Meatball Subs

These gooey Meatball Subs are ideal for casual dining and game day eats. They’re made using a single loaf of Italian bread, stuffed with homemade meatballs smothered with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. It’s a winner, regardless of when they’re served.

Easy Meatball Subs Recipe

When I pass the fully stocked displays of those inexpensive loaves of French and Italian style bread at the grocery store, I can’t help, but dream of different ways to use them. Whether it’s sweet, cinnamon roll french bread or open faced taco stuffed bread to shake-up our Taco Tuesday. In this instance, I like  to make one giant meatball sub then slice it into portions for serving. How to make homemade Meatball Subs Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

• Prepare Pan – Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a broiler pan or a large baking pan fitted with a rack with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Meatball Mixture – To a medium size mixing bowl add ground beef and sausage, onion, panko, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and red pepper flakes. Beat milk and eggs together then, add to the bowl. Using your hands, mix everything together thoroughly.
• Make Meatballs – Form into meatballs and place onto the pan without touching. (It’s helpful to use a medium size scoop to keep meatballs uniform in size)
• Bake – Bake per the recipe until cooked through.
• Prepare Pan – Preheat oven to broil. Line a large baking pan with parchment.
• Prepare Hoagie Rolls – Mix garlic salt into butter. Spread on each side of bread. Toast very lightly then remove from oven. Lower oven temp to 425°F.
• Assemble – Arrange 5 cheese slices on bottom half of roll.
• Marinara Sauce – Toss meatballs with marinara sauce. Arrange over cheese.
• Cheese – Top meatballs with remaining cheese slices. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese, eyeball the amount. Fold top half over meatballs, leaving cheese partially exposed.
• Bake – Lay foil loosely on top. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. Increase to broil at the end of baking to brown cheese.
• Use a sharp knife to cut into 4 even pieces, or as desired.
• Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with remaining warmed marinara on the side.

How to Make the BEST Meatball Subs in the Oven

• Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Meatball Subs: One 16-18 inch fluffy Italian loaf sliced in half, leave one side attached, butter, garlic salt, ground beef, sweet or hot Italian sausage, panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, onion, dry Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, milk, large eggs, marinara sauce, sliced mozzarella cheese or 2 cups shredded and fresh Italian parsley.
• Kitchen tools you’ll need: Medium bowl, meatball scoop, measuring cups and spoons, cheese grater, sheet pan, broiler pan, sharp knife and cutting board.
• I use a large, fluffy Italian loaf from the grocery store to make these subs. For dinner portions, I typically cut a 16 inch load into 4 inch portions. Appetizer portions, you could cut it into 1 or 2 inch portions it’s your call.
• Please note, bread length may vary in size by an inch or two. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
• For a timesaver, the meatballs can be made in advance and chilled or frozen. If frozen, thaw in the fridge before assembling.
• You can lighten-up this sub using light butter, ground chicken or turkey sausage and low fat mozzarella cheese.
• If you don’t have garlic salt, use either fresh minced garlic or granulated garlic plus table salt, instead.
• You can use any flavor of marinara sauce that you enjoy. I highly recommend using a flavorful seasoned marinara sauce to enhance the end result. A  bland sauce will result in a bland tasting sub. Don’t skimp.
• Use a sharp knife and a cutting board to cut the sub into portions. Hold the loaf firmly with one hand so, the cheesy meatballs won’t slip out.
• Store baked Meatball Subs chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat gently in single servings in the microwave.

More Easy Bread Recipes to Make

• Chicken Bacon Ranch Stuffed Bread is a meal with a side of chips.
• Family style Sloppy Joe Stuffed Bread.
• Pull Apart Italian Herb Beer Bread.
• Cheesy Garlic Bread for Italian night at home.
• Supreme Pizza Pull Apart Bread for game day and tailgating.
• Homemade French Bread is a real treat fresh from the oven slathered with butter.
• Barbecue Chicken Bacon French Bread Pizza comes together in minutes for a busy day meal.
• Homemade French Bread recipe from Crazy for Crust.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Sheet Pan
• Cheese Grater
• Kitchen Utensils
• Mixing Bowls