Chicken Meatball Sub with Gobs of Fresh Mozzarella Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Cheese

by: Erin Jeanne McDowell

June14,2010

10 Ratings

Chicken Meatball Sub with Gobs of Fresh Mozzarella Recipe on Food52 (1)

Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 30 minutes
Serves 4

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Author Notes

While you don't have to use fresh mozzarella for a melty, gooey sandwich like this, it really makes it so much better. The whole thing is just such great comfort food. —Erin Jeanne McDowell

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Erinmcdowell is Food52’s Test Kitchen Manager and pie whisperer.
WHAT: The meatball sub had a mid-life crisis and bought a brand new car.
HOW: Brown flavorful chicken meatballs in a sauté pan with olive oil as you make a quick tomato sauce. Then, melt slices of fresh mozzarella on a baguette until they’re melty. Pile on sauce and meatballs, grab a handful of napkins, and start eating.
WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for -- the meatball sub is exciting again! With chicken meatballs, fresh mozzarella, and homemade tomato sauce, the classic sub has a whole new life. We recommend making extra meatballs and sauce to eat on pasta throughout the week. —The Editors

Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients

For the chicken meatballs:
1 tablespoonolive oil (15 g)
1 sweet onion, minced (220 g)
3 cloves garlic, minced (15 g)
1 pound ground chicken (454 g)
2 tablespoonstomato paste (35 g)
1 teaspoonoregano (3 g)
2 tablespoonschopped fresh basil (6 g)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 pinchred pepper flakes
1 egg (57 g)
³/₄ cupbreadcrumbs, or more as needed (63 g)
Olive oil, as needed for cooking

For the tomato sauce and the finished sandwich:
1 tablespoonolive oil (15 g)
1 small onion, minced (170 g)
2 cloves garlic, minced (10 g)
1 tablespoontomato paste (17 g)
4 to 5 tomatoes, roughly chopped (or one 15-ounce can)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chopped fresh basil, to taste
1 baguette, halved and cut into 4 pieces
8 ouncesfresh mozzarella, thinly sliced (227 g)
Pepperoncini or other hot peppers, optional

Directions

In a small sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions until translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute more. Set aside, and let cool.
In a large bowl, combine the cooled onion mixture with all the other meatball ingredients. Mix well to combine. Using your hands, roll the mixture into small balls.
Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Place the meatballs in the hot pan, and allow to cook until nicely browned on each side and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes (you can also sear the meatballs and finish them in the oven, if desired).
To make the tomato sauce, heat the olive oil in a small pot. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute more.
Deglaze the pan with the tomato paste, then stir in the tomatoes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Simmer until a good flavor develops, then stir in the basil just before serving.
Place the mozzarella on half of the bread slices (if your bread is stale, you can toast it first; I used a fresh baguette, so it didn't need toasting). Run the bread under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
Toss the meatballs in the tomato sauce, and spoon some meatballs onto the bread. Garnish with hot peppers, if desired, then serve!

Tags:

Sandwich
Meatball
Italian
Chicken
Mozzarella
Hot Pepper
Cheese
Dinner

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Recipe by: Erin Jeanne McDowell

erinjeannemcdowell.com

I always have three kinds of hot sauce in my purse. I have a soft spot for making people their favorite dessert, especially if it's wrapped in a pastry crust. My newest cookbook, Savory Baking, came out in Fall of 2022 - is full of recipes to translate a love of baking into recipes for breakfast, dinner, and everything in between!

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10 Reviews

Lovisa W. July 24, 2023

This is the second time (maybe the third time?) I have made this dish. I add half a bottle of beer to the sauce. Usually an ale or pilsner-style beer. I added more garlic - I come from a place where there is almost no such thing as too much garlic! I also added some dried basil to the sauce while it is cooking. I enjoy the fresh basil added to the end of the sauce too. For this batch, I realized I didn't have any onions. As a supplement, I used about 3-4 tablespoons of finely chopped shallots for the meatballs and sauce. Most people would never guess you are using chicken in the meatballs. To save additional calories I cooked my meatballs in the oven at 425 for 12 minutes. I added them to the sauce to absorb some of the flavors from the sauce (15-20 minutes) before serving. I agree with others on only using fresh mozzarella. Another alternative would be provolone cheese. I also add a pinch of freshly grated parmesan. I have served this as a sandwich and over pasta when I ran out of bread. It is a great comfort food dish. It is also a good crowd pleaser and good for picky eaters.

FAQs

Is fresh mozzarella good on meatball sub? ›

Assemble and cook: Place 4 cooked meatballs into each toasted hoagie roll. Next, add a spoonful of sauce on top of each meatball (I like to go lighter on sauce to avoid sogginess, then use it for dipping later if needed). Place about 1/4 cup fresh or shredded mozzarella cheese on top of each sandwich.

Read The Full Story ›

What to add on meatball sub? ›

Toast up your french bread, top with meatballs, sauce, peppers and onions, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. We like to add hot pepper rings.

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Why does fresh mozzarella not melt well? ›

Fresh mozzarella does not melt well because it is stored in brine. Because of the high moisture content, fresh mozzarella releases water when it melts. This can ruin your pizza and make it watery. You can use processed mozzarella in your pizza, or you can use a mix of milk, half-and-half, or cream.

Does fresh mozzarella melt the same as regular mozzarella? ›

They don't melt as well as whole-milk mozzarella, and they also tend to pull away in sheets rather than ooze into stringy goodness. If possible, it's best to eat fresh mozzarella on the day it was made without refrigerating it.

What is best paired with fresh mozzarella? ›

Fresh seasonal produce makes a great match for mozzarella. You can never go wrong with veggies like heirloom tomatoes, roasted sweet peppers, or even grilled zucchini. Just serve everything alongside a lightly toasted baguette and your choice of olive oil.

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Does fresh sliced mozzarella melt? ›

Fresh mozzarella only takes a few minutes to melt, and once it melts if it continues to sit on the pizza as it bakes, the cheese will start releasing moisture.

Read On ›

Is it best to use fresh mozzarella in lasagna? ›

Instead, use fresh mozzarella to add delicious taste to the lasagna. Fresh mozzarella isn't difficult to incorporate. Pick up a ball of it at your local grocery store, then use a cheese grater to shred it into the lasagna. You'll be rewarded with a wonderful taste and excellent texture.

What meat goes well with mozzarella cheese? ›

Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Pairings:

- Fruits: adding berries, peaches, melon cubes and pears can make your salad dish more wonderful when combined with mozzarella. Don't forget a good olive oil for your salad. - Meats: Beef, lamb, ham are complimented when serving with mozzarella cheese.

Find Out More ›