Choosing what to serve with meatball subs is almost as important as having a great meatball sub recipe. The sides can definitely make or break the meal!
There are so many amazing side dishes that pair well with meatball subs. From baked potato wedges to tasty Italian salads, you have a lot to choose from!
We like to keep the flavors of the meatball sub in mind as we consider what to serve with meatball subs.
Meatball cubs are usually made with tender, beef meatballs piled into soft, long bread. The meatballs are smothered in a marinara sauce and often topped with mozzarella cheese.
It is good to think about the sweet, tangy marinara sauce and the hearty meatballs when choosing sides. You also want to remember that meatball subs are Italian. An Italian side dish may be your best option!
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Sides for Meatball Subs: 15 Recipes You’ll Love
We made a list of our favorite 15 side dishes that go perfectly with meatball subs. Each of these sides will help make your meatball sub into a complete, delicious meal.
1. Sautéed Asparagus
Our Simple Green Moms sauteed asparagus is one of our favorite side dishes ever. It is so easy to make and goes with so many different meals.
Asparagus is delicious alongside a meatball sub. It is a great way to add a healthy vegetable to your plate.
Use lemon juice in place of lime juice. This will give the asparagus a more Italian style. A little extra parmesan cheese is always a good idea!
2. Pasta Salad
This delicious pasta salad from Love and Lemons goes perfectly with meatball subs. It has lots of Italian flavors that pair well with the juicy ground beef meatballs and marinara sauce.
The pasta salad is made with fresh basil and small cherry tomatoes. Try using tri-colored pasta to make the pasta salad have a little more color. Purple basil also helps add a little flair.
The dressing for the salad is made with olive oil, dijon mustard, and lemon juice. Herbs de Provence, garlic, salt, and a few red pepper flakes make the dressing even more irresistible.
Skip the red pepper flakes for a mild version of the yummy pasta salad.
You can use Italian dressing to make the salad for an even easier dish. Pasta salads with Italian dressing are a classic side for meatball subs!
3. Baked Potato Wedges
A big pile of garlic-baked potato wedges is exactly what to serve with meatball subs. This recipe from Cafe Delites will show you exactly how to make these delicious potato wedges in just a matter of minutes.
Russet potatoes are cut into wedges and then brushed with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, paprika, and pepper. The potatoes are baked in the oven until golden brown.
Sprinkle the potatoes with a little parmesan cheese and parsley. They are delicious dipped in your meatball sub tomato sauce.
4. Caesar Salad
This Caesar salad from Once Upon a Chef is especially delicious, thanks to the homemade salad dressing. The homemade dressing is so much more flavorful than any store-bought brand!
The classic Caesar salad starts with crunchy romaine lettuce. Shredded parmesan cheese and seasoned croutons are added to the mix.
Try using baby kale for a crunchy kale salad. This can be a fun twist on the classic Caesar salad.
Anchovy paste is the ingredient that adds a unique flavor to the dressing. The paste is so much easier to use than whole anchovies. No blending required!
This crunchy salad is the perfect side dish for your hearty meal of meatball subs. It is classic, delicious, and so much better when homemade. You can’t go wrong with a green salad.
5. Potato Salad
A classic potato salad is a great side dish to serve with meatball subs. The sweet, creamy potatoes taste delicious alongside the rich, tender meatballs.
This recipe from Shugary Sweets creates an unbelievable potato salad. Small red potatoes are the base of the recipe. Red potatoes are great because they do not require peeling. You can keep the pretty red skin on!
Hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, green bell peppers, onion, salt, and pepper are added to the bowl. The mix is blended well, making the potato salad creamy and thick.
Try adding a bit of Worcestershire sauce to match the flavor of the meatballs.
Make the salad ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours. This will help the flavors grow and become even tastier.
6. Homemade Potato Chips
Meatball subs are classically paired with potato chips. If you order a meatball sub in any restaurant, you will likely get a side of chips to go with it.
Homemade potato chips are even better than chips from a bag. This recipe from Moms Dish will show you how to make crunchy, yummy chips.
The potatoes are thinly sliced and then tossed in a little bit of oil. The potato slices are baked in an air fryer.
Air frying makes the chips perfectly crispy without using too much oil. They are more delicious and healthier than any chips you get in the grocery store!
