Subway Meatball Sub Copycat Recipe

You can bring the beloved flavors of Subway’s famous Meatball Marinara sub straight to your kitchen with this spot-on copycat recipe! This iconic sandwich has been a Subway staple for decades, satisfying customers with its combination of tender, well-seasoned meatballs, rich marinara sauce, and melted cheese on freshly toasted bread. You can recreate this flavor with these homemade meatball subs.

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Why this recipe works

The magic of this recipe lies in the tender, flavorful meatballs that don’t fall apart when you bite into the sandwich. These meatballs achieve their perfect texture through a combination of beef and pork, which creates maximum flavor and superior moisture retention. The addition of Romano cheese and Italian seasonings infuses each meatball with a rich, flavorful taste.

Ingredients

For the Subway-Style Meatballs:

• Ground beef (80/20) – Provides the meaty foundation with ideal fat content for flavor and juiciness
• Ground pork – Adds moisture and tender texture that keeps meatballs from being dense
• Breadcrumbs – Creates the light, tender texture that prevents tough meatballs
• Large egg, beaten – Acts as an essential binder while adding richness to the mixture
• Garlic, minced – Delivers the aromatic, savory depth found in Subway’s version
• Grated Romano cheese – Contributes a sharp, nutty Italian flavor that elevates the meatballs
• Dried parsley – Adds the herbal notes essential to Subway’s seasoning blend
• Dried Italian seasoning – Provides the signature herb blend for authentic taste
• White onion, finely minced – Adds subtle sweetness and keeps meatballs moist
• Whole milk – Prevents dryness and creates the tender texture Subway customers expect
• Salt – Essential for proper seasoning and flavor enhancement
• Ground black pepper – Adds the right amount of heat and aromatic complexity
• Vegetable oil – Used for achieving that perfect golden sear on the meatballs

For the Subway-Style Assembly:

• Red onion, sliced – Adds the sharp bite many Subway customers love
• Marinara or spaghetti sauce – The signature sauce that makes this sandwich iconic
• Hoagie rolls – Sturdy foundation similar to Subway’s Italian bread
• Extra-virgin olive oil – Used for toasting rolls Subway-style
• Provolone cheese slices – The classic cheese choice that melts perfectly
• Black olives, sliced – Popular Subway topping for Mediterranean flavor
• Green bell peppers, sliced – Fresh vegetable option just like at Subway

Step-by-Step Instructions

Creating the Perfect Subway-Style Meatballs

1. Combine the meat base: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the ground beef and ground pork, breaking them up with your hands without overworking.
2. Add the Subway seasonings: Add breadcrumbs, beaten egg, minced garlic, Romano cheese, dried parsley, Italian seasoning, finely minced onion, milk, salt, and black pepper to create that signature Subway flavor profile.
3. Mix with care: Using your hands, mix ingredients until just combined. Avoid overmixing, which can create a dense texture that Subway specifically avoids in its meatballs.
4. Form uniform meatballs: Shape mixture into 16 meatballs, approximately 1 inch in diameter, similar to the size Subway uses for consistent portioning.

Achieving the Subway Sear

5. Heat for proper searing: Heat 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, just like Subway’s cooking method.
6. Sear for flavor: Carefully add meatballs without overcrowding. Sear for 2-3 minutes per side until they develop the golden brown crust that locks in Subway’s signature juiciness.
7. Set aside properly: Remove seared meatballs and set aside. Clean the skillet if you plan to use it for the sauce step.

Subway-Style Sauce Simmering

8. Prepare the sauce base: In a saucepan or the cleaned skillet, warm your marinara sauce over medium heat until it begins to lightly simmer, similar to how Subway keeps their sauce.
9. Finish the meatballs: Gently add the seared meatballs to the sauce. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes until fully cooked through (160-165°F internal temperature).
10. Season to perfection: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed to match that familiar Subway flavor.

