Meatball Sandwich Recipe

Ground beef: The base for your meatballs, providing a rich and savory flavor.

Breadcrumbs: Helps to bind the meatballs together and adds texture.

Egg: Acts as a binder to hold the meatball mixture together.

Parmesan cheese: Adds a nutty and salty flavor to the meatballs.

Garlic: Provides a robust and aromatic flavor to the meatballs.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the meatballs.

Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice and depth to the meatballs.

Sub rolls: The bread that holds the meatballs and sauce, providing a soft and chewy texture.

Marinara sauce: A rich and tangy tomato-based sauce that complements the meatballs.

Mozzarella cheese: Melts beautifully over the meatballs, adding a creamy and gooey texture.

When forming the meatballs, make sure to handle the mixture gently to avoid compacting it too much. Overworking the ground beef can result in dense, tough meatballs. Instead, lightly shape them with your hands to ensure they remain tender and juicy.

• ground beef - Substitute with ground turkey: Ground turkey is a leaner option and provides a similar texture and flavor profile.

• breadcrumbs - Substitute with oatmeal: Oatmeal can act as a binder and adds a slightly different texture, making the meatballs a bit heartier.

• egg - Substitute with flax egg: A flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoon water) is a great vegan alternative that helps bind the ingredients together.

• grated parmesan cheese - Substitute with nutritional yeast: Nutritional yeast provides a cheesy flavor and is a good vegan substitute.

• garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: Garlic powder can be used if fresh garlic is not available, though the flavor will be slightly less intense.

• salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty and umami flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the meatballs.

• black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat but with a slightly different flavor profile.

• sub rolls - Substitute with whole wheat rolls: Whole wheat rolls are a healthier option and add a nutty flavor to the sandwich.

• marinara sauce - Substitute with pesto sauce: Pesto sauce offers a fresh, herby flavor that can be a delightful twist on the traditional marinara.

• shredded mozzarella cheese - Substitute with provolone cheese: Provolone cheese melts well and provides a slightly different, yet complementary, flavor.

• Allow the meatballs to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make them soggy.
• Transfer the cooled meatballs to an airtight container. If stacking them, place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to avoid sticking.
• Store the marinara sauce separately in another airtight container. This ensures the sub rolls don't get soggy when reheated.
• For the sub rolls, wrap each roll individually in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to maintain freshness.
• Place the containers and wrapped sub rolls in the refrigerator if you plan to consume them within 3-4 days.
• For longer storage, freeze the meatballs and marinara sauce separately. Use freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
• Label each container with the date to keep track of freshness.
• When ready to enjoy, thaw the meatballs and marinara sauce in the refrigerator overnight.
• Reheat the meatballs and marinara sauce together in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through.
• Warm the sub rolls in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes or until they are slightly crispy.
• Assemble the meatball sandwiches by placing the reheated meatballs and marinara sauce on the warmed sub rolls, topping with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Serve hot and enjoy your delicious meatball sandwiches as if they were freshly made!

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Wrap the meatball sandwich in aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.
  3. Place the wrapped sandwich on a baking sheet.
  4. Heat in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through and the mozzarella cheese is melted.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the meatball sandwich on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover the sandwich with a damp paper towel to keep it moist.
  3. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. If the meatballs are not heated through, continue microwaving in 30-second intervals.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Preheat a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Wrap the meatball sandwich in aluminum foil.
  3. Place the wrapped sandwich in the skillet and cover with a lid.
  4. Heat for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the meatballs are warmed and the mozzarella cheese is melted.

• Toaster Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Wrap the meatball sandwich in aluminum foil.
  3. Place the wrapped sandwich on the toaster oven tray.
  4. Heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through and the mozzarella cheese is melted.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Wrap the meatball sandwich in aluminum foil.
  3. Place the wrapped sandwich in the air fryer basket.
  4. Heat for 5-7 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.

• Oven: Used to bake the meatballs at a consistent temperature of 375°F (190°C).

• Mixing bowl: Utilized to combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper.

• Baking sheet: A flat surface to place the formed meatballs on for baking.

• Skillet: Used to heat the marinara sauce and simmer the cooked meatballs.

• Spatula: Handy for stirring the marinara sauce and turning the meatballs if needed.

• Measuring cups: Essential for accurately measuring the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and marinara sauce.

• Measuring spoons: Used to measure the salt and black pepper precisely.

• Garlic press: Convenient for mincing the garlic cloves.

• Knife: Useful for any additional chopping or slicing, such as cutting the sub rolls if needed.

• Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for any chopping or slicing tasks.

• Cheese grater: If you need to freshly grate the parmesan cheese.

• Whisk: Helps in beating the egg before adding it to the meat mixture.

• Tongs: Useful for handling the hot meatballs when transferring them to the skillet.

• Serving platter: Ideal for presenting the finished meatball sandwiches.

• Oven mitts: Essential for safely handling hot items from the oven.

Prepare ingredients ahead: Measure and mix breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and spices in advance to streamline the process.

Use pre-made marinara: Opt for a quality store-bought marinara sauce to save time on preparation.

Batch cook meatballs: Double the meatball recipe and freeze half for a quick meal later.

Preheat oven early: Start preheating the oven while you mix the ingredients to save time.

Assemble sandwiches quickly: Lay out sub rolls and mozzarella cheese while the meatballs are simmering to speed up assembly.