Meatball Sub

Name: Meatball Sub
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 sub or hoagie rolls; 16 cooked meatballs, homemade or store-bought; 2 cups marinara sauce; 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese; 1 tbsp olive oil; Chopped fresh basil or parsley, optional

4 servings10 min prep20 min cookEasy

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Meatball Sub

Story updated September 18, 2026

The meatball sub is an Italian-American creation, developed by Italian immigrants in early 20th century US cities who adapted meatball-and-tomato-sauce dishes to fit inside hero rolls, an approach with no direct counterpart in Italy itself.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

4 sub or hoagie rolls
16 cooked meatballs, homemade or store-bought
2 cups marinara sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
Chopped fresh basil or parsley, optional

Instructions

1Warm the marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium heat, then add the meatballs and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
2Preheat the oven broiler and slice the sub rolls open lengthwise without cutting all the way through.
3Brush the inside of each roll lightly with olive oil and toast under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly golden.
4Fill each roll with meatballs and a generous spoonful of sauce, then top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
5Return the subs to the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6Garnish with fresh herbs if desired and serve immediately while hot.

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