• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Recipe Runner

Eat Well - Run Happy

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
      • Disclosure & Privacy Policy
      • Privacy Tools
  • Recipes
  • Running
    • Training Tip Tuesday
  • Travel

Barbecue Meatball Subs

June 9, 2014 by Danae 26 Comments

Jump to Recipe
352shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Do you have any recipes that bring back memories from your childhood? That’s exactly what these Barbecue Meatball Subs do for me.

Barbecue Meatball Subs | Recipe Runner | Moist meatballs tossed in homemade barbecue sauce make the perfect summer meal!

When I was young my sister and I would come up to Colorado for a week or so during the summer and visit our grandparents. Our grandparents always made a point of planning special things for us to do while we were visiting. I remember trips where they took up to the top of Pike’s Peak in the Cog Railway, hiking on top of Mt. Evans, on a train to Wyoming, to the Olympic Training Center and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, tours of Hammond’s Candy, McDonalds (yes, I’ve seen the kitchen of a McDonalds, we’ll leave it at that), camping in the mountains, and picnics at a park called Inspiration Point near their house. I feel so fortunate that I was able to spend so much time with them and that they put the effort in to giving my sister and I so many unique and special experiences. Coming up to Colorado during the summer was so nice since we grew up in Arizona. Getting out of those 110 degree temperatures was such a relief. I loved having barbecues in the evening when we would sit out in the backyard with the cool breeze surrounded by my Grandma’s beautiful garden and fruit trees. Aside from her Macaroni and Cheese, these Barbecue Meatball Subs were one of my favorite meals she made for us.

Barbecue Meatball Subs | Recipe Runner | Moist meatballs tossed in homemade barbecue sauce make the perfect summer meal!

I loved that she took the time to not only make the meatballs but the sauce as well. We ate the saucy moist meatballs on a toasted sub roll or bun. Sometimes we would add a slice of cheese and sometimes not, either way the subs were delicious! There is something about barbecue sauce, meat, and summer that all go together so well.

Barbecue Meatball Subs | www.reciperunner.com | Moist meatballs tossed in homemade barbecue sauce make the perfect summer meal!

For the most part I kept this recipe just as she made it, with the exception of I used lean ground turkey to make my meatballs and she always used lean ground beef. She also used saltine crackers in hers and I used panko breadcrumbs.  I also cut back slightly on the amount of ketchup in the sauce and found that it was still sweet enough and made just the right amount of sauce to cover all the meatballs without having them swimming in it. I chose to add some thin slices of provolone on top of our subs and put them under the broiler just until the cheese is browned and bubbly. Just a tip, if you put them under the broiler watch them like a hawk! Lets just say that I burned the top of the rolls on my husband’s subs, poor guy had to have open faced subs. However, that didn’t keep him from snarfing them down in a matter of minutes! The next time you have friends or family over for a barbecue or picnic try making these Barbecue Meatball Subs. Paired with warm weather, sunshine, and the cool breeze, they make the perfect outdoor summer meal!

Barbecue Meatball Subs | Recipe Runner | Moist meatballs tossed in homemade barbecue sauce make the perfect summer meal!

Continue to Content
Barbecue Meatball Subs

Barbecue Meatball Subs

Yield: 6 sub sandwiches
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Barbecue Meatballs Subs are the perfect outdoor summer meal!

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

  • 1 pound lean ground turkey or beef
  • 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/3 cup non fat milk (or milk of choice)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 t. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 T. dry onion flakes
  • 1 t. dried parsley
  • 1/2 t. kosher salt
  • 1/4 t. dried thyme
  • 1/4 t. black pepper
  • 1/4 t. garlic powder

For the Barbecue Sauce

  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup chili sauce (I used Heinz Chili Sauce)
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 2 T. brown sugar
  • 1 T. yellow mustard
  • 1 T. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 t. celery seed
  • 1/4 t. kosher salt

For the Subs

  • 6 sub rolls
  • Provolone cheese slices (optional)

Instructions

To Make the Meatballs

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.
  2. Spray the foil with cooking spray and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl combine all of the meatball ingredients and gently combine the meat mixture with your hands.
  4. Using and ice cream scoop or measuring spoon, scoop out about 2 tablespoons worth of meat and roll into a ball.
  5. You should be able to make about 24 meatballs.
  6. Place the meatballs on the foil lined cookie sheet and bake on the middle rack of the oven for about 10-12 minutes.

