There is nothing better than a warm and delicious meatball sub sandwich on a hectic weekday. These are Italian-style sandwiches filled with soft, juicy meatballs, hot marinara sauce and melted cheese all in a crusty sub roll. Meatball subs are the best choice to serve a hungry family, or organize a summer dinner party, providing a lot of flavor but with minimum effort.
This step-by-step guide will take you through all you need to know when it comes to preparing restaurant quality meatball subs at home as well. We will go over all the ingredients that make these sandwiches impossible to resist, including choosing the correct meat mixture to get the correct consistency of the sauce.
Why Self-cooked Meatball Sandwiches Are Better than Store-Bought
Preparing your own meatball subs allows you to have full freedom on what to include and what to exclude in terms of ingredients and tastes. Commercial versions have a lot of preservatives and sodium which tends to overwhelm the meat and herbs’ natural flavor.
When you prepare them at home, you may:
- Select good ground meat
- Regulate the levels of salt and seasoning
- Add fresh herbs and spices
- Make the sauce how you like it
- Select the perfect bread
In addition, the homemade versions are much cheaper compared to restaurant or deli versions. You can feed your whole family on a single batch at under a dollar per restaurant sub.
Perfect Meatball Subs Require the Following Ingredients
The Meatball Foundation
The trick to great meatball subs begins with the proper meat mix. A mixture of ground beef (80/20 fat content) and ground pork is the best combination in taste and texture. The beef gives it a strong flavor and pork makes it moist and tender.
| Ingredient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Ground beef (80/20) | 1 lb | Major protein, flavor base |
| Ground pork | 0.5 lb | Moisture, tenderness |
| Breadcrumbs | 3/4 cup | Binding, texture |
| Eggs | 2 large | Binding agent |
| Parmesan cheese | 1/2 cup grated | Flavor enhancing |
Essential Seasonings and Aromatics
Fresh herbs add a lot of flavor to meatballs. Add minced garlic and fresh parsley with the Italian seasoning to create authentic flavor. Do not omit the onion powder, as this is serving as an enhancer without being heavy.
Sauce Components
A fabulous marinara sauce makes it look and taste like restaurant meatball subs. It’s better to use crushed tomatoes instead of a sauce. Add basil, oregano, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to add some flavor.
Meatball Recipe
Combining the Ultimate Meatball Base
Begin by putting your dry ingredients in a big bowl. Combine breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. This prevents any concentration within the meat.
Whisk eggs, minced garlic and chopped onion in a different bowl. The egg mixture also contributes to binding the whole mixture, and the meatballs remain soft.
Add the ground meats to your dry ingredients. Add the egg mixture and mix delicately with your hands. Do not overmix, or meatballs will become hard and compact.
Making Your Meatballs Round
In the case of meatball subs, the size is supposed to be golf ball size. This size cooks evenly and fits in the sub rolls. Moisten your hands a bit so that they do not stick during rolling.
Roll the meatballs between your palms with little force. Put prepared meatballs in a pan or baking sheet with space between them.
Best Methods of Cooking
Pan-Frying Method Heat olive oil in a large skillet on a medium-high level of heat. Brown all sides of meatballs – approximately 8-10 minutes. This technique forms a pleasant crust and the inside remains wet.
Oven-Baking Option Preheat oven to 400°F. Put the meatballs on a lined baking pan and bake 18-20 minutes. Large batching is well suited to this hands-off concept.
How to Make a Perfect Marinara Sauce
Building Flavor Layers
Make your sauce by sautéing your minced garlic into olive oil until it is fragrant. Add tomato paste, tomato seasonings and crushed tomatoes. The trick is called simmer slow in order to get rich and complex flavors.
Add salt, pepper, dried oregano and fresh basil. Just a little sugar neutralizes the acid in tomatoes. Allow the sauce to simmer a minimum of 20 minutes.
Cooking Meatballs in the Sauce
After you have browned your meatballs, you can place them straight into the simmering sauce. Allow them to cook in the sauce 10-15 minutes. This enables the mixing of flavors.
The meatballs will add other flavors to the sauce and will absorb the tomato and herb flavors. It is this method that makes real Italian meatball subs so tasty.
The Type of Bread to Select and How to Prepare it Properly
Best Bread Options for Subs
Meatball subs are best made with Italian or French sub rolls that have a crusty outer layer and a soft interior. The bread should not be too hard or too soft – it should be able to support the sauce without collapsing.
Ciabatta or even thick slices of Italian bread are also good alternatives which can serve as hoagie rolls. It is all about locating good structure bread with good taste.
Preparing Your Bread
Cut your rolls along their length, but make one side of them still attached by a hinge. This helps the filling not to fall out. Slightly toast the cut sides so as to form a resistant layer against the soaking of the sauce.
