One of our favorite restaurants to eat at is Follow Your Heart. On our first few visits there I fell in love with the Vegan Meatball Sub: Italian Meatballs Smothered in a Hearty Marinara Sauce, Topped with Roasted Green Bell Peppers and Melted Pizzeria Blend Cheese. Served on a Toasted Multigrain Sub Roll. I’m not sure if it was the meatballs, the marinara, the melted cheese or the toasted bun.. but the combo is delicious! So when Gardien sent me some of their meatless meatballs to try I knew I was going to recreate the follow your heart meatball sub! *Disclosure: Link in this post may be affiliate links. This means I earn a small commision on sales made through those links, at no extra cost to you*
Vegan Meatball Sub
The first thing I noticed about the Gardien Meatless Meatballs is that they are bigger style meatballs so perfect for a hearty lunch sub sandwich. A serving size is 3 meatballs which I found fit perfectly in the sub roll. With 150 calories per serving and 15g of protein they tick the nutrition boxes too. So for this recipe you need:
- Gardien Meatless Meatballs
- Marinara Sauce
- Bell Peppers – Sliced
- Vegan Mozzarella
- Sub Rolls
I cooked the meatballs and peppers in the air fryer for about 5 minutes. If you don’t have an air fryer (I highly recommend them!) then they can be baked or grilled. I like the peppers slightly caramelized for extra flavor. In a pan heat the marinara. Once the fillings are cooked throw the rolls into the air fryer to crisp for a minute. No longer! They’ll be getting another toasting in a sec.
Once the fillings are cooked and warm pile them into your sub roll. I go easy on the marinara because sometimes the roll gets too soggy. Which is why we toast it a little first. Once the fillings are loaded add some vegan mozzarella on top and throw it back in the air fryer open side UP to melt the cheese. It’ll take about 1-2 minutes to toast the bun and for the cheese to get gooey.
Serve your Vegan Meatball Sub on a bed of lettuce, or wrapped in a napkin (they tend to get messy). Or just freestyle it, and chow down. Personally I don’t think condiments are needed, but a little steak sauce or mustard might be your preference. I love the mix of flavors of the hearty meaty balls, sweet peppers and marinara and the creamy cheese.
Gardein Meatless Meatballs
The Gardien Meatballs are actually really good for this particular recipe. They aren’t overpowering flavor wise, and being on the bigger size they allow ONE sub to be a whole meal. The combo of vegan mozzarella and the meatballs was really nice. In all a delicious hearty lunch that left me satiated. Let me know if you try it!
If you like this recipe, I have a few other vegan recipes you might want to check out: Gardien Southwest Quinoa Bowl, Teriyaki Chick’n & Vegetable Kebabs, portabella pizza burger, and so many more! I post new food posts every monday focusing on showing people how easy it can be to eat vegan, in the hopes that more people embrace Meatless Mondays and switch to eating more plants and less animals.
Questions:
What’s your favorite sub sandwich?
Are you a meatball fan? (vegan or otherwise)
What favorite menu item can you recreate?
How to do savasana
Sayanti
Subs are my all time favorite. Though I have not tried the vegan meatball sub, but looking at these pictures, I am going to try it pretty soon.
Di Hickman
It’s a great meatfree alternative
Jenni
This sounds and looks amazing. I like meatball subs but I do try to cut meat out when possible so will try this
Di Hickman
Yep reducing animal products is a great idea for everyone!
Jennifer Prince
All the flavor without the meat? This sounds so fab!! I need to give it a try. I’m trying to reduce/eliminate meat from my diet. <3
Di Hickman
Definitely worth giving them a try!
Laura
Ohh I love how indulgent this looks but still fairly healthy – so good! I do love a sub and anything vegan/plant based is an extra bonus (veggie 🙂
Laura x
Di Hickman
Yep the meatless meatballs are processed but hey better than animals dying!
Alison Rost
I don’t exactly follow a vegan diet but it’s really nice to make dishes like this! I love that they have meatless meatballs that we can purchase and make different recipes with. The sub looks SO SO good.
Di Hickman
So many alternative now!
Bella at Dear Mummy Blog
These sound delicious especially with the sweet peppers! Would make a great alternative to summer BBQ food x
Di Hickman
Yep it’s a great addition to any BBQ
Dominique L Kemper
Looks and sounds like a delicious sub. Looks just as good as the real thing. I need to try this out.
Di Hickman
Yep it really is better than the real thing, as no animals died!
TravelTips
they should have called it in a different way! Vegan meat balls sound funny!
Di Hickman
Definition of meat is more than animal flesh:
a : food; especially : solid food as distinguished from drink
b : the edible part of something as distinguished from its covering (such as a husk or shell)
Nina
I am a non-vegetarian. I would still give this a try 🙂 looks quite mouthwatering
Di Hickman
Yep suitable for veggies and non veggies!
Flyingkids
Exciting recipe! Looks so delicious. These vegan balls are definitely a must-try.
Di Hickman
They are delicious!
SimpleIndianMom
I am die-heart veggie lover. This recipe looks so yummy 😛 Adding this on my recipe list 🙂
Di Hickman
me too! Love my veggies!
Melanie williams
Ooo I am a veggie so this is right up my street. this looks super yummy and makes a nice alternative to bbq x
Di Hickman
It really is! and quick and easy to make too!
Jade Bremner
My favourite sub is just a chicken and bacon salad. I’m not a massive meatball fan but I eat them I like the meatballs but I always find the sauce is too much even when I make my own sauce.
Di Hickman
Too much how?
Overpowering flavor?
I find the marinara just right honestly.
SUCHI
I am bookmarking this! Looks like a great recipe!
Di Hickman
It really is!
Jeremy
Your vegan meatballs looks yummy, I am always looking for new recipe, I will have to try it soon.
Di Hickman
Give it a try! It’s really tasty!
Brandy
My teen is interested in eating Vegan, she’ll be glad to know she can enjoy a Vegan meatball sub. I’ll share this recipe idea with her!
Di Hickman
definitely do! It’s super easy to eat meatfree now!
Elizabeth O
Ooh this is such a lovely recipe idea. I am a veggie so I could so enjoy this too. Great job it looks really delicious.
Di Hickman
It’s really hearty and delicious
Amalia Silva
I love meatballs and although these ones are vegan they looks just as good as the meat ones, would love to try it!
Di Hickman
Super tasty
Hannah Wood
Ohhh yes this is foe me I am a veggie and very much into Vegan foods too, so this looks yummy and would give it a go.
Di Hickman
It was super tasty!
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
This looks just as good as meatballs with meat. I need to try the vegan mozzarella myself as I could do with switching from the non vegan version.
Di Hickman
Definitely worth trying some of the vegan options!
Mandy
OK I want to try this right now! Having been veggie most of my life I don’t think I’ve ever actually eaten a “real” meatball but I definitely love the look of your vegan ones.
Di Hickman
Yep! I haven’t eaten meat in over 20 years. No idea if it tastes like a “real” meatball, it’s been too long!