheese that melts easily.
Italian Loaf Rolls
A crusty Italian loaf is able to withstand all of the deliciousness we’re packing into it. I like to tear out some of the extra dough in the middle to make more room for the meatballs. I find it helps the meatballs stay in place and makes eating the sandwich easier (and usually, less messy). Toss those bread pieces into your freezer bag for the next time you need homemade breadcrumbs!
Making these Italian Meatball Sub Sandwiches is incredibly easy! Here’s how:
First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Set aside a 9x13 baking dish.
Mix together meat, herbs, spices, Parmesan, 1 large egg, ¼ cup marinara sauce, and about ½ cup of breadcrumbs in a large bowl. You want to use either a wooden spoon or just your fingertips to combine the ingredients gently. Don’t overwork the mixture or it won’t hold together when you form the meatballs.
Next, using a one-inch cookie scoop, begin forming meatballs. Place into baking dish. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Then add the remaining marinara sauce to cover the meatballs and continue baking for about 15-20 more minutes. It's recommended beef be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.
Remove meatballs from oven. Add 4-5 meatballs to each 6-inch Italian sub roll. Top with mozzarella cheese.
These Italian Meatball Sub Sandwiches come together so quickly and with minimal effort. If you have a kiddo that enjoys helping in the kitchen, this is a fun one!
Ingredients
1-pound lean ground beef
1/2-pound ground Italian sausage
1 Teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 ½ teaspoons basil
1 ½ teaspoons oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
¼ cup + 1 1/2 cups homemade marinara sauce
1 large egg
½ - 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
12 Slices mozzarella cheese
6 Italian loaf rolls, approximately 6 inches long
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients with only ¼ cup homemade marinara sauce.
Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, roll into one-inch balls, and place into a 9x13 baking dish. If you don’t have a cookie scoop you can simply “eyeball it” or use a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon and use two Tablespoons per meatball. The equal measurement helps to ensure an even cooking time. I typically get about 24-30 meatballs from this recipe.
Place formed meatballs into baking dish and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until meat is cooked through and evenly browned. Internal temperature should be at least 160 degrees.
Pour the remaining homemade marinara sauce over the top of meatballs and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Place approximately 4-5 meatballs per Italian roll. Add additional sauce based on preference.
Top with mozzarella cheese.
The residual heat from the meatballs and sauce should melt the cheese pretty quickly. However, feel free to place the prepared sandwiches on a sheet pan and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
If you enjoyed this Italian Meatball Sub Sandwich recipe, we'd love to hear from you in the comments below!
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