What To Serve With Meatball Subs

Juicy meatball subs, the definition of perfection, these little globes of meat nestled cosily between two pieces of bread – usually a crunchy baguette – with cheese sprinkled generously over the meatballs, making each bite all gooey and meaty. Understandably I may have pinched a hungry bone in your body, but this meal would only taste more divine with some sides. Now in case you’re wondering, what could possibly go well with meatball subs? Well scroll down for the answer.

Table of Contents

• What Is A Meatball Sub?
• How To Make A Meatball Sub?
• What Goes Good With Meatball Subs?
• What Sides Go With Meatball Subs?
  • Creamy Coleslaw
  • Pasta Salad
  • Crisps and Salsa
• Baked Potato Wedges
  • Fruit Salad
  • Shortcake
  • Brownies
  • Chocolate Cake
• So What Do We Serve With Meatball Subs?
• FAQs

What Is A Meatball Sub?

The meatball sub is a common sandwich that is part of cuisines, including Italian-American cuisine, and American cuisine. The sub consists of meatballs, tomato or marinara sauce, and bread, like Italian bread, baguette and bread rolls. Cheese such as provolone and mozzarella is also used as an ingredient. Other ingredients that can be added include garlic, green pepper and butter. The term sub is used to describe the way the sandwich is made in the form of a submarine sandwich.

How To Make A Meatball Sub?

Mouth-watering meatball subs are an exciting meal to eat for lunch or at the very end of the day, giving your belly a satisfying pat once the last bite is devoured. To make these magical submarine shaped sandwiches you will need your favourite bread, whether that is a baguette or Italian bread, you’ll need 4-6 rolls (count them) depending on the size of the rolls and how many meatballs you can fit in.

Prepare your meatball mixture of ground beef, egg, onion, garlic cloves, Worcestershire sauce, basil, oregano, parsley, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, black pepper, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, and start to form 20 meatballs with your hands, or 1 1/2 tablespoon scoop. Then transfer them to a baking sheet lined tray, and pop in the oven for 12-15 minutes till golden brown.

Heat marinara/pasta sauce in a saucepan, and gently toss the meatballs into the sauce, place the rolls on a baking sheet and sprinkle them with mozzarella cheese, then transfer to 400 degrees oven for about 5 minutes until the cheese has melted.

Finally, assemble the sandwiches by placing 3 to 4 meatballs on each sub along with some sauce from the dish. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and take a massive bite!

What Goes Good With Meatball Subs?

Big heavy sandwiches like the meatball sub are enough to satisfy your hunger all on their own, this is because of their meaty, cheesy contents, as well as the delicious bread that locks all the fantabulous ingredients away in a loving embrace.

Depending on the length of the bread, sometimes these subs can hold up to 3 to 4 meatballs, which means that the sub would be quite hearty when eaten alone.

You may choose to feed a crowd with little half subs, and perhaps pairing it with some veggie sides will really help balance the rich meatiness of the sandwich, with a satisfying finish. Or maybe you’d fancy a chocolate cake after your juicy, meaty meal, it all depends on what you’re in the mood for.

What Sides Go With Meatball Subs?

When deciding what to eat with your half of the meatball sub, you may think of sauces to dip the sub in like tomato sauce, garlic sauce, though the meatball sub has enough juiciness to it. You can try veggies, salads, crisps, or desserts to end the meal with a sweet finish.

Here are some tasty ideas for sides that will pair wonderfully with meatball subs:

1. Creamy Coleslaw
2. Pasta Salad
3. Crisps and Salsa
4. Baked Potato Wedges
5. Fruit Salad
6. Shortcake
7. Brownies
8. Chocolate Cake

Creamy Coleslaw

A quick and easy to make side dish, with a creamy, crunchy kick, coleslaw as a side gives the meaty sub the vegetables it’s missing. The combination of cabbage and mayonnaise is a perfect complementary addition to a Sunday brunch, picnic or BBQ.

Pasta Salad

Another light and refreshing addition to the list is pasta salad, the wonderful thing about this side dish is its basic formula of pasta, veggies, protein, fats, herbs and spices, and salad dressing. So whether you choose to use red peppers, olives, tomatoes, and Italian dressing with spring shaped pasta, there really is no right or wrong answer.

Crisps and Salsa

Why not give our American-Italian dish a Mexican flair, by adding some tortilla shaped crisps and salsa. The crunchy crispiness of the crisps offers a wonderful contrast to the soft chewy meatiness off the meatball sub.

You can buy some ready made salsa from the supermarket, or use some fresh ingredients to make the salsa at home. In a small bowl add chopped tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, coriander, lime juice for taste, then salt and pepper. Cover the bowl with cling film and set aside for 1 hour.

Once you’re ready to sit down and eat your meatball sub, bring out your wonderful bowl of freshly made salsa, and a bag of tortilla crisps to accompany your hearty meal.

Baked Potato Wedges

Potatoes in any form, make the perfect side to go with any meal, which is why baked potato wedges are an absolute must have alongside your thick meatball sub.

Don’t be intimidated by the potatoes, take them as they are and slice them into wedge shapes, making sure that they are approximately the same width and length, then place them on a baking sheet.

In a small jug combine olive oil, garlic, onion powder, salt, paprika, and pepper, and pour this over the potato wedges, then toss together to coat evenly.

Arrange the wedges in a single layer on a large baking tray, skin sides down, sprinkle with some parmesan cheese and extra salt.

Pop them in the oven to bake for 35 minutes, making sure to turn the wedges halfway through baking time until they reach their beautiful golden colour, with a crispy exterior.

Sprinkle with parsley and some more parmesan to serve with your juicy meatball sub, yum.

Fruit Salad

To include some healthy nutrients with your hearty meal, try a fruit salad made with your favourite freshly cut fruit, including sliced grapes, cherries, strawberries, bananas, pomegranate, and pineapple slices.

Toss these in some chat masala for an added tangy, spicy flavour that will have your lips tingling with satisfaction.

Shortcake

My favourite way to end a meal is with something sweeter on the tongue, especially if I’ve had a thick meaty sub for dinner. Shortcake is a delicious companion to have with your meatball sub, its satisfying, and creamy, sweet with a fruity punch. You can choose whichever shortcake you fancy, from strawberry, lemon, to blueberry and mixed fruits.

Brownies

For all the chocolate lovers this would be the perfect addition to any meal, am I right? A fat juicy meatball sub that is heavily satisfying all on its own, with every cheesy, savoury bite you’re only increasing your stomachs joy. But if we added to that joy, and ended with a sweet side dish that is surely forgiving when it tastes this good.

You can even scoop a little ice cream on top of the brownie, for a cooler texture to the warm gooey brownie.

Chocolate Cake

As we reach the end of our delicious list, the options have become more and more mouth watering. A slice of creamy chocolate cake is a wonderful complimentary side to have with your meatball sub, contrasting the salty, savoury taste from the heavy sandwich, to a sweet, delicately rich chocolate cake, that is soft and spongey, crumbling at your fork as you take another bite. An irresistibly scrumptious end to a delicious meal indeed.

So What Do We Serve With Meatball Subs?

Whether you have a sweet tooth, or a love for fruits and veggies, the side dishes you choose to eat with your meaty sub, relies heavily on what it is you fancy. How do you wish to enhance the enjoyment of your meal? Whether its a sweet finish, or a tortilla crisps and salsa kind of evening, there’s no doubt that a meatball sub can bring joy to the stomachs of many humans on this planet.

FAQs