Delightful Mom Food

Easy Healthy Gluten-Free Recipes

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe + Free Gift
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe + Free Gift
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Delightful Mom Food / Recipes / Meats / 20-Minute Open Faced Meatball Sandwich Recipe

    Last Updated December 28, 2020. Published May 2, 2019 Danielle Fahrenkrug | This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

    20-Minute Open Faced Meatball Sandwich Recipe

    Tweet
    Share59
    Pin143
    202 Shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you like a hearty meatball then you will love this lower carb open faced meatball sandwich recipe! It is a quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in as little as 20 minutes and makes dinners a breeze!

    If you like a hearty meatballs then you will love this lower carb open faced meatball sandwich recipe! It is a gluten-free quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in as little as 20 minutes and makes dinners a breeze! #easy #dinner #recipe #meatball #sandwich #openfaced #quick #glutenfree | delightfulmomfood.com

    An open faced meatball sandwich recipe made healthier, loaded with meatballs, tossed in pasta sauce and topped with melted cheese- this recipe sure makes meals effortless! Especially when using frozen meatballs😊.

    Don’t you just love when dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes?! When 3:00 rolls around sometimes I just dread having to think about getting dinner ready. But this meatball sandwich recipe is one that is a sure-bet my whole family will gobble it right up and I never get complaints at the table! EVER. Or at least yet😊.

    Ingredients – Open-Faced (Gluten-Free) Meatball Sandwich Recipe

    Here’s is what you need to make  meatball sandwiches.

    • Gluten-free bread loaf. Use as many slices as you want. Most gluten-free bread slices are about 150 calories for 2 slices and 20-30 carbs. My kids and I each eat 1 slice and load our open faced sandwiches with tons of meatballs and sauce. My husband eats two halves loaded with extra Parmesan (bless him and his high metabolism😊).
    • Frozen Meatballs. Grab a bag of your favorite frozen mini or medium sized meatballs! For gluten-free, make sure the frozen bag says “gluten-free”. Most meatballs are made with breadcrumbs.
    • Marinara Sauce. Use a full jar mixed with meatballs to heat. My homemade marinara sauce loaded with vegetables is a good one to use too if you want more “hidden” veggies in the dish.
    • Cheese. Sprinkle your favorite cheese on top right before baking. Suggestions are shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, cheddar, or dairy free cheese shreds.
    • Fresh Parsley. For garnish and aids in digestion!

    If you like a hearty meatballs then you will love this lower carb open faced meatball sandwich recipe! It is a gluten-free quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in as little as 20 minutes and makes dinners a breeze! #easy #dinner #recipe #meatball #sandwich #openfaced #quick #glutenfree | delightfulmomfood.com

    We make this dinner on repeat because it is soooo simple to make! Here’s how.

    How to make an open faced meatball sandwich

    1. First heat the meatballs and marinara sauce in a pan. Use a full jar of sauce and for the meatballs, the amount depends how hungry you are. I like to use small meatballs (about 4-5 per bread slice) but if you are using medium sized ones you will want less (2-3 per bread slice) which also depends on family member size. Cover and heat on medium-high for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
    2. Next up toast the bread in a toaster while the sauce is heating. I do not know why I started doing this but I feel like it keeps the bread from not getting soggy right away.
    3. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and add the toasted bread. Top each slice with desired amounts of meatballs with loads of sauce! Sprinkle your desired amount of cheese on top then bake the slices on the pan for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.

    So easy, right?!

    Meatball sandwiches come in all forms and are a great way to use up leftover meatballs from pasta night! You can also transform this meatball sandwich recipe by creating it into a BBQ meatball sandwich using gluten-free BBQ sauce recipe in place of marinara sauce. The main focus though is the meat, those glorious round meatballs and robust sauce flavors!

    If you like a hearty meatballs then you will love this lower carb open faced meatball sandwich recipe! It is a gluten-free quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in as little as 20 minutes and makes dinners a breeze! #easy #dinner #recipe #meatball #sandwich #openfaced #quick #glutenfree | delightfulmomfood.com

    Is a meatball sandwich healthy

    Good question😉. It can be if you use the right ingredients with the concept of “less is more”. Less bread and less cheese = a healthier meatball sandwich. Everything in moderation, right? Right😊.

    For a healthier version feel free to swap out meatballs for vegetarian meatballs or turkey meatballs. To keep this dinner quick and easy, you can make meatballs ahead of time and store them in the freezer to use when needed or use frozen store-bought meatballs for convenience. This Italian oven baked meatball recipe is fantastic to make in advance and use for this recipe. For this recipe I used a bag of frozen store bought small meatballs because sometimes life is just too busy to make them homemade.

    If you like a hearty meatballs then you will love this lower carb open faced meatball sandwich recipe! It is a gluten-free quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in as little as 20 minutes and makes dinners a breeze! #easy #dinner #recipe #meatball #sandwich #openfaced #quick #glutenfree | delightfulmomfood.com

    I highly suggest using grass-fed organic meat meatballs or meat without added hormones (such as Butcherbox meat) if you make homemade meatballs, since added hormones in the meat can alter your hormones. After-all, you are what you eat! But don’t feel bad, I do it too- just try to find the best quality and preferably organic.

    What is more to love (in my opinion) is using less bread for a lower carb meal and making the sandwich open faced so you can pile up as much meat and sauce your beautiful heart desires!

    My 7 year old has an uncontrollable desire to devour meat when it is presented to him. So any time I make this recipe, it is a dinner-winner! In fact, my whole family is obsessed with these open faced meatball sandwiches and I hope yours loves them too!

    This meal is quick, easy and the solution to a surefire dinner the whole family can enjoy!

    Pin It!

    If you like a hearty meatballs then you will love this lower carb open faced meatball sandwich recipe! It is a gluten-free quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in as little as 20 minutes and makes dinners a breeze! #easy #dinner #recipe #meatball #sandwich #openfaced #quick #glutenfree | delightfulmomfood.com

    If you like a hearty meatballs then you will love this lower carb open faced meatball sandwich recipe! It is a gluten-free quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in as little as 20 minutes and makes dinners a breeze! #easy #dinner #recipe #meatball #sandwich #openfaced #quick #glutenfree | delightfulmomfood.com

    Open Faced Meatball Sandwich Recipe

    If you like a hearty meatballs then you will love this lower carb open faced meatball sandwich recipe! It is a gluten-free quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in as little as 20 minutes and makes dinners a breeze! 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entree, Main, Main Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 628kcal
    Author: Danielle Fahrenkrug

    Ingredients

    • 26 ounce jar marinara sauce
    • 1 bag frozen meatballs (about 4-5 small meatballs per bread slice) or (2-3 medium size meatballs per slice)
    • 8 slices gluten-free bread
    • 1 cup shredded cheese (use less or more depending on how much you like)
    • fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. 
    • Heat the meatballs and marinara sauce in a large sauce pan. Cover and heat on medium-high for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
    • While the sauce and meatballs are heating, toast the bread in a toaster to slightly brown. Add each slice of toasted bread to the prepared baking sheet.
    • When the meatballs and sauce are finished heating, top each slice of bread with desired amounts of meatballs and sauce. Sprinkle your desired amount of cheese on top of each open faced sandwich. Bake for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Garnish with fresh parsley and optional Parmesan cheese. 
    • Best eaten with a fork and knife:-). 

    Notes

    Best served with a side salad for extra vegetables! 
    Recipe is 2 loaded slices per person. Servings will depend on person. I eat only one slice and so does my 4 and 7 year old, but my husband eats two himself. Nutrition is based off 2 loaded slices of bread per person.
    For gluten-free, make sure a frozen bag of meatballs says it is gluten-free. Most meatballs contain breadcrumbs. You can also make homemade ones using this recipe. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 628kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 1465mg | Potassium: 1090mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 985IU | Vitamin C: 13.9mg | Calcium: 315mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DelightfulMomFood or tag #DelightfulMomFood!
    Tweet
    Share59
    Pin143
    202 Shares

    Leave a Comment

    About Danielle Fahrenkrug

    Danielle Fahrenkrug is the writer and photographer behind Delightful Mom Food. She is a mama of two young boys and loves food, family, friends, and Jesus with a passion for wine, coffee, and cauliflower crusted pizza. Danielle is also the author for Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Baking Cookbook, Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Cookbook, Dairy-Free Cookbook for Kids and is a certified health and nutrition life coach.

    « Tofu Tacos
    4 Easy to Make Detox Water Recipes »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    Danielle Fahrenkrug | Recipe Developer
    Hi, and welcome to Delightful Mom Food - I am thrilled you are here! Here you will find traditional recipes that I transform into healthier versions the whole family enjoys, because eating healthy should be delicious and mean you can still enjoy your favorite foods! I am a food photographer, writer, 3x cookbook author, and certified health and nutrition life coach.
    read more...
    Click Here For My Cookbooks!Delightful Mom Food Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Cookbook

    Popular Posts

    • Jameson Green Tea Shot
    • 4 Easy to Make Detox Water Recipes
    • How Many Ounces In A Cup: Liquid and Dry Conversions
    • Apple Cider Vinegar Drink for Weight Loss, Detox & Optimal Health
    • 3-Ingredient Brownies (Whole30 + Paleo)
    • 6 Healthy Homemade Juicing Recipes
    pickle juice drink with a fresh pickle and the benefits of drinking pickle juice

    Benefits of Drinking Pickle Juice

    glass of lemon water with salt

    Lemon Salt Water (Benefits and Recipe)

    Watermelon Juice in two glasses with lime

    Fresh Watermelon Juice Recipe

    Grapefruit juice recipe drink in a glass for weight loss and to burn fat in the body.

    Grapefruit Juice Recipe (Weight Loss, Burn Fat Apple Cider Vinegar Drink)


    gluten free blog network directory

    As Seen In

    Collage of logos of sites where Delightful Mom Food has been featured
    • Privacy Policy and Disclosure
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Recipes
    • Conversions Guide
    • Meet Danielle
    • Contact
    • Resources
    This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
    The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
    This is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a doctor first before starting any new diet plan.

    Copyright © 2022 DELIGHTFUL MOM FOOD, LLC

     

    Loading Comments...