Other individuals like to hollow out the bread at the center. This will leave more space for the meatballs and sauce and fewer carbohydrates.
Methods to Assemble for Maximum Flavor
Layering Your Meatball Subs
Start with a little sauce at the bottom of your bread. This forms a rich bottom and prevents bread that is soggy. Place 4-5 meatballs depending on roll size.
Pour more sauce on top of the meatballs ensuring that they are all covered thoroughly. Don’t over-sauce or you will end up making a mess.
Cheese Selection
Cheese is great in meatball subs, and Provolone, mozzarella or a combination of both are fine to use. Just place on top of the hot meatballs and it will melt naturally because the cheese is hot.
To achieve additional melting, put assembled subs under a broiler 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn.
Serving Recommendations and Accompaniments
Classic Accompaniments
Meatball subs go well with crispy potato chips or seasoned fries. The combination of hot and juicy sandwich and the crispy fries makes a complete meal.
Consider serving with:
- Italian pasta salad
- Coleslaw
- Pickled vegetables
- Garlic bread
- Caesar salad
For more healthy recipe ideas and nutritious meal planning tips, visit Fit Fuel Blog for comprehensive guides on balanced eating and delicious recipes.
Presentation Tips
Wrap it all in parchment or foil. This also allows them to be easier to eat without being messy. Bigger subs can be cut into smaller sizes.
Eat as soon as the cheese has melted and the bread is still hot. Meatball subs are made to be eaten warm and hot.
Storage and Reheating Suggestions
Proper Storage Methods
Put meatballs and the sauce in different containers so that they do not get soggy with bread. You can keep meatballs in sauce up to 3 days refrigerated. Bread is to be kept at room temperature inside a closed container.
To freeze meatballs and sauce, freeze in portions. They will last in the freezer up to 3 months.
Reheating for Best Results
Reheat in a medium-low heat saucepan: meatballs and sauce. Stir every now and then to avoid sticking. Avoid microwaving whenever possible as it will make meatballs rubbery.
Lightly toast bread then put together meatball subs that have been reheated. This aids in the re-creation of some of the original texture.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Errors in Meatball Preparation
Too much mixing of the meat mixture produces thick and hard meatballs. Blend until ingredients have been combined. Another tip is not to make meatballs too big, they will not cook evenly.
Using lean ground beef only produces dry meatballs. The amount of fat plays a role in taste and moistness.
Assembly Problems
Excessive sauce will result in a very soggy meatball sub that is not very easy to consume. Apply sauce generously but sparingly. Consider toasting bread as well, it really matters.
Recipe Variations and Customization
Meat Alternatives
Use ground turkey and Italian sausage instead of beef. Another Mediterranean version is made of lamb and beef. There should always be some fat so that you can get good results.
Sauce Variations
Test the various types of sauces:
- Spicy arrabbiata with red pepper flakes
- White meatball subs with creamy alfredo
- Herby pesto sauce
- American style BBQ sauce
Vegetarian Options
Prepare vegetarian meatball sandwiches with plant-based ground meat or mushrooms, lentils and walnuts. Season like standard versions for well-known flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many meatballs in each sub? A: 4-5 medium sized meatballs are usually just enough to fill up a 6-8 inch sub roll.
Q: What cheese works best on meatball subs? A: Provolone and mozzarella have been found to be the most popular types that melt well.
Q: Is it possible to make meatballs in advance? A: Yes! Cook meatballs until fully cooked and keep them in the refrigerator in the sauce for a maximum of 3 days. This in fact enhances the taste as ingredients blend with each other.
Q: How can you prevent soggy bread? A: Toast the inside of your sub rolls a little, without over-saucing. You might also hollow out the center of some bread to create more room to fill.
Q: Is it possible to freeze meatball subs assembled? A: It’s better to freeze meatballs and sauce separately and then assemble fresh subs when you are ready to eat. Subs that are frozen together thaw up soggy.
Q: How do I tell when meatballs are cooked? A: Meatballs are cooked when the inside temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Their skin must be firm and no longer pink in the middle.
For more detailed information about food safety and proper cooking temperatures, check out the USDA Food Safety Guidelines.
Final Notes on Perfect Meatball Subs
It is not as complicated as you may think to make great meatball subs at home. The trick is to work with good ingredients, proper technique and let the flavors mature. You will eventually create your own signature style that could stand on its own against any restaurant version.
Keep in mind that the best meatball subs are made of well-seasoned, cooked meatballs and a hot sauce. You can take your time over it, allowing everything to simmer together is a time-honored way to make the sandwiches that much more special.
You can use these methods to make unforgettable meals that unite people regardless of whether you are preparing them on a busy weekday or on a large scale. There’s something wonderful about a well-made meatball sub that when you eat it with family and friends, everything is perfect.
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