Preparing Subway-Style Bread

11. Preheat to 350°F for toasting, similar to Subway’s toasting temperature.
12. Cut like Subway: Carefully slice each hoagie roll lengthwise, butterflying it open but keeping it hinged, just like Subway’s signature cut.
13. Toast for texture: Place the cut-side-up rolls on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil, and bake for 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted to prevent sogginess.

Final Subway-Style Assembly

1. Serve fresh: Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and serve immediately for that fresh Subway experience.
2. Prepare for melting: Preheat broiler to high for that signature Subway cheese melt.
3. Load the subs: Spoon a generous amount of meatballs and sauce onto the bottom half of each roll, using similar portions to Subway’s serving size.
4. Add toppings Subway-style: Top with provolone cheese slices, then add your choice of black olives, bell peppers, and red onions just like customizing at Subway.
5. Achieve the Subway melt: Place open-faced sandwiches under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese melts and bubbles, just like Subway’s toasted subs.

Storage & reheating instructions

• Refrigerator Storage: Store meatballs and sauce separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days, similar to how Subway likely handles their prep
• Reheating Method: Reheat meatballs and sauce gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Toast fresh rolls and assemble when ready, just like Subway makes them fresh
• Freezing: Freeze cooked meatballs in sauce for up to 3 months for meal prep convenience

More Subway copycat recipes

• Orchard Chicken Salad Sub
• Footlong Chocolate Chip Cookie
• Tuna Salad Sub

Favorite copycat sandwich recipes

• Big Mac Sloppy Joe Sandwich
• Buc-ee’s Brisket Sandwich
• Chicken Salad Chick Barbie-Q Sandwich
• Popeyes Blackened Chicken Sandwich

Check out more of my easy recipes for sandwiches and the best copycat fast food recipes right here on CopyKat!

Subway Meatball Sub

Copycat Subway Meatball Sub Sandwiches are loaded with homemade meatballs, marinara sauce, provolone cheese, and fresh veggies on toasted hoagie rolls.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Subway Recipes

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 1038kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

Meatballs

• 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg beaten
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup minced white onion
• 1 tablespoon whole milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 jar marinara or spaghetti sauce (14 ounces)

Assembly

• 4 hoagie rolls
• extra-virgin olive oil
• 8 slices provolone cheese
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 1/4 cup sliced green bell peppers
• 1/4 cup sliced red onion

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the meatballs except for the vegetable oil and marinara/spaghetti sauce. Using your hands, mix the ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix or over-squeeze, as this can result in dense meatballs. Form the mixture into 16 meatballs (about 1 inch in diameter).
• Heat the oil in a large skillet (such as a high-sided 12-inch skillet or cast iron) over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully add the meatballs to the hot skillet in batches, ensuring you do not to overcrowd the pan. Sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side until they develop a golden-brown crust. Remove the seared meatballs from the skillet, set them aside, and repeat with any remaining meatballs. Wipe down the skillet if you plan to use it for the sauce.
• In a saucepan or the cleaned skillet, warm the marinara or spaghetti sauce over medium heat. Once the sauce begins to lightly simmer, gently add the seared meatballs to the sauce. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer until the meatballs are fully cooked to an internal temperature of 160 to 165°F, about 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Carefully cut each hoagie roll lengthwise, butterflying it open but being careful not to slice all the way through. Place the rolls cut-side up on a baking sheet. Brush the inside of the rolls with extra-virgin olive oil and bake for about 5 minutes, or until the rolls are lightly toasted. This creates a protective barrier against sogginess and adds a slightly crispy texture.
• Preheat the broiler to high.
• Spoon a generous amount of meatballs and sauce onto the bottom half of each toasted hoagie roll. Top with 2 slices of provolone cheese followed by the black olives, green bell peppers, and red onions, as desired.
• Return the assembled sandwiches (open-faced) to the baking sheet and place them under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning.
• Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 1038kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 68g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 27g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 208mg | Sodium: 2130mg | Potassium: 942mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 972IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 528mg | Iron: 16mg