Italian Meatball Sandwiches

with Red Leaf Lettuce & Cucumber Salad

50 MIN

4 Servings

Wellness at Blue Apron

Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.

Vegetarian

These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.

Carb Conscious

This applies to meal kit recipes with 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. Carb Conscious Add-ons contain 20g or less net carbs.

Mediterranean Diet

Our Mediterranean recipes are inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, a healthy eating plan recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published jointly every five years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). This eating plan highlights the flavors and cooking styles from countries along the Mediterranean Sea, including those in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. These recipes showcase a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as well as lean proteins and moderate portions of dairy.

600 Calories or Less

These meals contain 600 calories or less per serving. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.

Wellness Grain

These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.

Pescatarian

These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.

30g Of Protein

These meals contain 30g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Keto Friendly

These meals have approximately 10% of calories from carbohydrates, 20% from protein, and 70% from dietary fats (per serving).

45g Of Protein

These meal kit recipes contain 45g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Nutritionist's Pick

These meals are selected by Blue Apron’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. They are centered around nutritious and wholesome ingredients, featuring whole grains and fresh produce which provide fiber. They also contain moderate portions of dairy and lean protein while being mindful of saturated fat.

Wheat Free

These meals are prepared with ingredients that do not contain wheat. They feature grains such as barley and rice as well as proteins and vegetables.

Reduced Sodium

These Prepared and Ready dishes contain at least 25% less sodium per 100 grams (or 3.5 oz) than our average Prepared and Ready Meal as of October 1, 2024. Sodium content has been reduced from 330 mg per 100 grams to 250 mg per 100 grams. These dishes focus on ingredients with strong flavor and moderate salt.

Vegan

To view a recipe's full nutrition information, head to your Upcoming page at blueapron.com, click on a specific recipe, then head to the Nutrition tab and select 'View Full Nutrition.' Nutrition Facts Panels are available up to 1.5 weeks in advance

From the Test Kitchen

Tonight’s dish is an Italian-American classic: meatball subs. A simple, garlicky tomato sauce takes on a subtle richness when cooked in the same pan as the meatballs. We’re layering the sauce and meatballs along with provolone into soft rolls—then finishing the sandwiches in the oven, toasting the rolls and melting the cheese. On the side, a crisp salad of red leaf lettuce and cucumber provides refreshing contrast.

See Plans

Nutrition

PER SERVING
Calories

790 Cals (est.)

View Full Nutrition

fresh

ingredients

time-saving

tips & techniques

step-by-step

instructions

Cook Along

1 Prepare the ingredients:

Preheat the oven to 475°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel and roughly chop the garlic. Slice the rolls lengthwise, keeping them intact (they should look like hot dog buns). Cut the provolone cheese slices in half. Cut off and discard the root end of the lettuce; roughly chop the leaves. Peel the cucumber, leaving alternating strips of skin intact; thinly slice into rounds.

2 Form the meatballs:

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, dried oregano, egg, half the garlic, and half the parmesan cheese; season with salt and pepper. Gently mix to combine. Using your hands, form the mixture into 16 equal-sized meatballs. Transfer to a plate.

3 Brown the meatballs:

In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned.

4 Make the sauce & finish the meatballs:

Add the remaining garlic to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the tomato sauce and ¼ cup of water. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up any browned bits (or fond) from the bottom of the pan, 4 to 5 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened. Turn off the heat; season with salt and pepper to taste.

5 Assemble & toast the sandwiches:

Place the rolls on a sheet pan, cut side up. Divide the finished meatballs and sauce among the rolls. Evenly top with the provolone cheese. Toast in the oven 4 to 6 minutes, or until the edges of the rolls are browned and the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven.

6 Make the salad & serve your dish:

While the sandwiches toast, to make the dressing, in a bowl, combine the vinegar and remaining parmesan cheese. Slowly whisk in 2 teaspoons of olive oil until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving, in a large bowl, combine the lettuce and cucumber; season with salt and pepper. Add the dressing; toss to thoroughly coat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the toasted sandwiches and salad among 4 dishes. Enjoy!