Description
These Cheesy French Onion Meatball Subs combine tender, flavorful beef meatballs with rich caramelized onions and melted Swiss cheese, all nestled in soft hoagie rolls. A perfect comfort food sandwich, baked to bubbly, cheesy perfection.
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
Caramelized Onions
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Assembly
- 4 hoagie rolls or sub buns
- 1 ½ cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 cup beef broth
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the assembled subs.
- Make Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until evenly combined, then shape into 16 uniform meatballs.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Caramelize Onions: In the same skillet, melt butter over low heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until the onions are deeply caramelized and sweet.
- 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, leaving one side intact to create a hinge for easy filling.
- Assemble Subs: Place 4 meatballs in each roll. Spoon generous portions of the caramelized onions along with some of the reduced broth over the meatballs.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded Swiss cheese evenly over the meatballs and onions in each sandwich.
- Bake: Arrange the assembled subs on a baking sheet and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the subs hot for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- For extra sweetness, add a pinch of sugar to the onions while caramelizing.
- To make ahead, prepare meatballs and caramelized onions in advance and assemble before baking.
- Add pickled jalapeños or hot sauce for a spicy kick.
- Use provolone or mozzarella cheese as alternatives to Swiss cheese if preferred.
