The BEST Vegan Meatball Subs! Loaded with beans, Italian spices, and marinara on a toasty bun. Vegan, gluten-free, and kid-friendly!
Ohhhhhh the hours I poured over naming this beaut.
Bean Balls. Bean Ball Subs. Mushroom Meatball Sandwiches. Vegan Paleo Meatless Meaty Meatball Sub Sandwiches. What?
The bottom line is that I made you meatless balls because I love you and I love anything that’s a vehicle for marinara sauce atop a toasty bun. You know my Easy Vegan Lasagna is the best thing since sliced bread. I’m the girl that asks for a side of tomato sauce with, um, everything. Like hold the cheese and double the sauce on that ‘za, mkay?
These balls have been a long time coming. One of my all time favorite meals in Columbus is the eggplant meatball sub at one of our only vegetarian restaurants, Whole World. It’s so good that my carnivrous boyf happily eats it without worrying his muscles will shrink. The rich marinara, the house-made whole grain bun, the most fantastical meatless meatballs…I mean I can barley write about it without salivating.
So it was due time for me to create something similar at home. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about making my recipes accessible to as many people as possible. With food allergies, insensitivities, and preferences on the rise like no other, it’s pretty important to me as a dietitian and food blogger to create food that tastes delish to the masses but is secretly super wholesome, plant-based, and more often than not, gluten-free. My goal in life is to make awesome, healthy food for all. We’re getting there!
The good news is that this recipe is VERY customizable. All tastebuds welcome.
Let’s talk ingredients.
- I found some gluten-free Italian-style panko breadcrumbs at Whole Foods on sale for super cheap-o; but please feel free to use whatever bread crumbs you have on hand (or even make your own)! I like the Italian-style ones for that extra hint of parsley, basil, and oregano. The panko adds great texture. If all you have is plain breadcrumbs, just go heavier on the Italian seasoning. If you’ve got fresh herbs like parsley and basil on hand (I’m jealous), add those!
- For cheese lovers, Parmesan cheese would make a great stand-in for the nutritional yeast (which you can find in the natural section of any grocery store).
- I used pinto beans as the base, but kidney, chickpeas, or black beans would all work just fine.
- For extra umami flavah flave, try a splash of soy sauce (sub tamari for gluten-free) or a splash of vegan worcestershire sauce.
Now that I’ve given you three and a half zillion ways to modify this recipe, it’s time to set you free.
I hope you fall head over heels in love with these sammies like I have. The serving possibilities are endless. I adore them on buns, but feel free to try them over zucchini noodles, whole grain pasta, or straight up dipped in copious amounts of marina.
THE MORE THE MAR[INARA]-IER!
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Vegan Meatball Subs
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 6 subs (20 meatballs) 1x
- Category: Main Meal
Description
The BEST vegan meatball subs! Loaded with beans, Italian spices, and marinara on a toasty bun. Vegan, gluten-free, and kid-friendly!
Ingredients
For the vegan meatballs:
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms
- 3 large cloves garlic
- 1/2 medium onion, sliced
- 1–15oz can pinto beans or chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 3/4 tsp salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3/4 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs (I used Italian-style gluten-free panko)
For serving:
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce (plus more if desired)
- 1 package hot dog buns (gluten-free if necessary)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Place walnuts and mushrooms on lined/sprayed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Once done, remove from oven and leave oven on.
- Combine flax and water in a small bowl, stir, and set aside.
- Place garlic and onion in food processor and pulse a few times until chopped. Add beans, Italian seasoning, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and cooked mushrooms and walnuts (they will be hot, that’s okay) and pulse until everything is chopped and mixture will hold together. There should be some texture– it shouldn’t look pureed.
- Dump mixture into a bowl and stir in flax mixture and bread crumbs.
- Roll mixture into 20 balls (a bit larger than a golf ball). Place on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Flip and bake for another 20 minutes.
- Place three balls on each buns (toasted if desired) and top with 1/4 cup marinara. You’ll have a couple bean balls leftover.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun + 3 bean balls + 1/4 cup sauce
- Calories: 404
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 1061mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0mg
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Is there something I can sub for nutritional yeast or can I leave it out? I can’t find it where I live. 🙁
Emily ordered some off amazon.
Since the J man has decided to go veggo, I am looking for meals that will help him feel like he is not missing out and this fits a treat! And now I am back as plant based a possibllllah (thank you Food Choices Documentary…), I am digging the look of these too 🙂
Since the J man has decided to go veggo, I am looking for meals that will help him feel like he is not missing out and this fits a treat! And now I am back as plant based a possibllllah (thank you Food Choices Documentary…), I am digging the look of these too 🙂
hoooly crap. i opened up your page and was like “meatballs?!” then, “ohhh “meat”ballz.” i’m the saaaame with marinara. i put it on everything! i’d probably make them and just dip them in sauce bc i love finger foods heh. and i also hate mushrooms but ik they’re good for you, so maybe i could hide them in with the yummy beans 🙂
also, i’ve still NEVER been to Whole World UGH that needs to change! do you like it better for brunch or lunch/dinner?
★★★★★
hoooly crap. i opened up your page and was like “meatballs?!” then, “ohhh “meat”ballz.” i’m the saaaame with marinara. i put it on everything! i’d probably make them and just dip them in sauce bc i love finger foods heh. and i also hate mushrooms but ik they’re good for you, so maybe i could hide them in with the yummy beans 🙂
also, i’ve still NEVER been to Whole World UGH that needs to change! do you like it better for brunch or lunch/dinner?
★★★★★
Thank you!!! Thank you!!! We love all your recipes we have ever made!!! Thank you for making these recipes accessible to those of us that don’t live in Ohio and wish we could eat at Alchemy everyday!
Thank you!!! Thank you!!! We love all your recipes we have ever made!!! Thank you for making these recipes accessible to those of us that don’t live in Ohio and wish we could eat at Alchemy everyday!
They look so good. A healthy version of my favorite sub, thanks for sharing
They look so good. A healthy version of my favorite sub, thanks for sharing
Oh boy. I plan on making these balls and putting them over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash the next time my husband is away (he would only accept either the veggie noodles OR the meatless balls at a single meal, I think). Yum!
Oh boy. I plan on making these balls and putting them over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash the next time my husband is away (he would only accept either the veggie noodles OR the meatless balls at a single meal, I think). Yum!
This recipe looks fabulous. I am with you and the side of marinara!
★★★★★
This recipe looks fabulous. I am with you and the side of marinara!
★★★★★
Yess!!! This is one of the ways I got my family to love the beans 😉
Yess!!! This is one of the ways I got my family to love the beans 😉