If you are trying to figure out what to serve with a homemade meatball sub for dinner, this list is exactly what you are looking for. So if you want something light & simple or filling & big - the best recipe ideas are all right here.
This family favorite is a hearty hot sandwich all on their own. But whether you call it a meatball submarine sandwich, grinder, hero, torpedo, or hoagie, all these side dishes complete the meal.
If you ever wondered who makes some of the best Meatball Sandwiches, check out this article about WHERE TO EAT THE BEST MEATBALL SANDWICH. Personally I feel making it at home using my recipe for Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs & Sauce is the way to go!
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This is a tasty list of what to offer with meatball sandwiches. There are healthy salads, mayo-based salads, low-carb, keto, vegan, and fancy sides. This list of what to make with meatball subs includes:
- Side Dishes by The Short Order Cook
- Salad Side Dishes
- Vegetable & Potato Side Dishes
- Soup Side Dishes
Side Dishes by The Short Order Cook
Here are my favorites sides. There are plenty of Italian recipes but other great ideas as well.
Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries
Homemade deep-fried sweet potato fries are a quick and easy family favorite recipe. This fantastic method to deep fry & season them makes the best appetizer or side dish.
Sweet Potato Fries
Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle French Fries
For an easy foolproof method for cooking frozen crinkle-cut french fries in the air fryer, try this recipe. They will be hot, crispy, and yummy with just the right amount of time to cook in the air fryer. Plus delicious dips and seasonings to add for the best air fryer french fries.
Air Fryer Crinkle Fries
Keto Cream of Mushroom Soup
This restaurant-quality low-carb keto cream of mushroom soup is easy to make and simply delicious. The creamy texture with sherry creates a rich velvety mushroom soup that is so much better than any Campbell’s condensed version you can buy.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup
The most amazing roasted cherry tomato soup is an easy recipe that only takes 30 minutes. It's creamy, savory, rich & tastes gourmet. A touch of garlic & basil makes this an Italian classic. Serve with grilled cheese for lunch or as a starter for dinner. Simple ingredients like summer ripe fresh red tomatoes, onion, & garlic are oven-cooked, simmered, & blended for a chunky or smooth soup. Gluten-free, low-carb, & keto-friendly too!
Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup
Mediterranean Chopped Salad
The best Mediterranean chopped salad is packed with garbanzo beans for protein and a bunch of fresh vegetables. Loaded with Greek & Italian produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, artichokes, & olives plus a homemade Italian vinaigrette dressing recipe. Great for lunch, dinner, side, or appetizer. It is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, healthy, & tasty for everyone to enjoy.
Italian Chopped Salad
Simple Spinach Salad
Toss together this quick & easy simple spinach salad in just minutes. The crunchy croutons are made from scratch & with a homemade dijon vinaigrette this is the best recipe hands down. It's a fresh & healthy side dish that goes with any meal or enjoy for lunch. Pile on some protein for an entree dinner.
Simple Spinach Salad
Antipasto Rice Salad
Antipasto rice salad is a light lunch or hearty side dish that is packed with so many yummy things. Rice paired with Italian-American ingredients like salami, mozzarella, and olives are mixed with a homemade dressing for a tasty gluten-free alternative to pasta salad.
Antipasto Rice Salad
Easy Vegetable Rice Soup (vegetarian & gluten-free)
An easy vegetable rice soup that is vegetarian and full of flavor. This recipe uses vegetable broth, fresh vegetables, tomatoes, rice, and seasonings for a hearty vegan soup that everyone will love.
Vegetable Rice Soup
Cold Rice Salad
The best spring or summer salad of rice and fresh fava beans. The cold rice salad It is tossed with lemon vinaigrette & topped with scallions and lemon zest for a bright pop of flavor.
Italian Rice Salad
Air Fryer Broccolini with Lemon & Parmesan (tenderstem broccoli)
Broccolini is crispy thanks to the air fryer. Topped with fresh lemon & parmesan, makes this tenderstem broccoli recipe the best. You'll love this Italian-inspired fresh vegetable garlicky side dish or appetizer.
Air Fryer Broccolini with Lemon & Parmesan
Roasted Marinated Artichoke Hearts
Crispy roasted marinated artichoke hearts are the easiest recipe ever. It is so simple to cook marinated, canned, or frozen artichoke hearts in the oven on high heat to get a crispy outside and a tender inside. They're best as an appetizer, healthy snack, salad pizza topping, or side dish. They are gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb, vegan, vegetarian and keto. For a Spanish twist (alcachofa) or Italian take (carciofo) artichoke hearts are so versatile.