To Make the Barbecue Sauce

  1. In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat combine all of the sauce ingredients.
  2. Whisk them together and bring to a boil.
  3. Once the sauce is boiling, lower the heat to low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.

To Assemble the Subs

  1. Once the meatballs come out of the oven, put them into the barbecue sauce and toss to coat them.
  2. Cut the sub rolls in half lengthwise and put 4 meatballs plus a little sauce on each roll.
  3. Top with a slice of provolone cheese.
  4. With the oven set to broil, place the sub sandwiches on a cookie sheet in the oven and broil them just until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

Notes

If you choose to melt the cheese under the broiler keep a close eye on it as the bread can burn very easily (I learned the hard way).

352shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

You may also like:

  • Buffalo Turkey Burgers with Buffalo Blue Cheese Sauce
  • Mediterranean Turkey Meatloaf on a sheet pan topped with roasted red pepper, feta and parsley
    Mediterranean Turkey Meatloaf
  • Overhead photo of grilled honey lime chicken with a bowl of watermelon salsa, squeezed lime halves and jalapaños behind the chicken. A bunch of cilantro next to the chicken.
    Grilled Honey Lime Chicken with Watermelon Salsa

Filed Under: Burgers, Sandwiches + Wraps Tagged With: barbecue, barbecue sauce, bbq, Dinner, main dish, meatballs, sandwich, turkey

Previous Post: « Blueberry Cheesecake Parfaits
Next Post: Green Blueberry Banana Smoothie »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Matt Robinson

    June 9, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    Great minds think alike today, Danae. Love these!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 10:04 pm

      Thanks Matt, we must have been channeling meatball wavelengths!

      Reply
  2. Ashley

    June 9, 2014 at 8:55 pm

    My grandma’s meatballs bring back so many memories for me! Her’s are very classic type meatballs and boy are they good. These barbecue subs looks awesome – I know these would be a hit at our house!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 10:06 pm

      Thanks Ashley! Grandma’s food is always the best, I love making her old recipes!

      Reply
  3. Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps

    June 10, 2014 at 2:23 am

    These are makin’ me hungry! It’s so nice to have those foods the bring back good memories of your childhood.

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 10:01 pm

      Haha! Isn’t that the biggest problem with food blogging, looking at pictures of delicious food all day?! I’m always hungry!

      Reply
  4. Julia

    June 10, 2014 at 2:44 am

    I love food that brings back fond childhood memories! These subs look absolutely amazing. I always loved meatball sandos and BBQ sauce is the bomb!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 10:00 pm

      Thanks Julia! BBQ sauce is totally the bomb, and who doesn’t love a good meatball?!

      Reply
  5. The Gastronomic Bong

    June 10, 2014 at 8:02 am

    OMG this looks sooo amazing… :)

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 9:59 pm

      Thank you! :-)

      Reply
  6. Annie @Maebells

    June 10, 2014 at 4:00 pm

    I am always amazed at the “power of food” it can bring back memories, it can make you feel like those not with you are near, it can comfort. I love this! And the meatball subs look fantastic, my husband would have a fit for these!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 10:08 pm

      Thanks Annie. You are totally right about the power of food and bringing back memories, I feel so close to both my Grandmas whenever I cook or bake one of their recipes.

      Reply
  7. Julia Olsen

    June 10, 2014 at 7:16 pm

    omg, yes! I also saw the recipe on foodgawker! already in my favorite book!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 9:58 pm

      Thanks Julia, I’m honored that it made it to your favorite book!

