I can’t say enough good things about this sandwich. It’s really, really good, and my daughter said “These are the best meatballs I’ve ever eaten!” Luckily we have leftovers, so we can have it again!
This makes 50 little meatballs – a big batch! — with a great sweet-sour tangy sauce to coat them in. I served it on those little French rolls, so kids and lighter eaters could have one sandwich and adults could have two if they like.
A word about the beef: I used grass-fed Angus ground beef, 85% lean, 15% fat. Grass-fed beef has a slightly different taste than regular grain-fed beef, so try it if you have never had it before. We now prefer it. Also, fat = flavor, so I like a ground beef with a little fat in it – 15%-18% is my ideal. Suit yourself on the type of ground beef and fat composition you prefer. Luckily, there are many options available, as beef is a very versatile ingredient.
Meatball sandwiches for lunch? How about dinner? You decide.
Just go and make them, and then come back here and let’s appreciate our omnivore diet.
Tangy sweet-sour sauce coats little beefy meatballs for a meatball sandwich that might be the best you ever had.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 cups soft fresh bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (I used grass-fed Angus ground beef 85% lean, 15% fat)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (12-ounce) jar chili sauce (about 1 cup)
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons prepared Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed
- 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
- 8 hoagie buns or submarine rolls, split
Directions
- Heat oven to 375F degrees. Mist a 15- by 10- by 1-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Make meatballs: In a bowl, beat eggs and milk. Stir in bread crumbs, chopped onion and oregano. Add beef; mix well. (I mixed the meat and seasonings in my KitchenAid mixer on low. You could also do this by hand.) By hand, shape into 1-inch balls (will make 50).
- Place meatballs on prepared pan and bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes.(If you’d like to make bigger meatballs, you could make 25 instead of 50; bake them 25 minutes.)
- Make sauce: While meatballs are baking, in a large pot or skillet, heat oil and sauté garlic in oil for a minute. Add chili sauce, add water to the chili sauce jar, put the lid on and shake to get all of the sauce out of the jar. Pour that into the pot, along with the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, celery seed and hot pepper sauce (if using). Bring to a boil, stir to combine and turn heat off until meatballs are done.
- When meatballs are out of the oven, add meatballs to sauce, stir gently to coat well and simmer on lowest setting for 5-10 minutes or so to combine flavors. Do not stir vigorously or you might break up meatballs.
- When ready to serve, pinch out and discard some of inside of buns if they are thick, leaving a 1/2-inch shell. Spoon meatball mixture into buns.
- Serves 8. There will likely be leftovers.
Notes
Salt: Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to the meatball mixture if you decide to use this recipe for meatballs without the sauce. If using with the sauce, it will be salty enough, so don’t add salt to the meatball mixture.
Hot sauce: If serving kids, omit the hot sauce from the recipe and just offer it at the table for those who wish.
Recipe source: Dorothy Reinhold | Shockingly Delicious
This week our Sunday Supper cooks are celebrating beef, sponsored by The Beef Checkoff. For more meal ideas, see our 20 delicious recipes below, and follow our beef Pinterest board. Join me in following The Beef Checkoff on social media: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest
Now let’s hit the kitchen. Sunday Supper will be here before you know it!
- Beef Barbacoa by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Beef Brisket Hash by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Beef Kafta with Lemon Tahini Sauce by Neighborfood
- Beef Teriyaki On a Stick by In The Kitchen With KP
- Chipotle Tequila Flank Steak by The Messy Baker
- Enchilada Casserole by Melanie Makes
- Greek-Style Beef Kabobs (aka Souvlaki) by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Grilled Sirloin with Caramelized Shallot and Roasted Garlic Compound Butter by Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Grilled Sirloin Steak and Eggs with Broccoli Rabe by Family Foodie
- Homemade Italian Style Beef Kabobs by Momma’s Meals
- Meatball Lover’s Sandwich by Shockingly Delicious
- Mini Meatball Minestrone Salad by Foxes Love Lemons
- Pepper Steak Crostini by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pop-in-the-Oven Beef Stew by Alida’s Kitchen
- Restaurant Style Burger by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Shredded Beef Wet Burritos by girlichef
- Spiced Coffee Rubbed Steak by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Spinach Pancetta Beef Rouladen {Spinach Pancetta Beef Roll-ups} by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Steak and Heirloom Tomato Salad by Magnolia Days
- Stuffed Flank Steak with Butterfly Tutorial by The Foodie Army Wife
Join us around the family table for #SundaySupper
- Twitter how-to: Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag throughout the day on Twitter to see our recipes. To join the conversation anytime, simply use the #SundaySupper hashtag to share your favorite tips and recipes.
