Impossible Meatball Sandwiches with Broccoli Rabe
Impossible Meatball Sandwiches with Garlicky Broccoli Rabe. A filling and hearty vegetarian sandwich. If you love meatballs, then you’ve gotta try these.
Once I made my impossible meatballs a few months ago, it was only a matter of time before I turned them into a sandwich.
As a kid, Saturday mornings often meant errands with my dad and, if we were lucky, an Italian sausage and pepper sandwich or meatball sandwich on the way home. I loved the sausage and pepper combo so much that I made a pasta version of it, and now it is my turn to create the meatball version!
Saucy, meaty Impossible meatballs with garlicky broccoli rabe and melted provolone cheese. Vegetarian and easily vegan, depending on preference.
See below for more details or scroll down for the full recipe.
Ingredient Notes
These impossible meatball sandwiches are great for easy dinners. The most labor-intensive part is making the meatballs, but you can do that ahead of time if you’d like. You can also freeze them and then add them to the warm pasta sauce. If you have leftover meatballs, enjoy them in my Impossible meatball polenta bowls!
I don’t recommend subbing out the broccoli rabe for another ingredient as the bitter greens really help balance the richness of the sauce and meatballs, but broccolini will work. It’s more tender and not as bitter. If you do use broccolini, then you will likely have to reduce the cooking time until it’s just tender.
Provolone is my favorite cheese for these Impossible meatball sandwiches but you can use any cheese you’d like.
I use jarred marinara sauce for ease, Rao’s is my favorite but my homemade simple tomato sauce also works! When I have time, I like to make a big batch and freeze leftovers. These Souper Cubes make freezing leftover sauce easy!
How to Make These Impossible Meatball Sandwiches
Make the Meatballs
Make the Meatballs according to the recipe, then keep warm in a wide saucepan. I don’t recommend a deep saucepan as the meatballs are tender, and stirring them too aggressively in a deep pan will cause them to crumble.
Cook the Broccoli Rabe
Cook the broccoli rabe in a large pot of salted water until just tender.
Warm the Garlic
In a large, wide skillet, warm the garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil.
Add the drained broccoli rabe
Drain the broccoli rabe, then add to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until tender.
Melt the Cheese
Split the hoagie roll and add the cheese. Place under the broiler and melt. Add the broccoli rabe, meatballs and sauce, then enjoy!
Tips for Success
These meatballs are tender, so I recommend using a wide skillet with sides to warm in the marinara sauce. Using a deep pot, like a soup pot, will make the meatballs crumble as you stir them.
I like the cheese melted right onto the hoagie to create a barrier for the sauce and meatballs so the sandwiches don’t get too soggy as they sit, but you can also add the broccoli rabe and meatballs, then the cheese and then broil if you’d like!
For a vegan version of this Impossible Meatball sandwich, use dairy-free cheese.
More Italian-Inspired Recipes
If you make this Impossible Meatball Sandwiches with Broccoli Rabe, make sure to come back to leave a comment and a rating. Your feedback helps other readers and seeing you make my recipes makes my day!
Impossible Meatball Sandwiches with Broccoli Rabe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 batch Impossible Meatballs
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 bunch broccoli rabe, ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch lengths
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, sliced into ¼-inch thick pieces
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 large hoagie rolls
- 8 thin slices provolone cheese
Instructions
Make the meatballs
- Warm the marinara sauce in a large saute pan and add the meatballs. Keep them warm while you prepare the broccoli rabe.
- Make the broccoli rabe. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli rabe to the boiling water and let cook until slightly softened, about 2-3 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- In a separate skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and saute until the garlic is just fragrant, taking care not to burn, stirring often for 2 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe, season with ½ teaspoon salt, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is just tender, about 10 minutes.
Assemble the Sandwiches
- Preheat the broiler. Split the hoagie rolls and add the cheese, place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until melted. Add the broccoli rabe and the meatballs with sauce. Enjoy immediately!