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Baked Vegan Meatball Sub with Caramelized Onions and Pesto

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A bold and flavorful vegan take on the classic meatball sub, packed with saucy plant-based meatballs, sweet caramelized onions, dairy-free cheese, and fresh basil pesto—all baked into a crispy sesame hoagie roll.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large sesame hoagie roll, sliced
  • 4–5 vegan meatballs (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/2 cup marinara sauce
  • 1/2 cup dairy-free shredded mozzarella
  • 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 1 tablespoon pine nuts
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
  • Crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook slowly for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and caramelized. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Prepare vegan meatballs according to package or recipe instructions. Heat them in marinara sauce until warmed through.
  4. In a food processor, blend basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, nutritional yeast, 1/4 cup olive oil, and salt until smooth to make the pesto.
  5. Slice the hoagie roll and layer with caramelized onions, saucy vegan meatballs, dairy-free shredded mozzarella, and spoonfuls of pesto.
  6. Place the assembled sandwich on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted.
  7. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

  • You can substitute walnuts or sunflower seeds for pine nuts in the pesto.
  • For extra protein, use lentil- or tofu-based vegan meatballs.
  • To make it gluten-free, use a gluten-free roll and check meatball ingredients.

Nutrition

Keywords: vegan meatball sub, plant-based sandwich, dairy-free pesto, baked vegan sandwich, caramelized onions

Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/baked-vegan-meatball-sub-with-caramelized-onions-and-pesto/