Roasted Marinated Artichoke Hearts
Deep-Fried Beer-Battered Onion Rings
Onion rings are a classic fried treat that is so easy to make homemade. This beer-battered recipe for onion rings is deep-fried until crispy & crunchy. It's the perfect side dish, snack, or appetizer.
Beer-Battered Onion Rings
Homemade Pickles with Leftover Pickle Juice
Homemade pickles are so easy to make when you reuse pickle juice or brine for this recipe. In 24 hours quick refrigerator pickles are crisp and ready. Fermentation to turn cucumbers into pickles has never been easier.
Pickles made with Leftover Pickle Juice
Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon
Creamy macaroni & cheese with caramelized onions & bacon is a classic old-fashioned recipe. The best homemade baked mac and cheese begins with a traditional roux, 3 kinds of cheese & al dente elbow pasta. This family-favorite casserole recipe is creamy, comforting, & simple to make.
Baked Mac & Cheese with Bacon
Rigatoni al Forno (Baked Pasta)
Rigatoni al Forno is a baked pasta casserole everyone will love. This easy recipe has hearty rigatoni, a rich tomato sauce, layers of gooey cheese, and more for a great Italian dinner. This is a comforting recipe great for holidays, potlucks, & make-ahead meals.
Rigatoni al Forno
Pasta alla Pizzaiola
This 30-minute recipe for pasta alla pizzaiola is a quick & delicious Italian classic. The rich tomato sauce is inspired by the best pizza makers. The recipe from Naples, Campania region of Italy, is so easy. The simple meatless pasta is a yummy vegan/vegetarian meal that is comforting & a family favorite.
Pasta all Pizzaiola
Pancetta Pasta
This easy pancetta pasta recipe is an Italian classic. The quick-cooking 20-minute recipe is salty, rich, & comforting. Angel hair pasta with crispy pancetta, garlic, & a simple olive oil sauce is a traditional family-favorite meal with just a few ingredients. Feed a lot of people at a budget-friendly price.
Pancetta Pasta
Salad Side Dishes
Artichoke & Pesto Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
A wonderful gluten-free side dish packed with so many wonderful Mediterranean ingredients like artichokes, olives, and tomatoes.
Pesto Quinoa Salad
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
This Mediterranean chickpea salad is a great summer salad that goes great with any Italian sandwich. It makes a colorful, filling, and delicious lunch.
Chickpea Salad
Classic Italian Pasta Salad
Nothing better to pair with a meatball sub than a classic pasta salad. All the Italian flavors you love with sweet peppers, olives, and parmesan cheese.
Italian Pasta Salad
Pesto Caprese Salad
A wonderful homemade pesto is the star of this simple but elegant salad. Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella are the ideal side dish for any meatball sandwich.
Pesto Caprese
Vegetable & Potato Side Dishes
How to Kettle Chips (copycat recipe)
Every good sandwich deserves an amazing potato chip. These homemade kettle chips are fantastic and easier than you thought to make.
Kettle Chips
Rosemary & Garlic Infused Roast Potatoes
Convert frozen potatoes into something so flavorful and crispy. Then add even more flavor by infusing them with rosemary and garlic.
Rosemary Potatoes
Perfect Steamed Asparagus
A hearty meatball sub sometimes needs a simple and easy side dish. Steamed asparagus that is perfectly crispy and earthy is just the right pairing.
Steamed Asparagus
Parsnip Fries
A healthy alternative to the same ole french fries. Oven roast thinly cut parsnips for a new side dish addiction.
Parsnip Fries
Soup Side Dishes
Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup is very easy to make and is ready in under an hour. The creamy Italian soup is ideal to pair with meatball subs and other sandwiches.
Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Roasted Red Pepper Soup
This creamy roasted red pepper soup includes smokey gouda for so much flavor with a hint of smokiness to go with the sweet peppers.
Red Pepper Soup
Cauliflower & Broccoli Soup
This healthy cauliflower and broccoli soup recipe is a delicious way to get a good dose of your daily vitamins. A wonderful side dish to enjoy your vegetables.
Cauliflower & Broccoli Soup
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Osana says
Made the pasta salad for a sandwich making party. It was the best side dish and was good with the meatball sandwiches and the grilled cheese we had.
Angela says
Thank you for the comment. Glad to hear everyone enjoyed one of my recommended side dishes for meatball sandwiches.
Ridleys says
I like that you made room for both “light & simple” and “filling & big” sides, because that little contrast understands what people are actually deciding at dinner: whether I also ended up opening Ridleys current weekly ad afterward because it carries the same thread a little further.