Deliciously Easy Cheesy Meatball Sandwiches with 2-Ingredient Vegan Meatballs

If you're a student looking for a quick, budget-friendly meal without sacrificing flavour, you’re in for a treat! These cheesy meatball sandwiches are not only tasty but also incredibly easy to prepare, thanks to the simplest 2-ingredient vegan meatballs. With Jamie Oliver's original recipe as an inspiration, this version swaps out beef for plant-based mince, making it a perfect choice for vegetarians or anyone wanting to reduce meat consumption.

The Magic of 2-Ingredient Vegan Meatballs

Creating the 2-ingredient meatballs is as easy as it gets. Originally, Jamie Oliver’s recipe called for beef mince and pesto, but I opted for vegan mince to keep it plant-based. This means you can enjoy a hearty meal that aligns with your dietary choices.

In my testing, I found that Meatless Farm Style Mince and Beyond Meat Burgers each bring unique benefits. The Meatless Farm Style Mince has a firmer texture, which helps it hold its shape after combining with pesto. In contrast, Beyond Meat Burgers provide a juicier experience that benefits from a quick rest in the fridge for about 15 minutes before baking. Both bring great flavour and texture to the recipe, so you really can’t go wrong with either choice.

Why Pesto is Your New Best Friend

Pesto is the secret ingredient that seals the deal for these meatballs. Instead of traditional binders like eggs and breadcrumbs, the green pesto acts as the adhesive. and really enhances the flavour with its fresh basil notes

Opting to bake the meatballs instead of frying them cuts down on mess and simplifies your cooking process, which is ideal for busy students. You can easily prepare a batch and freeze them, ensuring that you have a quick meal ready even after the longest days at university.

2-Ingredient Vegan Meatballs - The Recipe

Recipe

For the Meatballs

1 Pack of Meatless Farm Style Mince or Beyond Meat Burgers

1/2 jar of basil pesto (The other half can be stored in the fridge for a quick pasta dish)

Salt for seasoning

Olive Oil or Veg Oil to coat meatballs before baking

For the Sandwiches

1 Pack of soft burger rolls

1 Jar of tomato sauce (optional)

Cheese Slices (Optional)

Method:

Preheat your oven to 180C/350F

Combine the chosen mince with half a jar of basil pesto and a good pinch of salt in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Scoop out some of the mixture in your hands and roll into a meatball. Repeat with the remaining mixture, trying to ensue even sizes.

If using the burgers as your meatball base, rest the meatballs in the fridge for 15 minutes to allow the to firm back up slightly.

Place meatballs on a roasting tray, drizzle with olive oil or veg oil and bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes

Pairing Your Meatballs

Now that your tasty meatballs are ready, let’s talk about how to serve them. A jar of jarred tomato sauce is all you need—just heat it while your meatballs bake for a delicious topping for your sandwiches.

For the bread, go with soft rolls that can hold the filling without falling apart. After you fill the rolls with meatballs and sauce, load up with a generous amount of cheese and pop the filled rolls back in the oven just until the cheese is melted.

Budget-Friendly and Hearty

One of the highlights of this recipe is its affordability. With only a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a meal that is both filling and satisfying. This makes it perfect for students who often find themselves balancing tight budgets and demanding schedules.

Consider batch cooking to save both time and money. By doubling or even tripling the recipe, you can freeze the extra meatballs for quick meals later on. Just heat them in the oven or microwave after defrosting, and you’ll have a hearty, satisfying dinner in minutes.