Ingredients
Method
Make the Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, diced onion, minced garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Don't overmix.
- Roll mixture into 18 meatballs, about 2 inches in diameter (roughly golf ball size). Place on prepared baking sheet with space between each meatball.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and lightly browned. Internal temperature should reach 160°F.
Prepare the Sauce and Assemble
- While meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add marinara sauce, red wine (if using), Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- When meatballs are done, add them directly to the sauce. Gently stir to coat and simmer together for 2-3 minutes.
- Split the sub rolls lengthwise, leaving them hinged. If desired, hollow out some of the bread interior to make more room for filling.
- Place 3 meatballs in each roll and spoon extra sauce over top. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
The meatballs can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if using frozen. For a richer flavor, try mixing half ground beef with half ground veal. If you can't find good sub rolls, thick slices of Italian bread work well too. Leftover meatballs are perfect over pasta or rice.
