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Home Recipe Index Freezer Meals Freezer Beef

Healthy Meatball Sandwich Recipe

Updated: 1/22/23
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This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This healthier version of a Meatball Sub is hands down one of my favorite sandwiches of all time. And, more importantly, my whole family from ages 1 to 40 loves it! That’s a rare treat at this stage of life. Not only is this Meatball Sub Sandwich delicious, but like many of my recipes, it’s full of hidden veggies. Bonus!

meatball sub

Here’s what I did to make our healthier Meatball Sub:

1) Using my grass-fed, organic ground beef (here’s why I only buy this kind of beef), I made my Meatballs with Veggies. These meatballs are delicious, moist, and full of vegetables!

Healthier Meatball Sub Recipe

2) Next, I split and toasted some whole wheat rolls or subs under the broiler for 1 minute. I’ve used both, as you’ll see in these pictures.

Healthier Meatball Sub Recipe

3) Now on to putting together your delectable sandwich.

healthy meatball sub recipe
  • First a meatball (or two if you’re using a sub) on top of the toasted bread. You may have to cut them in half if they don’t fit easily on your sub roll.
  • Next top the meatballs with either our Homemade Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce or an all-natural or organic sauce from the store. I like Newman’s Own Marinara because of its simple ingredients, great flavor, and affordable price.
  • Lastly, lay 1 slice of Provolone or Mozzarella cheese (cut it in pieces to fit) over the top of the sauce.
healthy meatball recipe

4) Toast your sandwich in a 350 degree F oven until sandwich is warmed through and cheese is melted–about 5-10 minutes.

Fast Week Night Tip: To make these on busy week nights, I make a huge batch of meatballs and sauce in advance on the weekend. Then, the sauce and meatballs are ready to go. Putting the sandwich together and toasting it takes less than 15 minutes that way! I freeze any sauce and meatballs are leftover or use them over spaghetti the next night.

Healthier Meatball Sub Recipe

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

meatball sub

Healthy Meatball Sandwich Recipe

Turn our delicious Meatballs with Veggies into these simple hot sandwiches that are sure to be hit in your home. Using whole grain bread, our sneaky meatballs, and our homemade or an organic sauce makes these extra nutritious.

Yield: Makes: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutesCook: 11 minutesTotal: 16 minutes
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Units:
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Ingredients

  • 4 whole wheat subs or 8 dinner rolls
  • 12–16 cooked meatballs
  • 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
  • 6 slices Provolone cheese

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Preheat the broiler. Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. Split open and lay subs or rolls open on the sheet pan. Toast under the broiler for about 1 minute. Watch closely so they don’t burn.
  3. Turn oven to 350 degrees F.
  4. While oven preheats, put together sandwiches like this:
    • Add 3-4 meatballs on the subs or 1-2 on dinner rolls. If needed, cut some of the meatballs in half to fit on your sub roll.
    • Top with enough marinara sauce to cover meatballs.
    • Lay Provolone slices over the top of the sauce, so sandwiches are entirely covered. If needed, cut slices in half to fit properly.
  5. Toast sandwiches until sandwich is warmed through and cheese is melted–about 5-10 minutes.

Freeze For Later:

Freeze cooked meatballs, sauce, cheese, and subs all in freezer bags. Be sure to remove as much air as possible from the bags.

Prepare From Frozen:

Thaw in the fridge overnight or, for a quicker method, run (tightly closed) freezer bags under cold water. Do not defrost in the microwave. Then, follow cooking instructions. If meatballs are still slightly frozen, cover sandwiches with foil (so they don’t burn) and warm longer in the oven until heated through.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1 sub sandwich or 2 dinner roll sandwiches

We’d love your feedback! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Cuisine: American Method: Baked

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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. AvatarApril says

    Posted on 10/13/14 at 3:30 pm

    Just wanted to say that I love your blog and all these recipes! I’ve made (and passed on) many of these recipes and these homemade meatballs are my husband’s favorite. He keeps requesting I make them like every other week and he’s never liked my cooking before. 🙂

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 10/13/14 at 9:36 pm

      Ah, thanks. I’m blushing. 🙂

      Reply
  2. AvatarSara says

    Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:24 pm

    Yumm! Just made these tonight! Simple to put together & very tasty!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:31 pm

      Awesome, Sara. So glad! I need to make these again soon.

      Reply
  3. AvatarJen says

    Posted on 5/9/14 at 4:58 pm

    Delicious! Had these for dinner last, and will definitely be making them again! I also added in a stalk of celery and a little green pepper. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 5/10/14 at 8:48 pm

      Yum! Sounds great. I’m so glad you’d enjoyed them. We had them this week too with no complaints.

      Reply
  4. AvatarRose says

    Posted on 9/22/13 at 6:14 pm

    Do you freeze the meatballs and sauce mixed together or separate?
    Just had them for dinner and my toddlers loved them!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 9/23/13 at 6:33 am

      I freeze them in the sauce. It keeps them moist and makes it easy to warm up on the stove that way. Congrats on getting the toddlers to like these guys. I always do a little dance, well figuratively, when my little ones try a new healthy food!

      Reply
  5. AvatarBrittany says

    Posted on 6/3/13 at 5:30 pm

    Yummy! I’m going to have to make these for our family! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 6/3/13 at 11:05 pm

      Hope you enjoy them. Never get a complaint with these. And that’s hard to come by! 🙂

      Reply
  6. AvatarJanice says

    Posted on 10/16/12 at 5:03 am

    I’m really trying to serve my family healthier meals. I’ve discovered grass fed beef and have been searching for recipes for grass fed beef. My family is going to love these meatball subs and I’ll feel good serving it to them.

    Reply
  7. AvatarDarcie says

    Posted on 10/14/12 at 3:55 am

    I’m excited to try these, Rach! I love all the additions. 🙂

    Reply
  8. AvatarThe Better Baker says

    Posted on 10/14/12 at 3:36 am

    These look sooo mouth-watering! Love you little guy with the stringy cheese out of his mouth. =) Thanks so much for linking up at Weekend Potluck. I love anything you can put a healthy spin on.

    Reply

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