The Best Meatball Sub Recipe

There’s nothing like a messy, cheesy classic meatball sub that you can throw in the mix of a game day party, especially the much anticipated upcoming Super Bowl. Tender oven-baked meatballs rest on toasted hoagie rolls and are smothered with a marinara/pasta sauce. The finale comes in the form of mozzarella and parmesan broiled to a bubbly delight.

What is a Meatball Sub Sandwich?

It’s truly a simple concept that was an American-Italian brainchild invented somewhere around the turn of the 20th century. It traditionally consists of a type of long Italian white bread, brimming with tender meatballs, topped with a red sauce, and melty cheeses such as mozzarella and/or provolone. Although you can find a meatball sandwich in most Italian restaurants in America, you’ll be hard-pressed to find them on a menu in Italy itself. 

Ingredients for Meatball Subs

• Hoagie Rolls. Although hoagie rolls are my preferred bun, any white long roll will work. It’s best if they are soft on the inside but nice and firm on the outside to hold together all the fixin’s. 

• Provolone Slices. Layer these slices on the bun before the other ingredients are added. It provides a nice boundary so the sauce does not soak through the bun making it soggy. 
• Oven-Baked Meatballs. Grab my recipe for juicy, tender, and oh-so-flavorful meatballs. No mess, no fuss, and no splattering of grease with pan-frying. They are absolutely ideal for these sub sandwiches,
• Marinara/Pasta Sauce. This mouthwatering red sauce recipe incorporates onions, garlic, fresh herbs, and spices that boost its flavor to delicious levels. 
• Grated Mozzarella & Parmesan Cheese. These two kinds of grated cheese are sprinkled on top to go under the broiler for a bubbly finale.

How to make an easy Meatball Sub

• Turn the oven setting to broil. You’ll broil twice with the subs. Once for provolone slices and once with the shredded cheese on top.
• Slice hoagie rolls horizontally and place them on a baking sheet. Be careful not to slice all the way through the bun.
• Lay two slices each of provolone on the rolls. This helps prevent the bread from becoming soggy.
• Broil the rolls with provolone cheese. Be careful to watch these closely. It will only take a minute or two. Pull them out when the cheese is melted.
• Place three large (2-ounce each) meatballs onto each hoagie roll. My Oven-Baked Meatball recipe is perfect for these subs. However, you can use any type of meatball. Just make sure you have plenty to cover the hoagie. 
• Spoon 1/2 cup of sauce over the meatballs for each roll. This Pasta Sauce Recipe is a super tasty recipe that works great with these meatballs. 
• Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese on each sub. One-fourth cup of mozzarella and a one-eighth cup of parmesan is a good amount on each meatball sub. 
• Return the subs to the oven and broil for one or two minutes. Again watch very closely at this stage because it won’t take long for the cheese to bubble and the edges of the rolls to toast. 
• Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley.

What is the best Bread for a Meatball Subs Recipe?

I used hoagie rolls for this recipe, although, any long white bread somewhat crusty on the outside but soft and tender on the inside works great. You want the bread hearty enough to hold all of its deliciousness without falling apart when trying to eat it. Baguettes are a good choice. You’ll want to cut them in two or three sections depending on how long the baguette is. An Italian-style roll is nice because it is a little wider than a traditional baguette and can hold more meatballs. There are different size hoagie rolls. Choose larger ones if you can. 

What sauces are good on a Meatball Recipe Sandwich?

Any tomato base sauce will go great with a meatball sub. I prefer one that is seasoned with spices and herbs to give more flavor to the sandwich. My Homemade Pasta Sauce, is rich in flavor and in my opinion, the best sauce for these sandwiches. Marinara is typically a dipping sauce and not as seasoned but is a nice option as well. 

What toppings can you put on a meatball Sub?

• Provolone Cheese
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Parmesan Cheese
• Marinara/Pasta Sauce
• Pepperoni or Italian Salami
• Sautéed Bell Peppers and Onions
• Fresh Basil
• Jalapeños
• Mushrooms

What to serve with a Meatball Sandwich

• Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries. Crispy sweet potato fries with the perfect crunch are a delectable idea as a side dish for this sub sandwich. 
• Mediterranean Pasta Salad. A quick pasta salad that brings all the flavors of the Mediterranean to you in one easy dish.
• Watermelon Arugula Salad. A great choice for any sandwich. It is quick and easy to throw together and is a refreshing side dish with a variety of flavors and textures.
• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. Tender sliced potatoes swim in a luscious cream sauce that is flavored with garlic, onions, and thyme. 
• Loaded Potato Skins. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a side of deliciously loaded potato skins that are topped with salty bacon bits, melted cheddar cheese, and a dollop of tangy sour cream.
• Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers. Jalapeños are overstuffed with cheese and wrapped with thick center-cut bacon to make an indulgent appetizer that sits alongside these meatball subs. 

Variations for this Sandwich

• Top it with a few dollops of Ricotta cheese instead of the broiled mozzarella.
• Brush the bread with garlic butter before adding the sliced provolone cheese. 
• Use packaged frozen meatballs if you are short on time.
• Whole grain rolls instead of white bread. 
• In a pinch, you can use store-bought marinara sauce.
• Make these into sliders rather than full sandwiches. 

Can you make these for a crowd?

These are perfect for a crowd, especially for game day or a party. Bring a tray of these bad boys out and I guarantee they will not last long.

• Make it into individual sliders. You can either cut the long white bread into smaller sections that will hold one meatball with sauce or pick up an actual bag of slider rolls. These are perfect for finger foods that your guest can hold with a napkin.
• Make a “self-serving” line where each guest grabs a prepared roll with melted provolone cheese. Next, they add their meatballs and sauce, and shredded cheese. You can either place it under the broiler for them or let them add ricotta cheese on top instead. 
• Prep a bunch of full-size sandwiches right before any of the guests show up. Throw as many as you can on a baking sheet, add the meat and sauce, and broil the cheese last minute when ready to serve. 

More recipes with Pasta/Red Sauce that you might like:

Oven-Baked Meatballs

Homemade Pasta Sauce

Vodka Sauce

Crock Pot Lasagna

Bacon Wrapped Breadsticks

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