Eggless Meatball Sub Recipe
These eggless meatball subs are loaded with tender eggless meatballs, rich marinara sauce, and plenty of gooey melted mozzarella cheese, all tucked inside a toasted hoagie roll. They’re hearty, comforting, and surprisingly easy to make with simple ingredients.
We have made Tender Eggless Meatballs countless times. To shake it up a bit, I made meatball subs for dinner, and they were an instant hit! The crispy hoagie roll, juicy meatballs, and gooey mozzarella cheese created the perfect combination of textures and flavors. This is a great weeknight dinner recipe that comes together quickly and is sure to satisfy the whole family.
The eggless meatballs are simply tossed in a rich marinara sauce, sprinkled with mozzarella cheese, and baked for a few minutes until warm and melty. This recipe is high in protein, easy to follow, and incredibly delicious. You can even customize it by adding fresh basil, red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of garlic butter on the rolls for extra flavor. Serve it with a side salad or roasted veggies for a complete meal. Whether for a quick dinner or a fun weekend meal, these meatball subs are a must-try!
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- Ground beef: I recommend a 20% fat content, so they are tender and juicy
- Plain breadcrumbs
- Cottage cheese: You can swap for ricotta cheese
- White onion
- Dried Italian seasoning
- Garlic: Gives the meatballs great flavor
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt
- Black pepper
For the sub sandwich
- Hoagie rolls
- Marinara sauce: You can pick your favorite store-bought brand
- Mozzarella cheese: Provolone cheese is another great option
How to make an eggless meatball sub
Step one: Combine all the meatball ingredients into a large bowl and mix until well combined.
Step two: Form into meatballs on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, flip, and bake an additional 10 minutes (you want an internal temperature of 165 degrees).
Step three: Butter the inside of the hoagie roll. When the meatballs have 4 minutes left, add in the hoagie rolls to bake for 4 minutes and become slightly crispy. Once the meatballs are finished cooking. Toss in marinara sauce. Place meatballs inside of hoagie roll.
Step four: Sprinkle on parmesan cheese. Place under the broiler in the oven for about 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly.
Why You Don’t Need Eggs in These Meatballs
Traditional meatball recipes often rely on eggs as a binder, but they’re not the only option. In this recipe, the combination of breadcrumbs and cottage cheese helps hold everything together while keeping the meatballs tender and juicy. As they bake, the proteins in the beef also help the meatballs set, so you end up with flavorful meatballs that won’t fall apart without using a single egg.
Why you will love this recipe
Egg-Free – This recipe is completely egg-free, making it perfect for those with egg allergies or anyone looking for a simple alternative.
Incredibly Flavorful – The combination of tender meatballs, rich marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese on a crispy hoagie roll creates an irresistible bite every time.
Quick weeknight dinner – Simple ingredients and minimal preparation needed.
FAQ
They are simply made by placing meatballs, marinara sauce, and cheese inside a sub roll.
They are similar, but different. Marinara is tomato based with spices. Spaghetti sauce is also tomato based but can vary more with add-ins such as ground meat or vegetables.
Mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan are all popular options.
A meatball sub is a warm sandwich made with meatballs, marinara sauce, melted cheese, and a toasted hoagie roll. It is a classic Italian American comfort food that’s hearty enough for dinner and easy to customize with different cheeses, sauces, and toppings.
Substitutions
Hoagie roll: Any type of sub roll will work. You can also use a baguette or French bread. If you are looking for a low carb option, you can make it into a lettuce wrap.
Mozzarella cheese: Can be swapped for provolone cheese.
Best Bread for Meatball Subs
You want a sturdy, thick bread to use in meatball subs. My top three picks include:
- Hoagie rolls
- Italian bread
- French baguette
What to serve it with
Serve it with a side of Italian Roasted Vegetables. Or if you love Brussels sprouts, this is the best brussels sprouts recipe. You could also grab your favorite bag of chips or throw together a green salad.
More dinner inspiration
Craving a different sandwich? Try this Easy Italian Sandwich (Without Mayo).
For another quick ground beef dinner with a spicy-sweet twist, try this Ground Beef Hot Honey Bowl.
Lastly, I created a roundup of ALL my favorite ground beef dinners. Browse them here: Easy Dinner Recipes with Ground Beef.
Equipment needed
- Large mixing bowl
- 2 baking sheets
- measuring cups and spoons
- 1 small saucepan to warm marinara sauce
- 1 cutting board
- 1 paring knife
How to store and reheat
The meatballs themselves store and reheat well. You can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. However, the meatball sub will become soggy, so I recommend eating them immediately.
Tips for Success
-Use a ground beef with 20% fat content. This will produce tender and juicy meatballs.
-Watch the subs closely when they are in the oven. You want the cheese melted and the bread toasted, but it can burn quickly!
If you made this recipe, I’d be so grateful if you left a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a quick comment sharing how it turned out. And if you haven’t already, follow along here:
– Lexi with Our Slice of Home
Eggless Meatball Sub Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef I recommend 20% fat content
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- ½ cup cottage cheese 4% milk fat
- ¼ cup chopped white onion
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the sub sandwiches
- 12 ounce jar of marinara sauce
- 4 hoagie rolls or sub rolls
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese
Instructions
How to bake the meatballs
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all meatball ingredients including: ground beef, cottage cheese, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce.
- Mix together until all ingredients are incorporated together.
- Prepare 12 equally sized meatballs and place on the baking sheet about an inch apart.
- Bake for 10 minutes and then flip the meatballs. This prevents the bottom of the meatball from burning and allows them to cook evenly.
- Bake for an additional 10-12 minutes until browned with an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
How to assemble the sandwiches
- In a small saucepan, heat the marinara sauce over medium-low heat.
- Slice hoagie rolls in half and butter each side of the bread.
- When the meatballs have 4 minutes left, add the baking sheet with your hoagie rolls into the rover. Toast in the oven for 4 minutes.
- Remove hoagie rolls from oven. Once the meatballs are cooked, toss them in marinara sauce.
- Place 3 meatballs into each hoagie roll.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.
- Broil 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly.
My whole family loves these!