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Delicious cheesy meatball subs with melted mozzarella and marinara sauce

Classic Cheesy Meatball Subs

Enjoy a classic comfort food with these homemade cheesy meatball subs. Tender meatballs simmered in marinara sauce, topped with melty cheese and served in a toasted submarine roll.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 subs
Calories 650 kcal

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • large skillet or Dutch oven
  • broiler
  • tongs or serving spoon

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs (if homemade):

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works great for flavor)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (panko for extra crispness)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning)

For the Subs:

  • 24 oz marinara sauce (your favorite jarred sauce or homemade)
  • 4 submarine rolls or hoagie buns
  • 8 slices provolone cheese, or shredded mozzarella cheese (or 1 cup, or a mix!)
  • extra Parmesan for garnish, red pepper flakes Optional

Instructions
 

Prepare the Meatballs

  • In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper; avoid overmixing.
  • Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, yielding about 16-20 meatballs.

Brown the Meatballs

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  • Brown the meatballs on all sides for 5-7 minutes, then remove and set aside.

Simmer the Sauce

  • Pour marinara sauce into the same skillet and bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits.

Cook the Meatballs in Sauce

  • Add browned meatballs back into the simmering marinara, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 15-20 minutes.

Prepare the Rolls

  • Preheat the broiler on low; split submarine rolls lengthwise without cutting completely through.

Assemble the Subs

  • Lightly toast rolls under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, then fill each with saucy meatballs and top with provolone or mozzarella cheese.

Melt the Cheese

  • Return assembled subs to the broiler for 2-3 minutes until cheese is bubbling and melted, and rolls are toasted.

Serve

  • Remove from broiler, garnish with extra Parmesan and red pepper flakes if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of dried oregano or basil to your meatballs. If you don't have a broiler, you can melt the cheese in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for a few minutes. To prevent rolls from becoming too soggy, be sure to toast them lightly before adding the meatballs and sauce.