Spicy Meatball Subs

So I have something to confess. I have made meatball subs once before... and I thought they were delicious. But after making this version, I have to reject my previous recipe and replace it with this absolutely amazing, delicious, flavorful recipe. There just aren't enough words to describe this sandwich. My boyfriend and I took on this recipe for Sunday night supper with a side of Dexter, my ultimate TV guilty pleasure. And even two hours later as we were getting ready for bed, he was still talking about them. But don't just read about them. Make them!

Spicy Meatball Subs

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 white onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup parsley, minced
• 1 egg, whisked
• 1 cup bread crumbs (I used 1/2 panko and 1/2 Italian bread crumbs)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (or Italian cheese of your choice)
• 2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• salt to taste
• freshly baked sandwich rolls of your choice
• 1 cup shredded Italian cheese (I used mozzarella)

5-minute Marinara Sauce: (double recipe for more sauce)

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp. parsley, chopped
• 1/4 tsp. oregano
• 1.4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1 14-oz. can diced or crushed tomatoes
• 1 8-oz. can tomato sauce

In a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, onion, garlic, parsley, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, worcestershire, red pepper, and salt. Mix just enough for all ingredients to get happy together, but do not overmix or you will get stiff/dry meatballs. Let meat mixture sit while you get the marinara sauce started.

In a large stock pot, add olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add garlic, parsley, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Let cook for a minute or two until fragrant. Add in tomatoes and sauce. Turn heat down to simmer and let cook for 5 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Now, form your meatballs into 2-inch balls (slightly smaller than a tennis ball, they will shrink when they cook). Now heat up a large skillet and drizzle with olive oil. Place all meatballs in skillet and let brown on each side.

Once they are all browned up, place them in a baking dish, top with a little bit of your marinara sauce, and cook in the oven for 20 minutes, until brown throughout the center. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, brush the insides of your sandwich roll with more olive oil and toast off in the oven.

Once bread and meatballs are ready, place a spoonful of sauce on the bottom of the roll, top with a tablespoon of cheese, and then 2 or 3 meatballs. Finally, top with some more sauce and the remaining cheese. Serve hot!