      Reply
  8. miss messy

    June 10, 2014 at 7:22 pm

    That sauce sounds freaking awesome! :) These subs look wonderful!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 9:57 pm

      Thanks! The sauce is the best, sometimes I like to just have a big spoonful of it!

      Reply
  9. [email protected]

    June 10, 2014 at 9:55 pm

    Now that’s what I call sub, looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 10, 2014 at 9:56 pm

      Thanks Mike! It’s a favorite around here!

      Reply
  10. Serene @ House of Yumm

    June 11, 2014 at 4:25 am

    Danae, these look fabulous! I love meatballs, especially on subs. Such a sweet memory about spending your summers with your grandparents. My girls usually will go visit my parents for a week during the summer too, they always have so much fun! Grandparents are the best!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 11, 2014 at 9:04 pm

      Thanks Serene! Grandparents really are the best, some of my favorite memories are times that were spent with them.

      Reply
  11. Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes

    June 11, 2014 at 6:38 am

    I love who food can always bring back memories…I have so many that do that! I would have to say my Grandma’s marble cake. These subs looks so good! So juicy and so much sauce!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 11, 2014 at 9:05 pm

      Thanks Jessica! Your Grandma’s marble cake sounds wonderful, I hope there is a recipe on your blog or soon to be on your blog for it!

      Reply
  12. Lana

    June 13, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Hi,

    I’m collecting some of my favourtie recipes (don’t cook as much as I want to) and I was hoping if you could tell me what the “T.” was for the measurements. Is it teaspoon or tablespoon? Brit here!

    Reply
    • Danae

      June 13, 2014 at 11:20 am

      Thanks for stopping by Lana! The T. Stands for tablespoon and the little t. Is teaspoon.

      Reply
  13. Ei

    July 1, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    OMG Looking absolutely scrumptious.I want it in my belly nowwww *sob*

    Reply
    • Danae

      July 1, 2014 at 6:20 pm

      Thank you!! :-)

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Danae! Welcome to Recipe Runner. This blog is all about my love of food, cooking, baking, and running. I hope that I can tempt you with my recipes and inspire you with my running stories! Enjoy! Read More ↝

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of emails you receive.

Recipe Runner Favorites

Southwest Chicken Salad with Avocado Lime Dressing on a wooden platter.
Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Pasta topped with ricotta cheese in a metal pan with a wooden spoon holding up some of it.
Creamy Mushroom Chicken in a skillet with a wooden spoon holding one of the chicken breasts.
Blueberry Maple Baked Oatmeal in a white baking dish with a corner piece cut out and a black spatula in it's place.
Turkey Meatballs in Roasted Red Pepper Sauce in a metal skillet with a wooden spoon in it.
Chicken Cheesesteak Skillet with red and green peppers, onions and melted provolone cheese on top. A wooden spoon is in the skillet.
Greek chicken bowl with rice, tzatziki and tomato cucumber salad in a white bowl with a small bowl of feta cheese behind it.
Cheesy Chicken, Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Rice in a metal skillet with a wooden spoon in the skillet.

Footer

Reader Favorites

Mexican Chicken, Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans topped with melted cheese in a cast iron Skillet with a wooden serving spoon in the skillet.

Mexican Chicken, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Skillet

Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce | Delicious and healthy Greek chicken skewers with a sauce you'll want to slather on everything!

Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce

Metal skillet filled with ground turkey, rice, zucchini, tomatoes and cheese. Wooden spoon scooping some out of the skillet.

Southwest Turkey, Vegetable and Rice Skillet

Cranberry Vanilla Energy Bites | These healthy energy bites are gluten-free, vegan, paleo and bursting with cranberry and vanilla flavors!

Cranberry Vanilla Energy Bites

Copyright © 2021 · Designed by Snixy Kitchen · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework

This site uses cookies to help provide the best user experience. Find out more.