Subway Meatball Marinara: Price, Calories and Nutrition (2026)

The Subway Meatball Marinara is the comfort-food sub. Italian-style meatballs, simmered in marinara sauce, topped with melted provolone, served toasted on warm bread. It is the messiest, warmest, most satisfying sandwich on the menu, and it has a loyal following that orders nothing else. In 2026 the standard 6-inch Meatball Marinara carries 480 calories and a price starting from $7.49. Here is the current price, the calorie count, and the full nutrition breakdown.

Price and calories callout

Subway Meatball Marinara price: from $7.49. Subway Meatball Marinara calories: 480. Prices vary by location because Subway restaurants are individually owned, with most landing between $7.49 and $9.99 for a 6-inch. The 480 calorie figure covers one standard 6-inch: four meatballs with marinara sauce and provolone, toasted, on Italian bread. Extra cheese or double meatballs moves the number up.

Last updated: July 6, 2026

Table of contents

• Price and calories callout
• What is in the Meatball Marinara
• Meatball Marinara nutrition facts
• Meatball Marinara ingredients and customization
• Allergens
• Meatball Marinara vs Chicken & Bacon Ranch
• Getting the best value on the Meatball Marinara
• Frequently asked questions

What is in the Meatball Marinara

The build is simple and perfect. Four Italian-style meatballs, a blend of beef and pork with Italian seasoning, go onto the bread. Marinara sauce is ladled over, a bright tomato sauce that soaks into the bread. Provolone cheese goes on top, and the whole sandwich is toasted so the cheese melts over the meatballs and the bread crisps.

The standard vegetable build is usually none or light: many regulars order it with just the meatballs, sauce, and cheese, though onions and green peppers are the classic adds. The sandwich is designed to be eaten hot and fast, because the marinara keeps soaking into the bread. This is not a sandwich that improves with waiting.

At 480 calories with 23 grams of protein, the 6-inch is a filling hot lunch. The meatballs contribute most of the protein and a good share of the 17 grams of fat. The marinara adds moisture and flavor for relatively few calories, which is why this sandwich eats lighter than its weight suggests.

One thing worth knowing: the meatball count is standardized at four for the 6-inch, but the scoop varies by crew member. A generous scoop is a noticeably better sandwich. Regulars know which shift makes the best meatball sub, and it is almost always the lunch crew.

Meatball Marinara nutrition facts

Full nutrition breakdown for one standard 6-inch Meatball Marinara, based on Subway’s official US nutrition data. Standard build: four Italian-style meatballs, marinara sauce, provolone cheese, toasted, Italian bread. No added vegetables or sauce.

Nutrient	Amount per 6-inch Meatball Marinara
Calories	480
Total fat	17g
Total carbohydrates	46g
Protein	23g
Sodium	970mg

The 23 grams of protein is solid for a 480-calorie sandwich. Fat at 17 grams is moderate, coming from the meatballs and provolone. Sodium at 970 mg is 42 percent of the daily guideline, driven by the seasoned meat and the cheese.

For context, the Meatball Marinara sits in the middle of the hot subs: 480 against 380 for steak and cheese and 610 for chicken and bacon ranch. The marinara is the reason it stays reasonable: tomato sauce adds big flavor for about 40 calories. The biggest lever is the cheese: double provolone adds about 100 calories, and extra meatballs add about 130.

Meatball Marinara ingredients and customization

The standard ingredient list is Italian-style meatballs (beef and pork), marinara sauce, provolone cheese, and Italian bread, served toasted. Vegetables and extra sauce are chosen at the counter.

Customization is narrower than on cold subs, but it exists. Onions and green peppers are the classic vegetable adds, and they hold up to the heat. Banana peppers add a pickled bite that cuts the richness. Extra marinara is free on request and keeps the sandwich moist. Parmesan is the traditional cheese swap, and some locations offer mozzarella.

The paid upgrades are extra cheese (around $1), double meatballs (around $2 to $2.50), and bacon. The value play is the Monday Sub of the Day: at many locations the 6-inch Meatball Marinara drops to from $4.99 on Mondays, which is the cheapest hot lunch on the menu.

Allergens

The Meatball Marinara contains wheat and gluten (bread, meatball binder), milk (provolone), egg (meatball binder), and soy (present in some meatball and bread preparations). The meatballs may contain celery and mustard derivatives. Cross-contact with all major allergens is possible on the shared grill, toaster, and prep line. Always check Subway’s current allergen information if you have a serious allergy.

Meatball Marinara vs Chicken & Bacon Ranch

The two comfort hot subs, head to head. Meatball Marinara: 480 calories, 17g fat, 23g protein, 970mg sodium, from $7.49. Chicken & Bacon Ranch: 610 calories, 34g fat, 28g protein, 1140mg sodium, from $8.99.

The Meatball wins on calories by 130, on fat by half, and on price by about a dollar and a half. The Chicken & Bacon Ranch wins on protein by 5 grams and on richness: the ranch, bacon, and cheddar are a more indulgent combination than meatballs and marinara. The meatball is the better everyday lunch; the ranch is the bigger treat.

Pick the Meatball Marinara for classic comfort at a reasonable calorie count and the lower price. Pick the Chicken & Bacon Ranch when you want the richest hot sub on the menu and the numbers are not the point. On Mondays, the meatball at Sub of the Day pricing is the best hot-sub value in fast food.

Getting the best value on the Meatball Marinara

• At from $7.49, the Meatball Marinara is good value for a 480-calorie hot sub. It is the cheapest hot meat sub on the standard menu.
• Monday is Meatball Marinara day on the Sub of the Day rotation at many locations: from $4.99 for the 6-inch. That is the deal to plan around.
• Always get it toasted. The standard build assumes the toast, and untoasted meatball subs are a pale imitation.
• Extra marinara is free and keeps the sandwich from drying out. Ask for it.
• Eat it promptly. The marinara soaks into the bread, so this is the worst sub on the menu for saving half for later.

Frequently asked questions

ManuBite Team. We track fast food prices and nutrition across the USA so you always know what your meal really costs, in dollars and in calories.