Table of Contents
hide
Delicious Meatball Subs with Homemade Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley (or 1.5 tablespoons fresh parsley)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil (or 1.5 tablespoons fresh basil)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme (or 1.5 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves)
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon Better than Bouillon Beef Base
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce (or 2 (8 oz) cans)
- 32 ounces frozen meatballs (or homemade meatballs)
- 16 ounces mozzarella or provolone cheese
- 12 French rolls or smaller steak rolls
Instructions
- Make the Sauce:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add chopped onion and sauté for 5-8 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add minced garlic and all the spices (oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, basil, salt, thyme, celery seed, cayenne powder, and sugar). Stir for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add 1 tablespoon Better than Bouillon Beef Base and tomato paste. Stir and break up the paste for 1 minute.
- Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Stir until well combined.
- Cook the Meatballs:
- Stove Top Instructions:
- Add the meatballs to the sauce and stir to combine.
- Cook over low or medium-low heat for about 1 hour to meld the flavors.
- Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Carefully pour the sauce into the slow cooker.
- Add frozen meatballs and stir to cover them with sauce.
- Set slow cooker to low for 4-6 hours or high for 2 hours. Keep on warm if needed.
- Prepare the Sandwiches:
- Set oven to broil and move the rack close to the heat source.
- Split the rolls and place them open-side up on a baking sheet.
- Broil until toasted, about 1-3 minutes. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Remove from oven and add grated or sliced cheese to the buns. Broil for another minute to melt the cheese.
- Assemble and Serve:
- Buffet Style:
- Serve buns with melted cheese, meatballs in sauce, and extra cheese for topping. Let everyone build their own sandwiches.
- Family Style:
- Place toasted buns with cheese in a baking dish.
- Fill each roll with meatballs and sauce. Top with more cheese.
- Broil until the cheese is melted and browned.
- Serving Suggestions:
- Pair with a simple green salad, roasted broccoli, or potato chips and baby carrots.
- Storage:
- Store meatballs and sauce in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
- Freeze meatballs and sauce in ziplock bags. Thaw in the fridge overnight and heat in a pan over medium-low heat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour