Description
This Meatball Subs recipe features tender frozen cooked meatballs simmered in a rich marinara sauce, nestled inside toasted hoagie buns brushed with garlic butter, layered with provolone, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses for a melty, satisfying sandwich perfect for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs and Sauce
- 16 frozen cooked meatballs
- 2 cups marinara sauce
Garlic Butter
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- ¾ teaspoon garlic puree (or finely minced garlic)
- Kosher salt, pinch
- ½ tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Bread and Cheese
- 4 hoagie buns, uncut
- 4 slices provolone cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for toasting the buns and melting the cheese later on.
- Heat Meatballs and Sauce: Place the frozen cooked meatballs and marinara sauce in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are fully heated through and the sauce is warm and flavorful.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: While the meatballs are heating, stir together the melted butter, garlic puree, chopped parsley (if using), and a pinch of kosher salt. Set this aromatic mixture aside for brushing on the rolls.
- Hollow Out Hoagie Buns: Using a serrated knife, carefully hollow out a long rectangular cavity inside each hoagie bun, removing excess bread without cutting all the way through. You can save the removed bread for breadcrumbs or croutons.
- Toast Buns: Brush the interior of each hollowed bun generously with the garlic butter mixture. Place the buns in a casserole dish or sheet pan and bake for about 5 minutes to slightly toast and infuse the flavors.
- Assemble Subs: Remove the toasted rolls from the oven. Line the cavity of each bun with a slice of provolone cheese. Add four meatballs per bun along with a generous amount of heated marinara sauce on top of the cheese. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella cheese over each assembled sub.
- Melt Cheese: Return the assembled subs to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the mozzarella cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the subs from the oven and sprinkle each with ½ tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, optionally with any remaining marinara sauce on the side for extra dipping.
Notes
- Use frozen cooked meatballs for convenience, but fresh or homemade meatballs can also be used.
- For extra flavor, you can add red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce while heating.
- Hollowing the buns prevents them from getting soggy too quickly and creates the perfect pocket for the filling.
- Save the bread cubes removed from the rolls to make homemade breadcrumbs or croutons.
- Fresh parsley in the garlic butter adds brightness but is optional.
- Feel free to substitute provolone cheese with mozzarella or another melty cheese if preferred.
- Serve with a side of chips or a green salad for a complete meal.
