Description
A hearty and flavorful Cheesy French Onion Meatball Sub recipe featuring tender ground beef meatballs simmered with caramelized onions and beef broth, topped with melted Swiss cheese on toasted hoagie rolls. Perfect for a comforting and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Onion and Sauce
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup beef broth
Assembly
- 4 hoagie rolls or sub buns
- 1 ½ cups shredded Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the assembled subs later.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly, then form the mixture into 16 evenly sized meatballs.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning to brown all sides evenly. Once browned, remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them aside.
- Caramelize Onions: In the same skillet, melt the butter and add the thinly sliced onions. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deeply caramelized and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
- Simmer Meatballs: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet with the caramelized onions. Pour in the beef broth and simmer gently for 10 minutes, allowing the meatballs to cook through and the broth to reduce slightly.
- Prepare Rolls: Slice each hoagie roll lengthwise, keeping a hinge so the rolls don’t separate completely. This will make filling easier.
- Assemble Subs: Place 4 meatballs into each hoagie roll. Spoon generous amounts of caramelized onions and some of the reduced broth over the meatballs for extra flavor and moisture.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded Swiss cheese evenly on top of the meatballs and onions in each roll.
- Bake Subs: Arrange the assembled subs on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Serve Hot: Remove from the oven and serve the subs immediately while hot and melty for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding a splash of red wine to the onions while caramelizing.
- Ground beef can be substituted with ground turkey or a mix of pork and beef for variation.
- Use fresh grated Parmesan and Swiss cheese for optimal taste and melt quality.
- To make it easier to form meatballs, chill the mixture briefly before shaping.
- If you prefer a spicier sub, add crushed red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture or on top before baking.
