Description
This Easy and Quick Weeknight Meatball Sub recipe offers a delicious and comforting meal perfect for busy evenings. Featuring homemade or frozen meatballs simmered in marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese in a toasted bun, these subs are flavorful, satisfying, and simple to prepare within 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Homemade Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef (95% lean)
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
Meatball Subs
- 24 meatballs (homemade or frozen)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 8 hot dog buns
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and salt. Mix well and shape the mixture into 24 uniform meatballs.
- Cook Meatballs (If Homemade): Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the meatballs and turn them every minute to brown all sides evenly. Once browned, reduce heat to low, add the marinara sauce slowly, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Cook Meatballs (If Frozen): Heat marinara sauce in a large skillet over medium heat until simmering, then add frozen meatballs. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low, cooking for about 25 minutes until meatballs are heated through.
- Prepare Buns and Assemble Subs: While meatballs cook, preheat the oven broiler and place an oven rack about 6 inches below. Arrange the hot dog buns on a baking sheet. Place 3 meatballs inside each bun, spoon marinara sauce over the meatballs, and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Broil Subs: Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly. Watch carefully to prevent the buns from burning.
Notes
- You can use either homemade or frozen meatballs depending on your preference and time constraints.
- For a spicier sub, increase the red pepper flakes or add hot sauce to the marinara.
- Use fresh garlic for better flavor in meatballs.
- Ensure meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F for food safety when cooking homemade meatballs.
- Broil buns only briefly to melt the cheese without burning the bread.
