Meatball Sandwich
Who can resist a meatball sandwich? The moist and tender meatballs, the tangy sauce, the gooey cheese, and the soft bread. It’s a perfect combination of flavors and textures. A while back I made baked penne with meatballs and the whole time I made the dish I was thinking about how perfect the sauce and meatballs would be for a meatball sandwich. Well, I made the meatballs and sauce again but this time I made sandwiches! This meatball sandwich recipe was fun to make and they tasted hearty and so full of flavor. The kids devoured them and my husband was one happy man. These homemade meatball subs paired nicely with a simple Italian salad and sweet potato chips.
Meatball Sandwich
Mushroom Marinara:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 6-oz of button or cremini mushrooms, sliced thinly
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed
- 1 (28-oz) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-oz) can of tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp white sugar
- Pinch of red pepper flakes, to taste
- Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
Meatballs:
- 7 button mushrooms, diced finely
- ¼ yellow onion, diced finely
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- ¼ cup of Italian style breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, well-beaten
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- ½ tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ tsp fennel seed, crushed
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for cooking)
Other Ingredients:
- Hoagie rolls
- Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Parmesan cheese, shredded
- Fresh basil, chopped
How to Make a Meatball Sandwich:
Make the mushroom marinara by heating the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the garlic, basil, oregano, and crushed fennel seeds, and cook for 60 seconds, stirring frequently.
Add the remaining ingredients. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 2 hours. Taste and re-season if needed.
Make the meatballs by placing the mushrooms, onion, and garlic in a food processor to chop, otherwise, chop them as small as you can.
Combine all ingredients (except for olive oil) together gently. Form into small meatballs and set aside.
Once the meatballs are prepared, heat a large skillet over medium heat with 1 tbsp olive oil. Cook the meatballs until golden brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
Remove from the skillet and place the cooked meatballs in the mushroom marinara to simmer for 15 minutes.
To assemble the meatball sandwich, place meatballs with some sauce down the center of the the hoagie rolls. Sprinkle the top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
Place on a baking sheet, under the broiler and melt the cheese–watch carefully so don’t burn.
Top with basil and serve. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Mushroom Marinara:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 6- oz of button or cremini mushrooms sliced thinly
- 3-4 cloves of garlic chopped finely
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp fennel seeds crushed
- 1 (28-oz) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-oz) can of tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp white sugar
- Pinch of red pepper flakes to taste
- Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Meatballs:
- 7 button mushrooms diced finely
- ¼ yellow onion diced finely
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- ¼ cup of Italian style breadcrumbs
- 1 egg well-beaten
- 1 tbsp fresh basil chopped
- ½ tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- ½ tsp fennel seed crushed
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking
Other Ingredients:
- Hoagie rolls
- Mozzarella cheese shredded
- Parmesan cheese shredded
- Fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Make the mushroom marinara by heating the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, basil, oregano, and crushed fennel seeds, and cook for 60 seconds, stirring frequently.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 2 hours. Taste and re-season if needed.
- Make the meatballs by placing the mushrooms, onion, and garlic in a food processor to chop, otherwise, chop them as small as you can.
- Combine all ingredients (except for olive oil) together gently. Form into small meatballs and set aside.
- Cook the meatballs by heating a large skillet over medium heat with 1 tbsp olive oil. Cook the meatballs until golden brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from the skillet and place the cooked meatballs in the mushroom marinara to simmer for 15 minutes.
- To assemble the meatball sandwich, place meatballs with some sauce down the center of the the hoagie rolls. Sprinkle the top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Place on a baking sheet, under the broiler and melt the cheese–watch carefully so don't burn.
- Top with basil and serve. Enjoy!
looks so tempting. i dont eat beef, but i am sure this can be substituted with lamb,or chicken.the mushroom marinara looks good
I absolutely HAVE to try this. Grumpy would be so happy. At least for a little while 🙂
This is an amazing photo. Makes me wish it was dinner time at 4:40 AM!
Me too, my tummy is rumbling as I read!
These look so good. My hubby would be well happy if I served this up. Im bookmarking this one
Oh my….these look awesome!! I could eat a meatball sandwich any day. Your sandwich looks delicious!!
I am drooling! that looks amazing!
Do you deliver… OMG that looks so amazing. The Hubby would eat this up in a minute!!
I do love a good grinder (hoagie, sub or whatever they’re called in someone else’s neck of the world). Meat in marinara sauce with some cheese on top is just a slice of heaven! I like your chopped greens on top; they make the sandwich so photogenic!
Ohhh I think this will be on next weeks menu. Gosh maybe I should stop my food blog because all I want to do is cook your food.:)
Oooh, these look great! Your marinara recipe sounds fantastic!
-Amy
http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com
yeah, i’d like to sink my teeth into this and just let the juice drip right down my chin. it looks phenomenal, pam. best sub ever.
What a hearty sandwich. I just made mushroom marinara to go with our ravioli! It was tasty! I love mushrooms!
Oh my goodness, that sandwich is amazing. I love how it’s just bursting out from the seams… that’s the only way a real sandwich should be 🙂
Yum! Your post reminded me of that old commercial, where someone went around saying..thatsa some spicy meatball. Anyone else old enough to remember that one!
that looks delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just made meatballs last night, what a delicious idea for leftovers!
http://www.thetopiarylady.blogspot.com
WOW- a meatball sand brings back some memories- I have not had one is over 15 years or more- thanks for posting this..it evoked good memories..
Whoa! That sandwich looks amazing!
It’s 9:30am here and you’ve got me thinking about lunch already… Mmmm.. those look absolutely outstanding.. I think this is what I just might make for dinner tonight 🙂
This is what my hubby could eat everyday for the rest of his life. I try and make gourmet dishes and he is too fussy for them. I love meatball hoagies too, but no sauce, just cheese.
You did such a wonderful job on these. I think I have to steal this recipe.
Yeah, I can’t resist a meatball sandwich, and this one looks amazing!
wow, this looks so good! i know what i am making for dinner this weekend! thanks pam.
That, right there, is a thing of beauty.
That sandwich looks great!
Wow, wow, wow … this looks so amazingly good. I love every aspect of what you’ve done here, and the results are not only photogenic, but also sooooo appetizing. Please feed me! 🙂
Wow… perfect timing… my kid has this thing about meatballs right now… thanks for sharing this recipe… looks so good 🙂
Looks divine.
Oh my.
I’ve really got to try this!
I’m a first time visitor.
Your site looks so nice!
When trying to get the printable version of this recipe, a pasta recipe comes up!
Anonymous,
Thank you so much for the heads up. I just fixed the problem and it should now link to the meatball sandwich recipe. Thanks again!
Pam
Made this last night and it was so delicious! Great flavors from the sauce!