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Air Fryer Meatball Subs

4.86 from 7 votes

Air Fryer Meatball Subs are an easy, healthy twist on the classic. Made with homemade meatballs, marinara, and cheese all tucked into a roll for a quick, high-protein dinner your family will love!

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Yield: 4 servings

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian-American

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

1¼ lb 93% lean ground chicken
¼ cup breadcrumbs (plain, seasoned or gluten-free breadcrumbs)
¼ cup low sodium chicken broth (for moisture)
¼ cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or Parmesan cheese)
2 cloves garlic (minced or grated)
1 large egg
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray

For Assembly

4 small Portuguese rolls (about 2 oz each (or gluten-free buns))
1 cup marinara sauce (homemade or jarred (¼ cup per sub))
4 slices part-skim mozzarella (provolone or muenster cheese, or 4 ounces shredded)

Instructions

Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, mix ground chicken, breadcrumbs, chicken broth, parsley, Pecorino Romano, garlic, egg, salt, and pepper until just combined. Roll into 16 meatballs.
Air fry the meatballs: Spray the basket with oil or use air fryer parchment (best option to avoid sticking). Place meatballs in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Air fry 400F 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and internal temp reaches 165°F.
Heat the sauce: While the meatballs cook, heat up the marinara sauce in a small saucepan or microwave and toss with meatballs.
Toast the rolls: Meanwhile split the Portuguese rolls and lightly toast in the air fryer for 1 minute.
Assemble the subs: Add 4 meatballs with sauce, top with 1 slice of cheese, and return to the air fryer (place each on foil to avoid spillage) and air fry for 1 minute until cheese melts.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sub, Calories: 492kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 41.5g, Fat: 18.5g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 169mg, Sodium: 958mg, Fiber: 1.5g, Sugar: 3.5g

- WW Points: 8

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