Italian-American Meatball Subs with Marinara and Provolone

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-23 · Updated 2026-06-23

Soft hoagie rolls filled with juicy beef and pork meatballs simmered in tangy marinara, topped with melted provolone cheese. This Italian-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs ground beef, Italian sausage (mild, casings removed), breadcrumbs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 8 oz ground beef
• 8 oz Italian sausage (mild, casings removed)
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 large egg
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 4 hoagie rolls
• 8 provolone cheese slices

The sheet pan we’d roast this on → Best Sheet Pans in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, soak 1/2 cup breadcrumbs in 1/4 cup whole milk for 5 minutes until absorbed.
2. Step 2: Add 8 oz ground beef, 8 oz Italian sausage (casings removed), 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, 1 large egg, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the breadcrumb mixture. Mix gently until just combined.
3. Step 3: Shape the mixture into 16 meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
4. Step 4: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs on all sides for 5-6 minutes until golden but not cooked through.
5. Step 5: Pour 2 cups marinara sauce over the meatballs in the skillet. Transfer skillet to the oven and bake for 15 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is bubbling.
6. Step 6: Slice 4 hoagie rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Place 4 meatballs and sauce into each roll, topping evenly with 2 slices provolone cheese.
7. Step 7: Place the assembled subs on a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbles. Serve immediately.