Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs

Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs deliver a restaurant-quality meal in minutes. My family begs for this dish. After making this many times, I learned the trick to perfect meatballs. Juicy meatballs with melty cheese and rich marinara sauce. Try my Garlic Butter Steak Bites for a meaty side. Jump to Recipe If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe and No Bake Oreo Dessert Salad.

What You'll Need for Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb Italian sausage
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz)
• 1 loaf sub rolls
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• Optional: fresh basil
• Optional: grilled peppers
• Optional: onion slices
• Optional: extra mozzarella

How to Make Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs

1. Mix the meatballs: In a bowl, mix ground beef, sausage, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until blended.
2. Form the meatballs: Scoop 1-inch balls and roll into uniform size. Place on a baking sheet.
3. Bake the meatballs: Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes until browned and cooked through.
4. Add marinara sauce: In a large pot, add marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Add meatballs and cook for 10–15 minutes.
5. Top with cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella over the meatballs and cover. Let sit for 5 minutes until cheese melts.
6. Assemble the subs: Cut sub rolls in half. Add meatballs and sauce. Top with fresh basil and extra cheese if desired.

Storing & Reheating Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare meatballs and sauce up to 2 days in advance.

Freezing Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs

Freeze meatballs in a sealed bag for up to 2 months.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10–15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in a microwave-safe dish for 1–2 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: Use a mix of beef and sausage for best flavor and moisture.
• Best substitution: Use ground turkey for a leaner version.
• Make-ahead: Freeze cooked meatballs for quick meals.
• Scaling: Double the recipe for a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If meatballs are dry, add a splash of broth while cooking.

Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs

⏱

Prep

10 mins

🍳

Cook

30 mins

⏳

Total

40 mins

🍽

Serves

6 servings

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb Italian sausage
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz)
• 1 loaf sub rolls
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Seasonings

• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Optional Toppings

• fresh basil
• grilled peppers
• onion slices
• extra mozzarella

Instructions

1. Mix the meatballs: In a bowl, mix ground beef, sausage, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until blended.
2. Form the meatballs: Scoop 1-inch balls and roll into uniform size. Place on a baking sheet.
3. Bake the meatballs: Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes until browned and cooked through.
4. Add marinara sauce: In a large pot, add marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Add meatballs and cook for 10–15 minutes.
5. Top with cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella over the meatballs and cover. Let sit for 5 minutes until cheese melts.
6. Assemble the subs: Cut sub rolls in half. Add meatballs and sauce. Top with fresh basil and extra cheese if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: Use a mix of beef and sausage for best flavor and moisture.
• Best substitution: Use ground turkey for a leaner version.
• Make-ahead: Freeze cooked meatballs for quick meals.
• Scaling: Double the recipe for a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If meatballs are dry, add a splash of broth while cooking.

Storage

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze meatballs in a sealed bag for up to 2 months.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10–15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in a microwave-safe dish for 1–2 minutes.
• Make ahead: Prepare meatballs and sauce up to 2 days in advance.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 20g
• Fat: 25g
• Carbs: 30g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 80mg
• Sat. Fat: 12g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!