Best Vegan Meatball Subs

5 from 17 votes

Indulge in the magic of this Vegan Meatball Subs recipe--- A delightful twist on the classic New York Marinara Sub. Bursting with savory, spicy, and sweet notes, these veggie-packed 'meatball subs' boast tender and flavorful bites. Nestled in a brioche hot dog bun and loaded with vegan meatballs, dairy-free cheese shreds, and succulent umami roasted herb tomatoes. They're a mouthwatering treat for any mealtime. Gluten-Free option.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main Course

Keyword: baked, brioche, chickpea, classic, dairy-free, easy, food, healthy, marinara, meatballs, new york, one pot, pecans, savory, spicy, tomatoes, vegan

Servings: servings

Calories: 340kcal

Author: Shanika

Ingredients

VEGAN MEATBALLS:

1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained + rinsed
1 cup cooked quinoa (Cook according to packaging!)
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup vegan bread crumbs (See Notes for Homemade!)
¼ cup nutritional yeast
½ onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon sea salt + black pepper
1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil, for cooking + 1 Tbsp!

HOMEMADE MARINARA SAUCE:

2 cups organic tomato sauce
¼ cup organic vegetable stock
1 teaspoon sea salt + black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Pinch of cayenne pepper

TOPPINGS + OTHERS:

2 cups Herb Roasted Tomatoes
Vegan Mozzarella shreds
Fresh parsley or cilantro, optional
Brioche hot dog buns

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

TO MAKE THE HERB ROASTED TOMATOES:

To make the herb roasted tomatoes, see my recipe here.

TO MAKE THE VEGAN MEATBALLS:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a standard baking dish. Set aside.
Start by adding onions and garlic cloves to a heated skillet (with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil) and sautéing them until they are fragrant and translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside skillet for later.
Add the cooked quinoa, pecans, and sautéed onions and garlic to a food processor and pulse for 1 minute or so. Add the chickpeas, nutritional yeast, olive oil, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, dried parsley, black pepper, sea salt, and bread crumbs, processing everything until it grounds into a thick mixture.
Using an ice cream scoop (or spoon), shape mixture into individual balls (further rounding them with your hands). Repeat until all meatballs are created.
Reheat previous skillet over medium-high heat (with all the bits left in it) and add additional olive oil if needed. Add meatballs to pan and sear until nicely golden on all sides. Remove each meatball and set aside.

TO MAKE THE TOMATO/MARINARA SAUCE:

In a medium 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and let it heat.
Add the tomato sauce, veggie stock, salt, black pepper, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic powder, parsley, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper, stirring everything together until combined. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, adding in the meatballs and allowing them to simmer in the sauce for 3-4 minutes.
ASSEMBLE: slightly open each hot dog bun and line them (upward with opening faced up) and fill them with vegan meatballs with the marinara sauce. Top with vegan cheese shreds and bake for 10-15 minutes or until buns are crispy and shreds have become a bit stretchy. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Bon Appétit!

Notes

STORAGE: Store any leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. You can also freeze the meatballs for up to three months. Defrost them overnight in the fridge and reheat them on the stove or in the oven. Make some fresh tomato/marinara sauce, add the vegan meatballs, and assemble the meatball subs and serve.
OILS: Instead of using Extra Virgin Olive Oil, you can substitute with Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil, or Coconut Oil.
GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To make this dish GF, simply use Gluten-Free hot dog buns and ensure that other ingredients are GF-friendly.
HOMEMADE BREADCRUMBS: To make your own breadcrumbs, simply grind 1-2 cups of cubed bread into a food processor until finely chopped. Place crumbs onto a parchment lined baking sheet and spread out evenly. Bake for 5-6 minutes in the oven set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring occasionally. Once brown + crisp, remove from oven and let cool. Continue recipe steps and store remaining breadcrumbs in a tightly sealed container.

Nutrition