What to Serve with Meatball Subs? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Ever found yourself staring at a plate of meatball subs, thinking, “What on earth goes with this?” We’ve all been there.

Splitting hairs over the perfect side? Our mission is to end that culinary dilemma.

I remember my grandma’s puzzled face, the first time she served us meatball subs. “Needs something on the side,” she muttered. We nodded, mouths full.

Now, we’re here to share that wisdom. Finding the right side dish isn’t rocket science, it’s about complementing flavors.

Some pairings are a no-brainer. Others, a leap of faith.

We’ve scoured our kitchens and memories to bring you the top picks.

No more second-guessing. After today, your meatball sub meals will never be the same.

What to Serve with Meatball Subs? 7 BEST Side Dishes

If you’re making meatball subs, you might want to think about adding a side dish.

A typical Italian meatball sub will be made with pasta.

However, this is not the only possibility.

Common Italian food side dishes are salads, vegetables, bread and spreads, and fruit.

Some people may think that pasta is the only good option for a meatball sub-side dish.

But these other options can also be tasty.

Different side dishes will go better with meatball subs than others, depending on your taste.

Some people prefer to use a simple vegetable like steamed broccoli or asparagus, or fruit like grapes or sliced apples.

Both of these options are very easy and quick to make.

That being said, here are seven of the best side dishes that you could serve with your meatball subs.

Some of these suggestions are simple and require little effort, while others take more time to prepare.

Side Dish	Key Characteristics
Roasted Asparagus	Tender and flavorful, provides a healthy and vibrant accompaniment
Grilled Vegetables	Smoky and charred, adds a delicious and colorful element to the meal
Baked Potato Wedges	Crispy and satisfying, complements the meatball subs with a starchy side
Caesar Salad	Creamy and tangy, offers a refreshing and classic pairing with the subs
Classic Pasta Salad	Fresh and versatile, adds a hearty and flavorful side dish to the meal
Baked Beans	Sweet and savory, brings a comforting and rich element to the meatball subs
Cheesy Bread	Cheesy and indulgent, enhances the overall taste and texture of the subs

Now let’s dive into each side dish in more detail:

1 – Roasted Asparagus

This tasty spring vegetable is a favorite amongst the foodie community.

It’s super healthy and gives your meal a nice crunchy texture.

It also pairs nicely with tomatoes, basil, and avocados, which you might have used in a salad already.

The best way to prepare asparagus is to roast it.

It’s nice to have the stems of the asparagus perpendicular to each other, so you can easily wrap them with prosciutto or speck around the bottom.

If you don’t have time for all of that, toss some salt on top and bake them up.

It’s important that you don’t overcook asparagus, or it will lose its flavor and become very bitter.

Be sure not to cook them for more than 10 minutes.

2 – Grilled Vegetables

This summer side dish is very easy to make and healthy.

It only takes a quick marinade for these vegetables to pick up on all of their delicious flavors.

Although this dish is pretty simple, the key to success is the ingredients and grilling technique.

For this recipe, you’ll want to use fresh veggies in season.

Summer is a great time to try out different vegetables, so have fun with this.

Another key part of this recipe is the grilling technique.

You want to use high heat and cook the veggies quickly over it on each side.

Depending on how thick your slices are, you should grill them for two minutes or less.

If you don’t have a grill, you can also use a grill pan or roast them in the oven.

3 – Baked Potato Wedges

This classic side dish is very versatile.

It also offers a nice change from the typical pasta or salad that many people serve with sub sandwiches.

If you are already making meatballs, then baking up some potatoes for this side dish will take less time than you think.

For this recipe, you can use pretty much any potato you like.

The easiest to work with are russet potatoes, but red and golden potatoes would also be excellent choices.

Then you cut each potato into eight wedges, toss them in oil and garlic powder, and bake them up.

Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

Then you can add parmesan cheese to them if you like.

This side dish is perfect with your meatball subs.

4 – Caesar Salad

This classic salad is known for its simple but tasty dressing.

Most of the dressings’ flavor comes from the type of vinegar that you use, so be sure to pick your favorite.

The best way to make this salad is to toss it all into a bowl.

You can then add some chopped-up chicken or shrimp if you add some extra protein.

This salad can be served separately or added to bread to make it into a sandwich.

The other key ingredient in Caesar salad is anchovies.

If you don’t like fish, then leave them out.

But if you like anchovies, this recipe would benefit from their distinct flavor.

5 – Classic Pasta Salad

This pasta salad recipe is very simple to prepare and full of flavor.

It also works well if you add some protein, such as chicken or shrimp; you could then serve it with meatball subs or a loaf of crusty bread.

You can use any pasta that you like for this dish: spaghetti, rotini, shells, elbows – it doesn’t matter.

The other key ingredient is Italian dressing, so be sure to pick one that you like.

This pasta salad also works extremely well as leftovers.

You can keep any uneaten portions covered in the fridge and bake them again for a few minutes before serving.

6 – Baked Beans

This is a great side dish to serve with your meatball subs or just about anything else.

It’s very easy to whip up, and it only takes one pot.

If you’re looking for something to help complete the meal, baked beans are perfect.

The most important ingredient in this recipe is the bacon – so be sure to use the best quality that you can find.

Then all you have to do is heat everything together in a pot, put it in the oven for one hour, and enjoy.

7 – Cheesy Bread

This recipe only requires three simple ingredients, but don’t let its simplicity fool you.

It’s full of flavor and will bring your meatball sub to the next level.

Yes, this recipe is as simple as it gets: mix mozzarella cheese and Italian seasoning; tear up some bread; and mix it all.

Then put your cheesy bread in the oven on broil for about six minutes.

You can then use a grater or a brush to cover the top with grated parmesan cheese.

The key to this recipe is the bread: you want it to be thick and sturdy to hold up all of the cheese and seasoning.

Other than that, feel free to add in any other ingredients such as garlic powder or dried oregano.

Conclusion

Meatball subs are one of the most popular sub sandwiches in America.

You can find them at almost any deli, restaurant, or fast food establishment.

However, you choose to serve them, be sure that they will be tasty and full of flavor with these side dishes.

The next time you make meatball subs, be sure to use one of these seven side dishes.

They are all easy to prepare and add some serious flavor to your meal.