- Pinterest: Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more recipes and photos.
- Join: To join the Sunday Supper Movement, sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Beef Checkoff. All opinions are my own.
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That sounds delicious – I’ll have to find that blend and try it myself! The sauce sounds scrumptious.
Thanks Christy!
Oh Dorothy! That sandwich is calling my name!! Love it!
Bobbi,
It IS! And loudly!
I’ve been on the lookout for a great sweet and sour meatball recipe. I think this is a keeper. Love that bit of celery seed in there.
Lori,
This should do it for ya! Yeah, that celery seed gives you a hint of celery flavor without big chunks ruining your sauce or meatballs.
My mom does a very similar sweet and sour cocktail meatball recipe, except she tosses some jelly in there too. Also I can totally taste the different from grass-fed and grain-fed beef now that I only eat grass fed. There definitely needs to be some fat in there. p.s. I see why you had no leftovers!
Susan,
Yeah, I know exactly the recipe you mean, with the grape jelly!
The sauce seems amazing, what a great idea to use the chili sauce in it…
I love meatballs, haven’t met one I did not care for, and I also always bake mine instead of frying
Pinning this right away!
Thanks Sally!
Oh man these look amazing! I’ve seriously had a meatball craving for 4 weeks now and have yet to curb it. These meatballs make me want to lick the screen!
Hezzi-D,
Ha ha…nice visual!
Your meatball sandwich looks fantastic, Dorothy! And, I agree with you about the difference great beef makes in any dish. I mean, if you’re going to eat, you may as well eat the best food available and I’d say your recipes ALWAYS qualify! Bravo, you!
xo
Janet,
Thank you so much! You are too sweet.
We also prefer grass fed beef over grain fed 🙂 – Your meatball sandwich sounds absolutely amazing, Dorothy.
Bea,
We can be in the grass-fed club together!
Love the little meatballs, and your sauce sounds fabulous!
Thanks Brianne! I think I like tiny meatballs better than the big honkin’ ones.
I can almost smell how amazingly delicious this must be from that sauce. Wow, love all the flavor in there!
Thanks Shaina!
I love meatball sandwiches. I’m saving this recipe for tailgating season!
Courtney,
Would be great for tailgating! You could keep them warm in a slow cooker if you have electricity. And you could make sliders out of them with those tiny King’s Hawaiian rolls.
I really want to wrap my lips around this sammie. Yum!
You do, Jennie. You do.
I can’t wait to wrap my lips around this fantastic meatball sandwich! I know my boys will love this one!!
Family Foodie,
This is definitely boy-approved! And my teenaged daughter said it was the best meatballs she had ever eaten, so I guess it is girl-approved, as well. 🙂
I love a good meatball sandwich and I love the sound of this tangy spicy sauce!
Amy,
Yeah, this is a tangy taste treat!
There’s nothing better that a meatball sandwich! Yum!
Foodie Army,
Agreed! Why is it that putting ground meat into little tiny meatballs makes it super appealing?
My boys love to order meatball sandwiches at their favorite sub shops. I have a feeling they’d like your homemade version a whole lot more! I know I would!!
Liz,
This was a huge hit with my menfolk.
I haven’t made meatball sandwiches at home in years. Thanks for the reminder and saucy recipe!
Cindy,
Time’s a’wastin’…get those meatballs in the oven!
I could eat this meatball sandwich EVERY day! I love the sauce too!
Thanks Tammi! I think I could, too.
I see meatballs and this sandwich in my very near future.
Renee,
Oh yes, I think your beef-loving family will love this!
Oh my gosh, your meatballs look good! I am loving the sandwich idea! Your photos are beautiful.
Jennifer,
Thanks!