My Meaty Lentil Subs are packed with nutrients, easy to make and have tons of flavor. They’re inspired by the classic meatball sub, but I used iron rich lentils, in place of the meatballs, to make them vegetarian. This hearty dinner comes together quickly and won’t leave you feeling hungry afterward. Serve with a salad and enjoy for an easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
I’ve always liked lentils, but have recently increased my intake of them while trying to raise my iron levels. Lentils are a great source of plant-based, non-heme, iron and I really do feel like they give me energy. These Meaty Lentils Subs are kind of like a classic meatball sub meets a sloppy Joe. They’re packed with protein, fiber, calcium and so much flavor. Enjoy for lunch or dinner and pair with a side salad for even more nutrients.
Why You’ll Love This Hearty Vegetarian Dinner
- Healthy and filling – Lentils are such a great source of plant based protein and fiber. They will fill you up and keep you feeling satiated long after this meal. The added vegetables and mozzarella cheese also help bulk up these subs with healthy ingredients. Serve with a side salad, if desired.
- Easy to make – The lentil filling comes together in just about 15 minutes, and can easily be prepped days in advance. The subs themselves only need 12 minutes in the oven, making this meal great for an easy weeknight when you don’t have much time.
- Packed with flavor – The homemade sauce for the lentils is packed with flavorful ingredients, like garlic, paprika, smoked paprika, oregano and marinara sauce. Add extra red pepper flakes, or even a spoonful of Calabrian chili paste, for heat.
Lentil Sub Recipe Tips
- Add extra veggies – I just used a mixture of red and green bell pepper, onion and garlic for these subs, but you can easily add in any other veggies you have on hand. I would suggest zucchini, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms or even eggplant. Frozen vegetables would also work well.
- Use canned lentils – You can, of course, cook your own lentils from scratch, but I like to use two cans of pre-cooked lentils to make this recipe really quick and easy. They have great texture and flavor and only take about 30 seconds to open up.
- Assemble for meal prep – This recipe is great for meal prep because you can either prep the lentils ahead of time, or prep the entire subs ahead of time. The lentil mixture will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also make a batch of sandwiches, allow them to cool and then wrap in foil for future lunches or dinners.
Meaty Lentil Sub Recipe Ingredients
- Lentils – I used two cans of pre-cooked brown lentils for this recipe. You can use homemade lentils as well. If you need to substitute the lentils, I would suggest using chickpeas or crumbled extra firm tofu.
- Marinara – I used jarred marinara sauce, but you could also use regular pasta sauce or even canned tomato sauce.
- Vegetables – I added diced red bell pepper, green bell pepper, onion and garlic for this recipe, but you are welcome to add extra veggies if you like.
- Seasonings – The sauce gets seasoned well with paprika, smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder, dried oregano and red pepper flakes.
- Cheese – I used sliced mozzarella for these subs, but you can use any cheese that melts well. Provolone or Monterey Jack would also work well.
- Buns – I bought these sub buns at Trader Joe’s and I really liked them, but any bread will work.
How To Make Vegetarian Lentil Sub Sandwiches
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Next, add in the diced onion and bell peppers, along with a pinch of salt to help soften them. Stir together and cook until veggies are softened and starting to brown, 7-8 minutes.
- Next, add in the minced garlic, dried oregano, chili flakes, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, smoked paprika and about 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix everything together and cook until garlic has softened, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the lentils and marinara sauce, mix well and let sauce simmer for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens up just a little bit.
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully slice your buns in half, or cut a pocket in them. I like to add the sliced mozzarella cheese to the sides of the bread and then fill with a few spoonfuls of the meaty lentils. Place in the pre-heated oven and bake until cheese is melted and lentils are heated through, about 10 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before enjoying.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Make this recipe gluten free by using your favorite gluten free sub rolls.
- Make this recipe vegan by using your favorite meltable mozzarella style vegan cheese.
- Can the lentils be substituted? Yes, you can sub the lentils for crumbled tofu/tempeh, chickpeas or even mushrooms if you are into them.
- Can these sub sandwiches be made ahead of time? Yes, you can either just prep the lentils in the sauce ahead of time, or you can prep the entire subs ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze until ready to eat.
- How long do leftovers last? If stored in an air-tight container, leftovers should last about 4-5 days in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP!
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Meaty Lentil Subs
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
My Meaty Lentil Subs are packed with nutrients, easy to make and have tons of flavor. They’re inspired by the classic meatball sub, but I used iron rich lentils, in place of the meatballs, to make them vegetarian. This hearty dinner comes together quickly and won’t leave you feeling hungry afterward. Serve with a salad and enjoy for an easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small green bell pepper, small diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, small diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, small diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more if desired
- 2 (15 oz) cans brown lentils, drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce, or more if desired
- 6 sub buns
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese or 6 slices of sliced mozzarella cheese, or cheese of choice (feel free to use as much, or as little, as you like.
- Fresh parsley or basil leaves, for garnish
- Salt and red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Next, add in the diced onion and bell peppers, along with a pinch of salt to help soften them. Stir together and cook until veggies are softened and starting to brown, 7-8 minutes.
- Next, add in the minced garlic, dried oregano, chili flakes, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, smoked paprika and about 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix everything together and cook until garlic has softened, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the lentils and marinara sauce, mix well and let sauce simmer for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens up just a little bit. Season with extra salt and red pepper flakes, if needed.
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully slice your buns in half, or cut a pocket in them. I like to add the sliced mozzarella cheese to the sides of the bread and then fill with a few spoonfuls of the meaty lentils. Place in the pre-heated oven and bake until cheese is melted and lentils are heated through, about 10 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before enjoying.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
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