Cheesy Meatball Subs (Printer-friendly)

Tender meatballs in marinara with melted cheese on toasted garlic butter rolls.

# What You Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1/4 cup whole milk
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Marinara Sauce

11 - 2 cups marinara sauce
12 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Sandwich Assembly

13 - 4 sub rolls, approximately 6 inches each
14 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
16 - 1 clove garlic, finely grated
17 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, egg, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
03 - Form the mixture into 12 uniform meatballs and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until well-browned and cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F.
04 - While the meatballs bake, heat marinara sauce in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in red pepper flakes if desired for a subtle kick of heat.
05 - Transfer the baked meatballs into the warmed marinara sauce, gently turning to coat evenly. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
06 - Stir together the melted butter and finely grated garlic to make garlic butter. Slice the sub rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Brush the cut surfaces generously with garlic butter and toast on a baking tray for 3 to 4 minutes until golden and crisp.
07 - Place 3 saucy meatballs inside each toasted sub roll, spooning extra marinara over the top. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese generously over each sandwich.
08 - Return the assembled subs to the oven for 3 to 4 minutes until the mozzarella is fully melted and bubbling. Garnish with fresh basil or chopped parsley and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The meatballs bake instead of fry so you get all the flavor with less mess and no oil splattering your stovetop.
  • Garlic butter toasted rolls take this from a simple sandwich to something you would happily pay for at a deli.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour which makes it perfect for weeknights or casual gatherings.
02 -
  • Overmixing the meatball mixture makes them tough so stop as soon as everything looks combined even if it feels too quick.
  • Toasting the rolls before adding sauce is nonnegotiable because untoasted bread turns to mush within minutes.
03 -
  • Use a cookie scoop to portion the meatball mixture so every one is the same size and they all finish cooking at the same time.
  • Broiling the assembled subs for the last minute instead of baking gives you those irresistible browned cheese spots that make people reach for seconds.

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