Sink your teeth into a delicious and satisfying meal with Meatballs And Peppers On Subs. Juicy meatballs, savory peppers, and melted cheese come together in a warm, toasted sub roll for a mouthwatering combination of flavors and textures. Perfect for a quick and hearty lunch or dinner, these subs are sure to become a family favorite. Let's dive into how to make these irresistible sandwiches!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Easy to Make: With the Instant Pot, making these Meatball Subs is a breeze.
- Full of Flavor: The meatballs are juicy, tender, and packed with mouthwatering spices.
- Crowd Favorite: These subs are a hit at gatherings, parties, or family dinners.
📋 Ingredients
- Olive Oil: A versatile and healthy cooking oil that helps brown the meatballs and sauté the vegetables, adding a rich and subtle flavor to the dish.
- Meatballs: The main component of the subs, they provide a hearty and savory bite. They're cooked in the Instant Pot for juicy, flavorful results.
- Bell Peppers or Cooked Peppers (Chopped): Add a sweet and slightly tangy flavor to the subs, balancing the richness of the meatballs.
- Onion, (Chopped): Lend a sweet and sharp flavor to the dish, complementing the other flavors and adding a bit of crunch.
- Garlic Cloves: Adds a robust and aromatic note to the subs, enhancing the taste of the meatballs and sauce.
- Tomato Sauce: Creates the saucy base for the meatballs, providing a tangy and sweet contrast to the rich meat and bread.
- Sub-Style Buns: The vessel for our delicious filling, these buns are soft yet sturdy, perfectly holding the meatballs and sauce without getting soggy.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Additions: I like to add fresh basil, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to my Instant pot meatballs and peppers.
- Cheese: To make this into a cheesy meatball sub add some grated parmesan cheese to the dish.
- Homemade Meatballs: If making homemade meatballs with peppers, be sure to add minced garlic and plenty of herbs to your ground beef mixture. If making homemade feel free to use ground turkey if preferred.
- Frozen Peppers: You can use fresh bell peppers or frozen peppers for this recipe. We use red bell pepper but you can opt for yellow bell pepper or green peppers for a change of color.
🔪How To Make Meatballs and Peppers on Subs
Step One: Place the olive oil in your Instant Pot and select the “saute” setting. Once the oil is hot, add meatballs and sear until browned all over, stirring as needed. If you don't want to sear in the Instant Pot, this can be done in a large skillet.
Step Two: Place the olive oil in your Instant Pot and select the “saute” setting. Once the oil is hot, add meatballs and sear until browned all over, stirring as needed. If you don't want to sear in the Instant Pot, this can be done in a large skillet.
Step Three: Add the tomato sauce and turn off the Instant Pot. Secure the lid and select the “meat/stew” setting for 7 minutes (2 if the meatballs are precooked). Allow to naturally release. Serve on sub-style buns with a sprinkle of cheese or parsley
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Deglaze: After searing your Italian meatballs add a little liquid to the pot and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Use a wooden spoon and scrape away and food particles stuck to the pot. This will prevent a burn notice when cooking your meatball and pepper mixture.
💭 FAQs
You can cook meatballs in the Instant pot fresh or frozen. Frozen meatballs in the Instant Pot will need an extra 3 minutes of cooking time. We love to cook Instant pot frozen meatballs as I can just grab them from the freezer and we don’t have to wait fro defrosting.
Our meatballs always taste just as cooked when pressure cooked from frozen. I’d recommend cooking your meatballs from frozen rather than defrosting meatballs in a microwave before cooking.
Allow your meatball subs to cool to room temperature before storing. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of assembly. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal freshness.
For longer storage, freeze meatball subs individually. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, place in a freezer bag, and store for up to 2-3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Meatballs:
- French Fries: Crispy fries tossed with garlic, Parmesan cheese, and parsley make a delicious and indulgent side dish that pairs perfectly with meatball subs. If having meatballs without bread, you could also try mashed potatoes.
- Italian Chopped Salad: A fresh and flavorful Italian chopped salad with crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and Italian dressing provides a light and refreshing contrast to the hearty meatball subs.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, and onions seasoned with Italian herbs make a nutritious and flavorful side dish that complements the flavors of the meatball subs.
- Creamy Coleslaw: Creamy coleslaw with cabbage, carrots, and a tangy dressing offers a cool and refreshing accompaniment to the warm and savory meatball subs.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 12 Meatballs
- 2 Bell Peppers chopped
- 1 Onion Sliced
- 5-6 cloves Garlic
- 1 Can Tomato Sauce
- 4 Sub Style Buns
Instructions
- Place the olive oil in your Instant Pot and select “sauté” setting. Once the oil is hot, add your meatballs and sear until browned all over, stirring as needed.
- Add the chopped vegetables and cook until the onion is translucent. Then add the tomato sauce.
- Turn off the IP. Secure the lid and select “meat/stew” setting for 7 minutes (2 if the meatballs are precooked).
- Allow to natural release and then serve on sub-style buns with a sprinkle of cheese or parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
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