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Italian meatball marinara subs aren’t just a treat for those of us with Italian blood in our veins, but everyone who loves juicy homemade meatballs, fresh and tangy homemade marinara sauce and fluffy brioche buns. Meatball sandwiches in a toasted bun make a delicious lunch and are also perfect for busy weeknights. This recipe is satisfying comfort food and so much tastier than a meatball sub from your local Subway.
The combination of a toasted brioche bun, homemade beef and pork meatballs and amazing marinara sauce is hard to beat. This is an easy weeknight meal which sounds like comfort food but is actually quite nutritious.
Italian Meatball Marinara Subs Ingredients
The homemade meatballs are made using both beef and pork, although you could use all beef (like the Subway ones), all pork, or even add some ground veal into the mix. Italian bread crumbs and egg bind them together, while basil, fennel, onion, garlic, and black pepper make them really flavourful.
You also need brioche sub rolls unless you prefer hot dog buns or French rolls, as well as butter, garlic, parsley, and salt for flavour. A delicious and easy homemade marinara sauce as well as provolone, parmesan and basil are the finishing touches.
How to Make the Best Meatball Sub You Ever Had
Fans of the humble meatball are going to love these tasty subs. Whether you’ve made other meatball-based recipes like one pot pasta and meatballs or not, you will find this an easy Italian meatballs recipe to make.
First warm the butter, garlic, parsley, and salt in a skillet. Next mix together the meatball ingredients and then use a half-ounce cookie scoop to make your meatballs. The scoop will help you make the perfect meatball shape.
If you like, you could add in a pinch of Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes.
Spray some cooking spray (or add a splash of oil) in the pan and add the prepared meatballs. Once they’re browned all over, add the marinara sauce and give them another fifteen minutes or so.
Brush the garlic butter mixture you made at the start over your brioche buns then toast them for a couple of minutes in the oven. Add the cheese and meatballs to the toasted buns, broil for a couple of minutes and serve garnished with basil and shredded parmesan if liked.
Some Shortcuts You Could Try
You could use frozen meatballs instead of making your own meatballs for your meatball sandwiches if you’re pressed for time. You can also use canned sauce instead of homemade marinara sauce.
Maybe you have some leftover meatballs from last night’s dinner. They would work fine in your meatball sub sandwiches. Not everyone has the time to make every component of a dish from scratch every time, so using the occasional shortcut is perfectly fine. Actually as long as you use good quality meatballs (either homemade or frozen) the meatball subs should be delicious. The same applies to the marinara sauce.
Homemade Meatball Subs Recipe FAQs
Homemade meatballs in marinara sauce with cheese packed into sub rolls is already a complete meal. But you can always make a simple green salad to enjoy on the side, or perhaps a cup of fruit if you prefer.
The recipe calls for provolone as well as optional parmesan cheese for garnish, but of course you can use any cheese you want. If you want to swap the slices of provolone cheese for mozzarella cheese or another kind, that’s fine.
Yes, you will need to make sure you use gluten free bread crumbs in the meatballs and also substitute in gluten free buns.
Italian Meatball Marinara Subs Recipe
Italian Meatball Marinara Subs
Ingredients
Sub Rolls
- 8 sub rolls, Brioche
- 2 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Teaspoon garlic, minced
- ½ Teaspoon dried parsley
- Pinch sea salt
Meatballs
- ½ pound ground pork
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ black pepper
- ½ Teaspoon basil
- ½ Teaspoon fennel
- ½ white onion, diced
- 3 Cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 egg
- ½ Cup Italian bread crumbs
- 2 Cups marinara sauce
- 16 Slices provolone cheese
Garnish
- Parmesan
- basil
Instructions
- Preheat a frying pan over medium high heat. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Combine the melted butter with minced garlic, parsley, and sea salt. Stir.
- Prepare the meatballs. Combine ground pork, ground beef, black pepper, basil, fennel, diced onion, crushed garlic, 1 egg, and breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly mix until well combined.
- Use a half ounce cookie scoop to scoop uniform sized meatballs. Set meatballs aside on a tray as your work.
- Lightly spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the meatballs to the hot pan. Brown meatballs, turning often to evenly brown. (this should take about 5 minutes)
- Next, add the marinara and stir to coat the meatballs. Lower the heat. Cook for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toast the rolls. Brush the insides and tops of the rolls with garlic butter and toast in the oven for two minutes.
- Remove subs from the oven.
- Preheat the broiler on high.
- Add 2 slices of cheese to the rolls and top with 3 meatballs. Place 6” under the broiler for 2 minutes.
- Garnish with basil and grated Parmesan if desired.
Nutrition
Italian meatball marinara subs with melted cheese make a tasty lunch or how about dinner for busy nights? The homemade meatballs are full-flavoured and delicious while the marinara sauce adds a tasty richness and the toasted buns are wonderful as well. Try this Italian sub recipe with juicy meatball goodness for yourself and you’ll see how great it is! Anyone that is a fan of Italian food, will love this tender meatball sandwich recipe.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These meatball subs are a treat—juicy, tangy, and so satisfying. Way better than takeout!
Cooked this recipe for dinner and it was a hit!
Oh wow, this recipe is defininely a keeper!
These look just delicious!