Description
These Savory Italian-Style Baked Meatball Subs feature tender homemade meatballs baked to perfection, simmered in flavorful marinara sauce, and nestled in toasted hoagie rolls topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This hearty and comforting sandwich is perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner with a classic Italian twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Assembly
- 4 hoagie rolls
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Optional: sliced provolone cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the meatballs and toasting the hoagie rolls.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, minced garlic, egg, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs and arrange them evenly spaced on a baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are cooked through and nicely browned on the outside.
- Prepare Hoagie Rolls: While the meatballs bake, cut the hoagie rolls lengthwise without cutting completely through, creating a pocket for the fillings.
- Heat Marinara Sauce: Warm the marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium heat until hot and simmering.
- Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Once baked, add the meatballs to the warm marinara sauce and let them simmer together for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Toast Hoagie Rolls: Brush the inside of the hoagie rolls with olive oil, place them on a baking sheet, and toast in the oven for 3-5 minutes until slightly crispy.
- Assemble Subs: Remove the toasted rolls from the oven and fill each with several meatballs and a generous spoonful of marinara sauce.
- Add Cheese: Top the meatballs with shredded mozzarella cheese and, if desired, add slices of provolone cheese for extra flavor.
- Melt Cheese: Return the assembled subs to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Serve the hot meatball subs immediately, optionally garnished with additional chopped parsley for freshness.
Notes
- For juicier meatballs, avoid overmixing the meat mixture.
- If you prefer, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Using fresh breadcrumbs can enhance the texture of the meatballs.
- Feel free to add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce for a spicy kick.
- Make sure not to overcook meatballs to keep them tender and moist.
- To save time, you can prepare meatballs ahead of time and refrigerate before baking.