Meatball Subs
Meatballs, anyone? I decided to use the leftover marinara sauce from the chicken parmesan I made last Sunday to make meatball subs for #SundaySupper this week. I’m known for my meatballs. It took me a couple of years to get the recipe just right. They have a lovely depth of flavor, and they are super moist and tender. Everything a meatball should be. They really are the perfect meatball.
My dad claims that his meatballs are better than my meatballs (um, this is so not true). This argument has been going on for years. So, I decided that we need to do something to end the ongoing argument. We’re going to have a meatball throw down- Bobby Flay style. I’m going to gather up some taste testers, and we’re going to have a full on meatball battle. We’ll see who has the best balls in Baltimore. That’ll be me. This girl right here. If you’re reading this, dad, it’s on like Donkey Kong! Sorry, but you’re going down. I’ll keep you posted on who wins this epic battle of the balls.
Okay, I’m not going to lie, photographing the meatball sub was a challenge. They’re just not aesthetically pretty. They taste damn good, but they’re hard to photograph. You have to be quick because the cheese starts to melt, and the sub begins to open and spread apart. Like I said, quite challenging.
You know what else is challenging? Getting your mouth wrapped around the sub to take a bite. It took some squeezing and stuffing, but I managed to fit it in. I had to expand my jaws a bit.
Have plenty of napkins on hand when eating this sub because it can get pretty messy. You know it’s a good sub when it’s a messy sub. Oh, there will be a marinara mustache. Enjoy your #SundaySupper with your loved ones.
Meatball Subs
Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/2 pounds ground beef (I used 85/15)
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup green pepper, chunked
- 1/2 cup onion, chunked
- 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 recipe marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 6 sub rolls
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Place a cooling grate on top of the aluminum foil.
- In the bowl of a food processor, add onions, green peppers, and garlic. Pulse until the mixture becomes a fine mince. If the mixture becomes watery, drain some of the juice before adding it to the meat mixture.
- In a large bowl, add the ground beef, ground pork, salt, pepper, season salt, italian seasoning, parsley, egg, worcestershire sauce, dijon, veggie mixture, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese. Mix to combine.
- Roll the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls and place them on the cooling grate. Bake for 25 minutes to brown. When your meatballs are finished baking, add the meatballs to the pot with the marinara sauce. Cover and cook on low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Slice the sub rolls and add 4-5 meatballs to each roll. Top with desired amount of cheese (um, tons) and bake for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
To make it even easier, you can add the marinara sauce and browned meatballs to a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
31 Comments on “Meatball Subs”
I am totally offering up my services as a judge in the meatball throw-down. That is all.
Awesome, Jen. I need an unbiased judge. Can’t have my mom judging and taking my dad’s side.
Oooh – can I be the judge??? ; )
They look fantastic and sound delicious! Great pick!
Sure. I’m going to need some judges. Thank you so much.
Mmm meatball subs possibly the best sub ever invented! I can’t wait to try your meatball recipe.
Thank you. Let me know how you like it. Thanks for visiting.
This is great! I had horrible luck the one and only time I’ve tried meatballs. Figured I’d just wing it (I mean, meatballs – balls of meat – sounds easy, right?), and it was a total FAIL. Will definitely have to try your recipe, and I’m always on the lookout for dishes to use up the endless supply of Magic Pasta Sauce in my freezer.
I made meatballs for the same reason. To use up leftover marinara. Meatballs require a lot of seasoning to get them to taste yummy. I think it’s a ground beef thing. I hope you have better luck if you try my recipe.
I would love to have these meatballs sans bread as they look especially tasty.
We eat them without the bread all the time. We just dish them up and start munching, or I put them over spaghetti. Thanks.
These look so delicious. Your blog always makes me hungry! Thanks for the lovely recipe, I will try it this week. :)
Thanks, Katie. If you’re hungry, I must be doing my job.
I’m so there as a judge! And the melted cheese and the messiness of it overall make the picture. I mean, who’s heard of a neat meatball sub? :)
The messier the better. I’m going to need some unbiased judges, so you’re in.
Making a good meatball is definitely an art form! I would love to have this meatball sub!
Thanks, Stephanie. If only I had a hover craft or a time machine, then I could deliver a sub to you stat.
I’ll be a throwdown judge, too! :) These sounds great. What’s not to love about meatballs dripping in sauce and cheese?!
Thanks! I know, right. Cheese alone makes everything better.
God this makes me want to ditch vegetarianism so bad -omg drooling :D
Must make for my brother and daddy!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
What a scrumptious treat this would be!
That looks just like the sort of thing we like to eat whilst watching a good film. Yum.
We can’t watch a movie without popcorn. The hubs is obsessed with popcorn. I even bought him a popcorn tree ornament last year.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing who wins the taste test. From the looks of it I think it just might be you ;) The subs are certainly making me hungry!
Thanks, Annie. That man is going down. He stands no chance against me and my meatballs.
oh man, it has been forever since i had a meatball sub! these are making my mouth water…definitely going on the menu next week
Yay! I hope you love them. The meatballs are so tender. Enjoy!
Meatball subs sound great for Sunday supper! These look so tasty.
Oh man. No matter what I eat for lunch it is not going to looks as good as that. Thanks for making my mouth water.
You’re welcome. If your mouth is watering, then I’m doing my job. Thanks for visiting.
Goodness gracious, that looks heavenly! Pinning tis one too. I’m enjoying looking around your site!
Thank you so much!