Vegan Meatball Subs

The best hearty Vegan Meatball Subs you'll crave for dinner! Loaded with flavor and served on a toasty bun. Kid-friendly!

I made you plant based meatball subs 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.

One of my all time favorite meals in Columbus was this stupendous eggplant meatball sub from a vegetarian restaurant called Whole World that sadly closed. This is my closest attempt at replicating that glory!

How to make oven baked vegan meatball subs

The key to making the meatballs is pulsing the beans, walnuts, veggies, and spices plus enough breadcrumbs to help them hold together and have that hearty texture. Flax helps, too!

1. First, make the meatballs! Make a flax egg by whisking flax and water in a bowl.
2. Toast beans and walnuts to get all that yummy flavor.
3. Pulse beans, walnuts, onion, garlic, and spices in the food processor.
4. Dump in a bowl and add flax and breadcrumbs. Texture!
5. Form into balls, bake, throw on a toasted bun with marinara sauce, and devour!

Key ingredients and tips

These taste like pizza in the best way. Try topping them with extra nutritional yeast or whatever mozzarella cheese you love!

• Pinto beans: I love pinto beans as the base, but white beans, chickpeas, or black beans would all work just fine.
• Italian breadcrumbs: Panko adds fab texture and helps the vegetarian meatballs stick together. If all you have is plain breadcrumbs, go heavier on the Italian seasoning.
• Mushrooms: for meaty texture and extra umami flavor. White mushrooms, baby bella, and cremini all work.
• Walnuts: Even more meatiness, toasty flavor, and textural intrigue. Yum!
• Onion and garlic: Essential for plenty of deep flavor in our bean balls.
• Flax: For extra binding power.
• Nutritional yeast: For cheezy flavor.
• Italian seasoning: So these taste like meatballs!
• Marinara: Use your favorite jar of marinara sauce to top off these subs. I like Rao's, Silver Palate, or the Kirkland organic one from Costco.
• Buns: You'll need nice and soft sandwich buns to finish off the subs. Regular or whole wheat buns work!

How to store meatballs

Store any leftover meatballs in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. These freeze great, too! To reheat, warm meatballs in the oven at 350F for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. You can also reheat them on a skillet in a bit of olive oil.

More vegan Italian-inspired dinner ideas

• Creamy Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta
• Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Vegan Lasagna Soup
• Vegan Spinach and Artichoke Alfredo Pasta

THE MORE THE MAR[INARA]-IER!

Vegan Meatball Subs Recipe

★★★★★ 4.7 from 31 reviews

• Author: Alexis Joseph | Hummusapien
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Yield: 6 subs 1x
• Category: Main Meal
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: Italian
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

The best hearty Vegan Meatball Subs! Loaded with flavor and served on a toasty bun. Kid-friendly!

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 batch vegan meatballs
• 1 ½ cups marinara sauce (about 1 jar, plus more if desired)
• 1 package sandwich rolls or hot dog buns

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Instructions

1. Make vegan meatballs. Once they're in the oven, warm sauce in a saucepan over the stove.
2. Once meatballs are done, keep oven on and toast buns for about 10 minutes.
3. Put 3 meatballs in each bun and top with plenty of sauce. Enjoy!

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Keywords: vegan meatball subs