Easy Homemade Meatball Sandwich Bliss!

Meatball Sandwich Yumminess

I love a good meatball sandwich, especially when it's a little messy! But I know that staying healthy can be tricky when indulging in such tasty treats. Luckily, I've found a way to enjoy them guilt-free! Making your own meatballs is super easy and quick, and the best part is that you can freeze them for later. When you're ready to eat, they only take about 15 minutes to cook. I personally like to use 97% to 99% fat-free Ground Turkey or Ground Chicken, and trust me, no one can even tell the difference! In fact, I think these meatballs enhance the flavors of any spices or sauces even more than beef does. So go ahead and treat yourself to a delicious homemade meatball sandwich!

So Many Fun Meatballs!!!

One way we save money is by purchasing Ground Turkey and Ground Chicken when they are on sale. We then use them to make a big batch of meatballs. This way, if we have unexpected guests or if we are tired after a busy weekend, we can quickly prepare some delicious meatballs. We enjoy making different kinds of meatballs, such as Buffalo Meatballs, Jalapeño Bacon Meatballs, Juicy Turkey Feta Meatballs, and Italian Turkey Meatballs. The options are endless! Additionally, we like to use these meatballs to make Pizza knots, which are a fun and tasty treat for both kids and adults.

Busy Weekends and Easy Dinners

During the weekends, we tend to be very busy and sometimes take on more tasks than we can handle. We usually have a lot of yard work to do, especially on Saturday mornings in the summer. We often create a to-do list, which includes cutting the grass, cleaning the flower beds, planting herbs and vegetables, and spray washing the house. However, there's always so much to do and so little time. One of our favorite summer activities is setting up a swimming pool for our 4 big dogs! It's just a fun activity for them and us.

It's quite amusing to watch all four of our dogs queue up to jump into the baby swimming pool. Oliver, our beloved big black lab who weighed 140 pounds, absolutely adored the pool and would spend hours lounging in it. The other dogs would patiently wait for Oliver to vacate the pool, as he was the gentle giant of our furry family.

As you can see, Oliver took up the entire pool, and as soon as he left, Roscoe and Elvis jumped in to enjoy their time. . .YES, We know they need a bigger pool!!! 😆

And Yes, Elvis is that GUY!!!!

Back to the Meatball Sandwich

At the end of a long day, when we're feeling tired and hungry, nothing beats a yummy homemade meatball sandwich. It's the perfect solution for a hassle-free dinner that hits the spot just right.

As with most of the recipes we prepare, we aim to make them "diet-friendly". For our meatball sandwich, we were curious to know the calorie count compared to the ones sold in restaurants. Our sandwich has only 395 calories. We discovered a significant variance in calorie content in different restaurants. Some meatball sandwiches had as few as 444 calories, while others had as many as 1,079 calories. It's clear that there is a considerable difference in calories.

Making our own sandwich is a wonderful way to create a meal that perfectly suits us. We get to choose our favorite ingredients and customize the sandwich to our heart's desire. Moreover, it is an excellent way to stay mindful of our calorie intake.

Homemade Vs Restaurant

We decided to take our recipe to the next level by conducting a taste test with Subway's meatball sandwich, which is only a 10-minute drive from our house. Amy started making the sandwich while I went to Subway to pick up their version. Upon my return, she had just taken the sandwich out of the oven. We found that making the sandwich at home was actually easier, and we also saved calories!!!!

Speaking of flavors, we opted for a jar of pizza sauce to save time. While we typically enjoy making our own sauce, we were completely drained after spending the day working in the yard. When making sauce from scratch, it's possible to reduce the points and calories by regulating the amount of oil used in the cooking process. However, even when we use a store-bought sauce, we like to add some extra seasoning to give it a bit more kick.

Of Course Homemade!!!!

I know a lot of you are curious about which sandwich is better. Check out the pictures I took! I gotta say, the homemade sub was out of this world. The Subway sandwich was good, too, but the meatballs on the homemade sub were firmer, juicier, and more aromatic. Plus, it was served super hot right out of the oven. Both sandwiches had four meatballs and mozzarella cheese, but it's important to remember that the homemade sandwich was made with lots of love!

How to make a Homemade meatball sandwich

Making this Meatball sandwich is a breeze, especially if you've prepared the meatballs beforehand and stored them in the freezer. To make things even simpler, we opt for jarred sauce, and our go-to brand is Rao's. Trust us, this sauce is absolutely delicious!

Make the Meatballs.

To make delicious turkey meatballs that taste a lot like beef, we mix chopped mushrooms into the ground turkey. This not only adds an earthy flavor but also helps keep the turkey moist and juicy. To prepare, mix the spices and mushrooms into the ground turkey, form the meatballs, and bake! If you want to make the process even easier, you can purchase pre-made meatballs from the store, but be aware that they may have more calories. Enjoy this simple and tasty sandwich recipe!

After cooking the meatballs, transfer them to a pan and pour the meat sauce over them. Heat the sauce along with the meatballs. In the case of frozen meatballs, add them to the pan, along with the sauce and a cup of water. Heat slowly until the meatballs are heated through, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Building the Sandwich

To prepare a sub sandwich, the center of the bread is hollowed out. This serves two purposes: it reduces the calorie intake by removing some of the bread, and it creates a space for the meatballs to fit. Next, sprinkle ½ tablespoon of Parmesan cheese onto the sub rolls and place them under the broiler to melt the cheese. This should take approximately one minute.

To finish the meatball sandwich, begin by placing the meatballs on top of the bread. Add a generous amount of mozzarella cheese on top of the meatballs. Finally, broil or bake the sandwich until the cheese is melted and golden brown. This will create a warm and hearty sandwich that is perfect for any time of the day.

Final Step for the Homemade Meatball Sandwich

This is my favorite step. . .Enjoy your delicious sandwich!!!

TIPS!

1. When purchasing ground turkey or chicken, aim for 97 to 99% fat-free.
2. To add moisture to the meat, consider mixing in chopped mushrooms, celery, bell peppers, or onions. 
3. Avoid using breadcrumbs as they add unnecessary calories and are not required for the meatballs to hold together.
4. Prepare meatballs in advance and freeze for quick, versatile meals like meatball sandwiches, spaghetti, and pasta dishes. Have fun with them!!!
5. If you're keeping track of your calories, it's a good idea to measure how much cheese you use. Cheese is delicious, but it's also easy to get carried away and use too much.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE RECIPES:

• Thai Turkey Meatballs - Delicious meatballs made with Thai Flavors
• Spicy Bacon Serrano Turkey Meatballs - Meatballs that have just the right amount of spice and a delicious bacon taste.
• Buffalo Meatballs - These meatballs have all the flavors of chicken wings but with fewer calories.
• Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs - Meatballs that taste like a cheeseburger without the bun!
• Cheesy Meatball Knots - Ooey gooey cheesy meatballs wrapped in pizza dough
• Juicy Turkey Feta Meatballs - Spinach & Feta Meatballs are perfect for any event
• Spinach Turkey Meatballs - Enjoy meatballs without the guilt!