I declared last night, “Meaty Monday.” Why? Because it was one of those nights where the stars aligned just right and I was in the mood for some lean ground meat! Brandon was thrilled!
If you have been reading my blog for awhile now, you know I’m not a big meat eater. I prefer a more vegetarian lifestyle. Even growing up, meat was not my forte and I realized in college that I can mostly live without. However, there IS that rare occasion that something meaty sounds appealing, and that never means chicken, steak, or pork. When I want MEAT, I want MEAT-balls. In fact, I got so crazy last night that we actually made meatball SUBS! Talk about your “guy food,” Brandon was in love! (He ate 2 subs…I don’t recommend this).
So here’s the low-down. Make your meatballs, add 2 per sub, go heavy on the green pepper, light on the cheese, and toast in the oven. Serve with a big side of veggies; salad, broccoli, asparagus…you name it, and you have yourself a healthy, balanced, and well rounded meal! Just make sure you search for 100% whole wheat/grain hoagie rolls to add MORE nutrition and fiber!! I found some with 4 grams of fiber per hoagie. Nice!
Question: What is the one type of meat (fish, chicken, beef, etc) you love?
MEATY Meatball Subs
Makes 8 golf ball sized meatballs
- 1/2 lb lean ground beef (preferably local/grass-fed/organic/no hormone or antibiotic varieties)
- 1 T flax
- 1/4 c. whole wheat breadcrumbs
- 1 egg (or flax egg); but it needed something to help bind!
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced in to strips, and sauteed as desired.
- 8-10 oz tomato sauce
- 4 100% whole wheat/grain hoagie buns
- 1/4 – 1/2 c. shredded cheddar or mozzarella ( I used organic…you pay more but it tastes better!)
Directions:
Place ingredients from beef to onion in a medium bowl. Form ingredients in to 8 golf ball sized balls. Heat skillet, spray with cooking spray, and add meatballs. Cook through, watch closely so they do not burn. Drain fat (if there is any…we didn’t have any to drain!) and add tomato sauce. Cook until sauce is heated.
Prepare toaster oven. Grab buns and add 2 meatballs per sub with sauce. Sprinkle with 1-2 T shredded cheese and top with green peppers. Lightly toast in oven (watch carefully so it doesn’t get over cooked).
Serve 1 hoagie with some form of vegetable! Enjoy thoroughly!
Nutritional Profile: 350 calories, 9 g fat (3.7 g sat), 93 mg cholesterol, 43.5 g carbohydrate, 23.6 g protein, 8.7 g sugars, 5 g fiber, 800 mg sodium, 300 mg potassium
*profile varies depending on the brand/type of meat and bread you use.
W would loooove it if I said lets have a meaty monday! Don’t tell him but sometimes I do crave chicken-but not the healthy kind…more like my old staple of chicken fingers:) I’m not going to lie-that sub looks incredible-mouth watering!
I’m a chicken girl…but like you, when I eat meat, I only want a small portion, and then I fill up on fresh produce and whole grains! Thank you for sharing your delicious sub, sweet friend. May the middle of your week be full of joy and laughter.
You know sometimes….nothing but meat will do!! This looks like a delicous recipe! Have a great day.
If I go for a meat…It’s usually a big STEAK! Sometimes i just get an intense craving for them…
I went a year without eating any red meat and thought I didn’t miss it…Until one day I had a huge hankering for STEAK. I went to the store and bought a petit filet mignon, and I’ve never looked back! I don’t eat beef very often, but when I’m craving something “meaty,” I treat myself to a good steak.
Those meatballs sound awesome! I love that they contain flax!
I think any man would be happy with that declaration. Right now I would be too, that sub sounds SO good. When I want meat I go for beef… It satisfies completely.
I usually don’t crave meat- but this is making me want some!
I was never a big time meat eater, either and now follow a pescatarin lifestyle..so fish is my favorite “meat” to answer the question! That sub looks absolutely incredible, though. If I ate meat, that would be what I’d go for!
***oops…meant “good for you” not “goof”
So funny. You are doing the opposite of “Meat-Free Monday”
Goof for you. You want what you want!!! My go-to meat item is definitely salmon. Although, we are having crab cakes tonight! And as you saw earlier..it was tuna for lunch! I am not a meat eater..but that sub does look god. I have to admit. The hubby would be DROOLING over that picture if he saw it!
I am not much of a meat eater either.
I will say though, that I do LOVE meatball subs!! These look especially delicious!! Thanks for sharing.
While I am a vegetarian, I would eat meat if I really wanted it – I think life is too short to feel deprived all of the time! When I think about wanting meat – it is usually a burger. I never really liked those when I ate meat, so I think it must be all of the fast food commercials!
I have been craaaaaving meatballs! They’re on the menu for next week already…and it’s only Tuesday! The subs look awesome!
Chicken is probably my favorite…I need to be “in the mood” for beef!
I adore meatballs! My mom is Italian and an amazing cook – her meatballs are the best ever. Though I’m sure not at all healthy…I could never officially give up meat because I could never live without these
I made turkey meat balls in the slow cooker the other night, loooove!!! My BF loves when I am in a meaty mood! But when I am not feelin’ so meaty, I am a salmon girl 100%
Is your title from the Soup?! If so, I love you. HAHA! I love The Soup! Anyways, the meatball subs look fab as well
I’m starving and waiting for my lunch to show up, so I’m drooling right now!
I also skip meat a lot of the time, but when I want it, I usually want a nice filet. I agree that beef is my favorite of the land-dwelling meats. Not a fan of chicken !
Great idea! My hubs still has “local grass fed happy cow” (lol) from our last whole foods trip! He’d love a sub as a break from his normal burger-a-thon!
LMAO at the title. I quote that all the time (from The Soup.. is it from something else too?)
Yesterday was meaty monday for me too!
Would you consider shrimp a “meat?” I can’t get enough!
yum! looks awesome! my hubby would love!
I think, if I had to choose, the one meat dish I’m craving as of late is pulled pork… After a long night out, that used to be one of my FAVORITE things to eat the next day. Sigh… good times…
Oooh those meatball subs look great!
When I want meat I usually want beef too. I love vegetarian meal options typically, but chicken or pork is never my top choice for a meat meal. Those look really good!
These would make my husband very happy.
I used to be biggggg into chicken, but as of recently I’d say I’m much more of a fish girl. Don’t think fish balls would turn out that well (nor do they sound very appetizing!) but fish cakes, like crabcakes or tuna patties are my fave!
I think this would go over very well at home, although I will use ground turkey and hopefully the Boyfriend will be none the wiser.
I’ll have to make these for Sam one day–he would love them!! I could make a version for myself (and our son) using TJ’s meatless meatballs!