Ultimate Crispy Meatball Sub Egg Rolls: The Perfect Game Day Appetizer
Experience all the savory goodness of your favorite meatball sub sandwich, reimagined as a perfectly crispy egg roll. Serve these delightful bites with a rich marinara sauce for dipping, and you’ve got an irresistible appetizer or snack that will steal the show at any gathering!
As the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves begin to change, there’s a certain feeling that comes with it – a craving for comfort food and the excitement of football season. One day this week, it was full-on jeans and sweater weather, a gentle reminder that winter is on its way. While I might not be entirely ready for the colder months, I am definitely ready for all the delicious food that fall brings! Weekends become synonymous with watching exhilarating football games, and what better way to enhance the experience than with an array of awesome snacks and hearty food? My household loves football, and if left to their own devices, my guys would happily tune in from Thursday night straight through to Monday night. But I’m the ‘mean’ one who limits it to just a couple of key games we genuinely care about. However, I always make sure to sweeten the deal with fantastic food, so I can’t be all that bad.
Crafting the Perfect Crispy Texture with Crisco
I am thrilled to share that I’m partnering with Crisco this year, a brand deeply rooted in my own culinary history. Growing up, Crisco shortening was a staple in our kitchen. It was the secret ingredient that made my mom’s chocolate chip cookies wonderfully thick and incredibly soft, a texture that consistently outshone all my friends’ moms’ cookies. Today, Crisco offers a vast and impressive variety of products, catering to every kind of cook. From versatile cooking oils and convenient sprays to rich olive oils and even coconut oil, there truly is a Crisco product for every recipe and preference.
For these delectable Meatball Sub Egg Rolls, the choice was clear: I used Crisco Pure Vegetable Oil for frying. The key to a truly exceptional egg roll lies in its crispiness, and Crisco vegetable oil delivers just that. It allows you to achieve the ideal frying temperature without the oil burning, resulting in a super crispy, golden-brown exterior that is surprisingly non-greasy. There’s nothing quite like biting into an egg roll and experiencing that satisfying crunch, and Crisco helps ensure that perfect texture every single time. It’s truly essential for transforming a simple egg roll wrapper into a golden, crunchy vessel for our savory filling.
The Brilliant Inspiration: A Kid’s Culinary Vision
This fantastic recipe actually stems from a moment of pure culinary genius – from my then 11-year-old son! About six months ago, he approached me with an intriguing idea: “Mom, what if we put a meatball sandwich inside an egg roll?” I instantly recognized the brilliance of the concept. It was a creative fusion of two beloved comfort foods, promising a delicious and innovative twist on traditional favorites. Despite my enthusiasm, as often happens in busy kitchens, I didn’t get around to making them right away. After a few gentle (and not-so-gentle) reminders from him, I finally carved out the time to bring his vision to life. In my mind, I had anticipated a much more complicated process, but I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly and easily these Meatball Sub Egg Rolls came together.
To streamline the preparation, you can absolutely use high-quality store-bought meatballs. This significantly cuts down on prep time, making these crispy treats accessible even on busy weeknights or before a big game. If you prefer to make your meatballs from scratch, you can adapt our family’s favorite Italian Meatballs recipe – just swap the chicken for beef to perfectly match the classic meatball sub flavor profile. The convenience of this recipe means you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying.
Expert Tips for Easy Rolling and Enjoyable Eating
One crucial tip for making these Meatball Sub Egg Rolls both easy to roll and delightful to eat is to properly prepare your meatballs. Nothing spoils the enjoyment of a hot, savory appetizer quite like burning your mouth or having messy fillings drip down your chin. To prevent these common mishaps, I recommend cutting each meatball into quarters. This simple step ensures that the filling is evenly distributed within the egg roll wrapper, creating a more manageable bite. It also helps the flavors meld together beautifully in every mouthful, without any single chunk of meatball overwhelming the experience.
The rolling process itself is quite straightforward. By cutting the meatballs into smaller pieces, the egg rolls are much easier to wrap tightly and securely. This minimizes the risk of them bursting open during frying, guaranteeing a picture-perfect presentation and an intact, delicious package. And when it came time to finally enjoy them, our careful preparation paid off – there were absolutely no problems. In fact, they disappeared so quickly that it was clear this recipe was an instant hit!
Serving Suggestions, Storage, and Reheating
Once your Meatball Sub Egg Rolls are beautifully golden and super crispy, it’s time for the ultimate pairing: a generous side of warm marinara sauce for dipping. This classic combination perfectly recreates the authentic flavors of a meatball sub, but in a fun, handheld, and delightfully crunchy form. They are absolutely perfect for those lively game day parties, adding an exciting twist to your appetizer spread. But don’t limit them to just snacks – these versatile egg rolls can easily serve as a delicious and satisfying dinner, especially when paired with a fresh side salad or some garlic bread.
Another fantastic advantage of this recipe is its make-ahead potential. You can prepare a large batch of these Meatball Sub Egg Rolls and store them in the freezer, ensuring you always have a crowd-pleasing snack or a quick meal option readily available. To freeze them, simply fry them according to the recipe instructions until golden brown. Once cooked, let them cool completely, then arrange them in a single layer on a baking tray and place them in the freezer. Once they are fully frozen solid, transfer the egg rolls to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. This prevents them from sticking together and makes it easy to grab just the amount you need.
When you’re ready to enjoy them, reheating is a breeze. Simply bake the frozen egg rolls at 425°F (220°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until they are heated through and regain their irresistible crispiness. This convenient freezer-friendly option makes them a go-to choice for impromptu gatherings or those busy evenings when you need a delicious meal on the fly. These Meatball Sub Egg Rolls are truly a game-changer for anyone looking for a creative, flavorful, and easy-to-prepare dish.
Meatball Sub Egg Rolls
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Ingredients
- 12 egg roll wrappers
- 36 meatballs (1 ounce each), cut into 4 pieces
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Crisco Vegetable Oil, 3 inches in bottom of pot (for frying)
Instructions
- Mix together meatballs with 1/2 cup marinara sauce.
- Fill a small bowl with water.
- Place an egg roll wrapper on the counter, in a diamond shape with a point towards you. Lightly brush water along the edges of the wrapper.
- Place about 2 Tbls of cheese in the center of the egg roll wrapper. Lay about 6 meatball pieces across the cheese.
- Fold the point next to you over the meatballs. Tuck in both sides, and roll tightly to close. The water will help seal the edges.
- Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Heat about 3 inches of Crisco Vegetable Oil in the bottom of a heavy pot until it reaches 360°F (180°C).
- Carefully add 4 egg rolls to the hot oil and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden brown, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Remove the cooked egg rolls to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
- Serve immediately with the remaining marinara sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
Calories: 444kcal |
Carbohydrates: 29g |
Protein: 20g |
Fat: 28g |
Saturated Fat: 9g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g |
Trans Fat: 1g |
Cholesterol: 75mg |
Sodium: 1059mg |
Fiber: 3g |
Sugar: 5g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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**I am a Crisco Preferred Partner and was compensated for my time to create this recipe. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.