Delicious meatball subs- my no.1 lunch!
These homemade meatball baguettes are the ultimate comfort food and the perfect way to satisfy those takeaway cravings from the comfort of your own kitchen! Stuffed with juicy, flavour-packed homemade meatballs, creamy ricotta and a rich herby tomato sauce, every bite is packed with delicious flavour. The crispy baguette provides the perfect contrast to the tender meatballs and smooth ricotta, creating a seriously satisfying sandwich that’s messy in the best possible way. Think everything you love about a classic meatball sub, made fresh at home with simple ingredients and plenty of flavour!
The secret to making these baguettes extra special is combining all those delicious layers. The homemade meatballs are juicy, tender and full of flavour, while the herby tomato sauce brings everything together with its rich, savoury taste. A generous spoonful of creamy ricotta adds a lovely freshness and balances the richness of the meatballs and sauce perfectly. Pile everything into a freshly split baguette, spoon over some extra tomato sauce and get ready for a seriously good lunch. You could even finish with a sprinkling of Parmesan or fresh basil for an extra touch!
These meatball baguettes are perfect for a weekend lunch, a quick midweek meal or whenever you're craving a fakeaway that feels a little more special. They're hearty, comforting and incredibly satisfying, making them ideal for when you want something delicious without ordering in. Plus, making your own meatballs and sauce means you can customise everything to your taste, whether you prefer extra herbs, a little chilli or plenty of cheese. Serve alongside crispy chips, a fresh salad or simply enjoy them on their own for the ultimate indulgent meal.
Best of all, they're surprisingly easy to make! With less than 20 minutes of preparation time and around 30 minutes of cooking time, you can have these homemade meatball baguettes ready in under an hour. They're perfect for when you want to recreate your favourite takeaway flavours at home without too much fuss. Once you take that first bite of juicy meatballs, creamy ricotta and rich tomato sauce tucked inside a crusty baguette, you'll wonder why you haven't been making these sooner. Trust me, this is one fakeaway recipe you'll want to come back to again and again!
Delicious meatball subs- ingredient list!
80g/3oz breadcrumbs and 50ml/2fl oz milk
150g/5½oz cooked small green or black lentils 500g/1lb 2oz beef or pork mince
One free-range egg
Grated 30g/1oz parmesan and a large pinch of dried oregano
4 tablespoons of olive oil
Two little onions, diced
Three cloves of finely chopped garlic
One large sprig of fresh thyme, only the leaves, two fresh bay leaves, or four fresh sage leaves
400g of chopped tomatoes in a tin
To serve...
100g/3½oz of ricotta cheese
seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Combine the milk and breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl, stirring until the breadcrumbs are fully coated. Set aside to soak for 5 minutes, allowing them to soften and absorb the milk. This helps keep your meatballs lovely and tender once cooked. Add the mince, lentils, egg, Parmesan and oregano to the bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper, then use your hands to knead everything together for around 3 minutes until the mixture is well combined, cohesive and slightly sticky. Make sure the ingredients are evenly distributed so every meatball is packed with flavour.
Step 2
Next, wet your hands with a little water to prevent the mixture from sticking, then roll it into small balls roughly the size of ping-pong balls. Gently compress each one as you shape it to help the meatballs hold together during cooking, keeping them as even in size as possible. Once you've rolled all the mixture, set the meatballs aside, ready to cook until golden and delicious!
Step 3
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large, lidded frying pan over a medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the meatballs in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 5–8 minutes, turning them occasionally so they brown nicely on all sides. You want them to develop a golden crust while holding their shape, as this helps lock in flavour before they finish cooking in the sauce. If needed, cook the meatballs in batches to ensure they brown evenly. Once nicely coloured, transfer them to a plate and set aside.
Step 4
Using the same pan, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, followed by the chopped onion. Cook over a medium heat for around 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened and started to turn golden. Scrape up any browned bits left behind from the meatballs, as these add extra flavour to your sauce. Next, add the garlic and fresh thyme leaves, stirring everything together and cooking for a further 2 minutes until fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic burn, as you want it to add a delicious savoury flavour to the sauce.
Pour in the chopped tomatoes and stir well to combine with the softened onion, garlic and thyme. Season generously with salt and black pepper, giving everything a good stir to ensure the flavours are evenly distributed. This creates the base for your rich, herby tomato sauce, which will bring the juicy meatballs together beautifully.
Allow the tomato sauce to come to a gentle simmer, then carefully return the meatballs to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Spoon some of the sauce over the top of the meatballs to ensure they're coated in all that delicious herby flavour. Cover the pan with a lid and leave to simmer over a low–medium heat for around 25–30 minutes, until the meatballs are piping hot and cooked all the way through. Once ready, remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
Step 7
To assemble your baguettes, slice the baguette in half lengthways and spread a generous layer of creamy ricotta over the inside. Arrange the meatballs along the length of the baguette, then spoon over plenty of the rich tomato sauce so every bite is packed with flavour. Place the top half of the baguette back on, gently pressing everything together, then cut into four individual sandwiches. Serve straight away while the meatballs and sauce are still warm, and enjoy your delicious homemade meatball baguettes!
