Vegan Meatball Subs

Name: Vegan Meatball Subs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 to 20 Vegan Meatballs (we used our Tofu Meatballs, see note 1 for other options); 4 Sandwich Buns; 4 Tablespoons Vegan Butter; 2 Cups Marinara Sauce (we like Rao's or Prego); 3 to 4 Slices Vegan Provolone (see note 2 for other options); Grated Vegan Parmesan, About a Half Cup (we like Violife)

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This Vegan Meatball Sub recipe is so juicy and packed with flavor and protein! Stuff your hoagie rolls with vegan meatballs, tomato sauce, vegan provolone, and a little vegan parmesan on top. A great recipe for vegan game-day food, this is the ultimate vegan comfort food!

Hey Internet, you know we had to do this recipe. After making Tofu Meatballs, we had to know if they worked in a vegan meatball sub sandwich. After finding the perfect rolls to put them in, we got to work on this project shortly after.

And boy, did they turn out perfect! We just love the hearty meatballs in combination with the gooey cheese and delicious marinara. We've made a lot of great sandwich recipes before, like our Vegan Philly Cheesesteak, Vegan Grilled Cheese with Vegan Bacon, Vegan Lobster Rolls, and Vegan Tuna Melts. However, this one might have just blown them out of the water.

It's not just because we're big fans of our meatless meatballs (though we do love them very much). It's how easy they are to make, the simple ingredients, and the explosion of flavor you get that makes this recipe one of the top ones on our site. You can't skip this recipe! It's great as a vegan game day recipe, for busy nights, when you want hearty meals or just an amazing meal for the pickiest eaters.

Why You'll Love Vegan Meatball Subs

So Easy: With an ingredient list of just 6 items and easy steps, it's a breeze to make this recipe.
Cheesy and Comforting: Vegan cheese, plant-based meatballs, a good marinara sauce, and a toasted bun... it doesn't get much better than this!
Customizable: There's so much else you can add to this recipe, from fresh basil or fresh parsley for toppings to other types of vegan cheese, there a lot of ways you can make these vegan subs. You could even make this an all out pizza masterpiece with our vegan pepperoni!
Great for Guests: Whether your house hosts a lot of game days or you just want to serve your guests an amazing meal, this recipe is for you. You don't have to be a sandwich fan to enjoy this recipe! My hubby is a huge sandwich fan though and said this was a new favorite meal for sure.

Ingredients

Pick up these simple ingredients the next time you're at a grocery store. See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredients, instructions, and accurate nutritional information (to the best of my ability; please consult your physician or healthcare professional if you have specific dietary needs). I give substitutions for the ingredients in the section below this one, so most people can still make this recipe!

16 to 20 Vegan Meatballs: The key component to any good meatball sub, we've made a vegan version using tofu that turned out great in this recipe.
4 Sandwich Buns: Whether you use Italian rolls or hoagies, these breads that split down the middle will serve as the boat for all our fillings and flavor!
4 Tablespoons Vegan Butter: We are going to melt and baste this on the bread to help it become richer. You can also use our Vegan Garlic Butter recipe, to add even more flavor.
2 Cups Marinara Sauce: We used both Rao's and Prego to test this recipe and both worked really well! Rao's definitely has more flavor but Prego is definitely more affordable.
3 to 4 Slices Vegan Provolone: Violife makes a great vegan provolone that we used that melted great on the subs. We've also enjoyed the provolone from Follow Your Heart!
Grated Vegan Parmesan, About a Half Cup: This will serve as a delicious finishing to our sandwiches. Have a microplane to dust the cheese evenly across the sandwiches once they're out of the oven. I don't recommend buying the large shred kind.

Substitutions

Vegan Meatballs: There are lots of other vegan meatball products and recipes out there if tofu doesn't work for you! Beyond Meat and Impossible have vegan ground beef that you can easily adapt into our meatball recipe and at least Beyond Meat also sells pre-formed meatballs. Gardein also has some great frozen pre-made meatballs. You could also make chickpea meatballs or lentil meatballs as a replacement, or try our gluten-free vegan meatballs that are kidney bean based!
Vegan Provolone: There are so many other vegan cheese products that would work with this recipe! You could try our homemade vegan mozzarella cheese or some store-bought shreds. I think shreds might melt even better. You could also use this vegan cheese sauce as well.
Vegan Butter: Olive oil is a great replacement that can be found in your cupboard. You're looking to get a golden brown inside to the sandwich bread that takes this dish to the next level.
Buns: If you can't find Italian sandwich rolls or Hoagie rolls, you could improvise using hot dog buns or cutting some French bread into buns. Take note that you may have to adjust the size and number of meatballs in you sandwich depending on what you use.
Vegan Parmesan: If you can find store-bought vegan parmesan, we have a vegan parmesan topping recipe that you can use instead! There's also this great shaker of vegan parmesan that you can buy.

How to Make Vegan Meatball Subs

Prep: Make and cook your vegan meatballs. If you're following our tofu meatballs recipe, you can make these ahead of time. Many of them can be stored in a refrigerator, so they can be prepped in advance as well.
Preheat: Set your oven to broil and work on the next steps while it heats up.
Baste the Bread: Place 4 hoagie or Italian sub buns in a 9x13 baking dish or a baking tray with parchment paper. The former is easier. Open the bun but do NOT break them apart into separate pieces. Baste the inside with vegan butter or our vegan garlic butter.
Add the Vegan Meatballs: Either mix your vegan meatballs and sauce together in a bowl and then add to the sandwiches or add a little sauce to each one, then add the meatballs, and then cover them in more sauce. You'll want 4 to 5 meatballs to a sub, depending on the length of your buns.
Add the Vegan Provolone: Rip the slices up and place them on top of the meatballs. Do not add the parmesan yet.
Broil: Add the dish to the oven and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Err on the side of caution, as some vegan cheese brands melt but don't spread out that much. They can trick you into thinking they're not done! One thing that can help your vegan cheese melt is spraying them lightly with oil or even water.
Serving: Remove from oven and then grate vegan parmesan on top of each vegan meatball sandwich. Let cool for 5 minutes and then enjoy!

Storage Instructions

It is possible to store the vegan meatball sandwiches in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days in a refrigerator. The browning of the bun helps the bread resist getting to wet from the sauce. You can reheat this sandwich in the oven (best), toaster oven or air fryer. But these vegan meatball subs are DEFINITELY best the first day.

If you need to store for longer, it's best to just store the leftover meatballs separate and then make the sandwiches as you go. An air fryer is your friend here. More on that in a moment in the FAQ section below.

Expert Tips

Add some fresh herbs at the end, like basil and parsley. This will make sure they don't get burnt!
If you're not using a higher end pasta sauce like Rao's, you can doctor it by adding your own spices! Some garlic powder, onion powder, or some Italian seasonings are good additions.
Try adding a fancy vegan cheese if you want to take the flavor even further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it Easier to Make This Dish in a Baking Dish?

The walls of the baking dish will help hold the sub rolls up as you fill and broil them. They also do better at containing any spillage from the sauce compared to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Is This a High Protein Meal?

Depending on the vegan meatball you use, it can be! We know our tofu meatballs have a ton of grams of protein in them. Check the recipe or product if you use something else.

How Can I Check If My Vegan Cheese is Melted?

With our brand of vegan provolone, it started to yellow a little bit, so color change is a good method. You could also poke it with a toothpick or fork to see if it has melted.

Can I Use an Air Fryer?

Yep! They're great if you want to make a smaller number of sandwiches. Add your sandwich(s) to the air fryer and then run it at 400 F or 205 C for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Other Great Vegan Sandwiches