In 2020, right at the height of the pandemic, Subway did the unthinkable and officially released the exact recipe for their legendary Meatball Marinara Sub. Forget the guesswork—this is the actual, official recipe first shared by Metro.co.uk. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve made this for my family, and every single time, they absolutely demolish it. Today, I’m passing it along to you!

This is an extract directly from the Metro.co.uk site:

For the Meatballs – makes enough for 2 footlong subs

250 grams Lean Beef Mince
250 grams Pork Mince (ideally 20% fat)
40 grams fresh bread crumbs
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 tablespoons flat leaf Parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
1 medium egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt

For the Marinara Sauce

500 ml tomato passata
1 small onion, grated
2 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried mixed Italian herbs
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon caster sugar
¼ teaspoon red chilli flakes (optional)

Method:
For the Meatballs

In a large bowl, place the beef and pork mince, along with the parsley, onion and salt. Mix well, ensuring all the ingredients are well combined.

Line a large baking tray with parchment. Using damp hands, take a heaped tablespoon of the mince mixture, and roll into a ball. Place on the lined tray and repeat with remaining mixture.

Heat a little oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the meatballs on all sides. Remove from the pan, and set aside while you make the sauce.

For the Marinara Sauce

Return the frying pan to the heat, and add a little more oil. Add the onion and cook for three minutes until softened. Add the garlic and continue to cook for a further minute. Add the passata, herbs, salt, sugar, and chilli if using, and stir to combine.

Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the sauce is reduced by a third and thickened.

Once the sauce is thickened, add the meatballs back into the pan, stirring to coat with the sauce. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for 6-8 minutes or until cooked through.

Last step – assemble your Sub and enjoy!