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Meatball & Mozzarella grinder

Meatball & Mozzarella Grinder

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Skillet or frying pan
  • saucepan
  • Baking sheet
  • Oven or broiler
  • Tongs
  • Spatula

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 2 tbsp olive oil for frying

For the Marinara Sauce

  • 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil chopped (optional)

For the Sandwich

  • 4 Italian hoagie sandwich rolls
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp butter for toasting the bread

Instructions
 

Make the Meatballs

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and milk. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Form the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs.
    steel mixing bowl sits on a kitchen countertop

Cook the Meatballs

  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook for about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Prepare the Marinara Sauce

  1. In the same skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir and let simmer for about 10 minutes, then add the meatballs to the sauce and cook for another 10 minutes, ensuring they absorb the flavors.
    minced garlic sizzling in golden olive oil

Assemble the Sandwich

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Slice the Italian hoagie rolls open and butter the insides. Place them on a baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes until slightly crispy.
  2. Place 3-4 meatballs in each roll, spoon some marinara sauce over the top, and sprinkle generously with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Melt the Cheese

  1. Place the assembled grinders sandwiches Italian-style back into the oven or under the broiler for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve and Enjoy

  1. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve hot! Pair with a side salad, potato chips, or a bowl of soup for the ultimate meal.