Meatball Marinara Subs with Melted Mozzarella
Soft homemade sub rolls piled with tender beef meatballs, rich tomato sauce and bubbling mozzarella.
Made with Basic tomato sauce and Basic bread dough. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 10
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.20 a head
- Oven220°C (200°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Divide your ready made bread dough (see the base recipe) into 4 pieces of 150 g. Shape each into a log about 18 cm long, place on a lined tray, cover and leave to puff up for 30 minutes.
30 min - 2
Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan). Mix the mince, egg, breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic, oregano and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl, then roll into 16 small meatballs.
- 3
Bake the rolls for 15 to 18 minutes until golden and hollow sounding when tapped underneath. Cool on a rack.
16 min 40 s - 4
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meatballs for 5 minutes, turning, then pour in your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe). Cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through with no pink inside.
15 min - 5
Split the cooled rolls lengthways without cutting right through. Spoon in the meatballs and sauce, then scatter over the mozzarella.
- 6
Set the oven to a hot grill, or return to 200°C (180°C fan), and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Serve hot with napkins.
4 min 30 s
Tips
- Do not overmix the meatball mixture or they turn tough. Mix just until everything is combined.
- Cool the rolls fully before splitting. Warm bread tears and goes soggy under the sauce.
- Pack the sauce quite thick. If it looks thin, simmer it with the lid off for 5 minutes before filling the rolls.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Leftover meatballs in sauce keep for 3 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through and fill fresh rolls.
Questions
Can I bake the meatballs instead of frying?
Yes. Bake them on a lined tray at {t200} for 18 to 20 minutes until browned and cooked through, then add them to the warm sauce. This is hands off and less messy.
Can I use ready made sub rolls?
Yes, but homemade rolls from your bread dough are softer and cheaper. If you use shop bought rolls, warm them first and skip the baking step.
Can I make these dairy free?
Yes. Leave out the parmesan, using 1 extra tablespoon of breadcrumbs, and use a dairy free melting cheese in place of the mozzarella. Check the label for the dairy free tag.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.