Description
Juicy meatballs simmered in marinara and finished with melted mozzarella — a fast, comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef (95% lean)
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1–2 garlic cloves, minced (or 1/4 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Olive oil (for browning)
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 8 hot dog buns or sub rolls
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, panko, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and salt until just combined.
- Roll mixture into about 24 small meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown meatballs on all sides in batches.
- Reduce heat, add marinara, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until meatballs reach about 160°F.
- Place buns on a baking sheet and toast lightly under the broiler (optional).
- Assemble subs with 3 meatballs per bun, spoon sauce over, and top with mozzarella.
- Broil 2–3 minutes until cheese is bubbly, watching closely.
Notes
For extra flavor, toast buns with garlic butter or make the meatballs ahead for quicker weeknight meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop & Broiler
- Cuisine: Italian-American