Description
Sloppy Joe Meatball Subs offer a deliciously saucy and hearty twist on classic meatball sandwiches. Juicy ground beef meatballs simmered in tangy Sloppy Joe sauce are nestled inside soft sub rolls and topped with melted cheese, making it an easy, shareable comfort food perfect for game days and gatherings.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sloppy Joe Sauce
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Assembly
- 4 soft sub rolls
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef with bread crumbs, finely chopped onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to keep the meatballs tender. Shape mixture into small, even-sized balls about 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the meatballs in batches until golden-brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Avoid overcrowding the pan. Remove meatballs and set aside.
- Make the Sloppy Joe Sauce: In the same skillet, sauté diced onion and garlic until softened. Stir in ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently to blend flavors and thicken slightly.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Add the browned meatballs back into the skillet with the sauce. Spoon sauce over the meatballs to coat evenly. Cover and simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Assemble the Subs: Slice sub rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Fill generously with saucy meatballs, then top with shredded cheese. Place the subs under the broiler or in a hot oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts and bubbles.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender.
- Use fresh sub rolls for best texture and to absorb sauce nicely.
- Simmer meatballs in the sauce to deepen flavor and maintain moisture.
- Choose cheeses that melt well such as cheddar, mozzarella, or provolone.
- Let assembled subs rest a couple of minutes before serving to meld flavors and soften the bread slightly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sub
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg