Subway Meatballs (What Are They Made Of, Real Meat, Are They Nice + More)

Subway has many delicious combinations to choose from when ordering a sub, from steak to chicken to a mix of everything. One of the most popular products at Subway right now is the Meatball Marinara.

Before you order a Meatball Marinara, you may have some questions, like what the meatballs are made out of, whether they taste good, if they’re bad for you, and more. I’ve done the research, and here’s what I’ve found out!

Subway Meatballs

At Subway, the meatballs contain ground beef, bread crumbs, and seasoning containing dehydrated onion and garlic, salt, pepper, dehydrated parsley, and soybean oil. The Meatball Marinara is one of Subway’s most popular sandwiches which is also smothered in Subway’s tangy and sweet Marinara sauce.  Additionally, there’s now a vegetarian version called the Meatless Marinara.

If you want to learn more about what’s in the Subway meatballs, how healthy they are, the cost, how many you get, and more, then keep reading!

What Are Subway Meatballs Made Out Of?

The meatball recipe that Subway uses is fairly standard. For example, the meatballs include:

  • Ground beef
  • Toasted wheat bread crumbs
  • Some seasoning (dehydrated onion and garlic, salt, pepper, dehydrated parsley, soybean oil)

At first, it may seem strange the breadcrumbs are in Subway’s recipe.

However, breadcrumbs are a completely normal ingredient in meatballs because they stop the meatballs from becoming dry.

Also, the breadcrumbs absorb the juices from the meat as it cooks, trapping them within the meatball.

Additionally, Subway meatballs are 100% pork-free; the only meat they contain is good-quality ground beef.

Do Subway Meatballs Taste Good?

The general consensus on the Subway Meatball Marinara is that it’s very tasty.

For example, customers describe the meatballs as beefy, soft, and succulent due to the breadcrumbs, and they’re seasoned fairly well.

Also, people generally have good things to say about the sauce.

That said, the consensus is that the sauce is sticky, tangy, and has an unmistakable tomato taste, with a little bit of sweetness.

You get a good helping of the sauce to cover the meatballs, and all the flavors blend well together.

The only real gripe you’ll hear about the Meatball Marinara is that with the meatballs, the sauce, and melty cheese if you get that, the sandwich can be extremely messy.

With that, you are almost guaranteed to have sauce dripping onto your clothes.

However, if a mess isn’t an issue for you, you might enjoy this sandwich.

Is There A Vegetarian/Vegan Option For Subway Meatballs?

Subway makes a meat-free version of the Meatball Marinara, called the Meatless Marinara, which comes with Subway’s Meatless Meatballs, and the same marinara sauce as the Meatball Marinara.

It’s slightly healthier than the meat version, with a foot-long being 916 calories instead of 1,000.

Also, the sandwich has 0.7 ounces of fat, 3.9 ounces of carbohydrates, 0.8 ounces of sugar, and just under a teaspoon of salt.

The Meatless Marinara is marginally healthier than the meat version, and the meatless meatballs are more nutritious.

What Is The Price Of A Subway Meatball Sub?

What Is The Price Of A Subway Meatball Sub?

A 6-inch Meatball Marinara is $3.75 without extras, whereas a footlong is $5.50.

Additionally, you can get a Meatball Marinara salad, which is $6.00.

What Sauce Comes With Subway Meatballs?

The Meatball Marinara and the Meatless Marinara both come with Subway’s marinara sauce. And, you get a generous portion of this sauce when you purchase either of these subs.

That said, Subway’s marinara sauce contains the following ingredients:

  • Tomato puree (water, tomato paste)
  • Tomatoes
  • Sugar
  • Soybean oil
  • Salt
  • Modified corn starch
  • Dehydrated onions
  • Parsley
  • Spices
  • Citric acid

Moreover, I should note that the Subway marinara sauce contains milk, soy, and wheat.

How Many Meatballs Do You Get In A Subway Meatball Sub?

When you order a Meatball Marinara or a Meatless Marinara at Subway, you’ll receive four meatballs for a 6-inch sub and eight meatballs for a footlong.

With the sub, you also get a generous portion of sauce.

Additionally, you can add cheese, which is included in the price.

If you want to get extra meatballs on your sub, you can get double meat, which is an extra charge of $1.50 for a 6-inch and $3.00 for a footlong.

If you want extra meatballs in the sub but don’t want to double the meat, Subway staff may be able to do this at their discretion.

What Bread Should I Get With A Subway Meatball Marinara?

The bread I would recommend getting with a Meatball Marinara is Italian herbs and cheese because the flavors pair best with the meatballs and sauce.

However, other bread options are available.

For example, the bread available at all Subway stores includes:

  • 9-grain wheat
  • Multi-grain
  • Flatbread
  • Italian
  • Italian herbs & cheese
  • Flatbread

Also, limited Subway bread varieties include:

  • Hearty Italian
  • 9-grain honey oat
  • Jalapeño cheese
  • Monterey cheddar
  • Parmesan oregano
  • Roasted garlic
  • Rosemary & sea salt
  • Rye bread
  • Gluten-free bread

What Toppings Go With A Subway Meatball Marinara?

Subway recommends you don’t add too much to a Meatball Marinara, as the flavors are simple and don’t need overcomplicating with too many toppings.

However, if you do want extra toppings, here is what Subway offers.

Vegetables available at all Subway stores include cucumbers, green peppers, lettuce, red onions, spinach, tomatoes, etc.

Also, limited vegetable toppings include avocado, carrots, guacamole, and sweet peppers.

Sauces available at all Subway stores include chipotle southwest, mayonnaise, ranch, oil, Subway Vinaigrette, mustard, vinegar, and sweet onion.

Moreover, limited Subway sauces include barbecue, buffalo, creamy Italian, golden Italian, honey mustard, caesar, sriracha, and tzatziki cucumber.

Finally, the cheeses available at all Subway stores include American and Monterey cheddar.

However, limited Subway cheeses include feta, mozzarella, cheddar, pepper jack, provolone, and Swiss.

Also, bacon and pepperoni are available as extras.

What Sides Should I Get With My Meatball Sub?

Most people will tell you that the Meatball Marinara is far too filling to justify any sides with it. However, if you’re extra hungry, there are options available.

The Subway sides include apple slices for $1.50, a bag of chips for $1.10, or cookies. That said, you can get one cookie for $0.65, three for $1.70, or 12 for $6.

Moreover, the cookie flavors include chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, chocolate chip rainbow, and more.

To learn more about Subway, you can also read our related posts on whether or not Subway has pizza, Subway cheese types, and if Subway has salads.

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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