7. Caprese Salad
Meatball subs are an Italian-style food. They naturally go well with other Italian foods, and this Caprese salad from The Pioneer Woman is the perfect example! It is amazing next to a meaty sandwich.
Sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese slices are stacked on top of each other. The tomatoes and cheese are sprinkled with some fresh basil.
Balsamic vinegar and olive oil are drizzled over the tomatoes. A little salt and pepper top the dish.
Serve the Caprese salad cold next to a warm meatball sub for a perfect meal.
8. Homemade Italian Bread
A beautiful loaf of homemade Italian bread is always a good side dish. Not only does it go well next to a meatball sub, but you can also use the bread to make your meatball sub!
Line your juicy meatballs up on top of this delicious bread from Amanda’s Cooking, and you will be in meatball sub heaven!
Homemade bread does take some time to bake, so be sure to plan in advance. Get your baking sheet ready!
9. Tomato Soup
A warm bowl of tomato soup makes a great appetizer to serve before a meatball sub. The sweet and tangy tomato taste mimics the tomato sauce on the sandwich.
You will be surprised by how simple this soup from Inspired Taste is. You only need three ingredients!
Fresh tomatoes, butter, and onions are the basic formula for the soup. Add a few spices like basil and salt to make the soup more complex. This soup is so easy it may be our favorite recipe on the list!
10. Coleslaw
This sweet coleslaw from Dinner, Then Dessert is delicious next to your favorite meatball subs. The sweet taste of the coleslaw is so yummy with the tomato flavor of the sandwich.
Use pre-shredded coleslaw mix to make the recipe even easier. Toss the shredded lettuces with mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, and celery seeds.
Use low-fat mayo to save on calories and fats. Brown sugar adds a richer taste.
This coleslaw will satisfy your sweet tooth and taste great with all the sandwich flavors, too!
11. Fruit Salad
A fresh fruit salad is great to serve before or after your meatball sub-main course. This fruit salad from Cooking Classy is one of our favorite side dish recipes ever.
Fresh chopped fruits and berries make up the dish. A homemade lemon honey dressing is poured over the fruit salad to create a fantastic, cohesive salad.
The sweet and tart flavors of the fruit salad are a wonderful contrast to the hearty meat. You are going to love this good pairing!
12. Onion Rings
Crispy homemade onion rings are an incredible side dish to serve with your meatball subs. They are also surprisingly easy to make at home when you follow this recipe from Real Housemoms.
Onions are sliced thinly and dipped into a thick batter. The onion rings are deep-fried until golden brown.
Serve the onion rings while they are still hot out of the fryer. They are crispiest when fresh!
13. Pickles
Order a meatball sub at any restaurant, and you are likely to get pickles on the side. Pickles are one of the most common side dishes to serve with meatball subs.
Make your own pickles using this recipe from A Spicy Perspective. They are actually very easy to make!
Sliced cucumbers are stuffed into a jar and covered with onion, dill weed, vinegar, garlic cloves, and salt.
The pickles are stored in the fridge, where they will grow more flavorful every day!
Try using grilled onions to make the pickles have a rich, smokey taste.
14. Chocolate Cake
End your meatball sub meal with a big slice of chocolate cake. This cake from Preppy Kitchen is one of the best cakes we have ever tried!
The dense, rich cake only takes a few minutes to make. While the cake is baking in the oven, you can make your meatball mixture, roll the meatballs and even cook them! Your meatball subs will be ready right as your cake comes out of the oven to cool.
Ice the cake with chocolate frosting for an even more decadent treat. Chocolate cake and meatballs subs are a great Sunday brunch idea!
15. Fried Green Beans
Fried green beans may be the most fun recipe on our list. They are the perfect appetizer to serve with meatball subs.
Try this recipe from Lil Luna. Fresh green beans are dipped into a simple batter and then deep-fried. The crispy green beans are tender on the inside but crunchy on the outside.
Dip the green beans in your meatball sub tomato sauce or in honey Dijon dressing. A spicy chili powder aioli is also a great idea to round out this American Italian dish.
Perfect Side Dishes for a Meatball Sub
We know that you will find the perfect side dish to serve with your meatball meal. There are so many great options to choose from!
How many meatballs can you pile on your submarine sandwich? Let us know! And then turn on your slow cooker, start making meatballs, and decide which perfect side to choose! Enjoy!
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