MEATBALL BOATS

These meatball boats are a great easy dinner option. These can be an amazing appetizer too. Simply use smaller buns and meatballs. These delicious meatball boats are a win-win for everyone who loves meatball subs, but dislikes the messiness of the regular meatball subs.

Ingredients

1 large egg

1 pound of ground beef

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/3 c. breadcrumbs

1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 crusty Italian sandwich rolls

2 c. marinara sauce

12 slices provolone

1/4 c. shredded Parmesan

1/2 c. shredded mozzarella

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

How to make Meatball Boats

Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 375 degrees F. Using a non-stick spray, grease a baking sheet.

Meatballs:

Step 2: Place the ground beef with egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, and parsley in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well until just combined. Then, shape the mixture into 12 even-sized meatballs.

Step 3: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the meatballs to the skillet and sear for about 4 minutes on all sides. Pour in the marinara sauce and gently stir. Put the lid on.
Step 4: Decrease the heat to a simmer and cook the meatballs for about 8 to 10 minutes until no longer pink and the internal temperature of the meatballs reach 160 degrees F.

Bread Boats:
Step 5: On top of a bread loaf. Slice a long rectangle. To make a boat, hollow the top of the hoagie roll.

Step 6: Over the roll, lay 3 slices of provolone to cover the hollowed area. Then, place in the preheated oven and bake for about 5 minutes until the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and top the cheese in a row with 4 meatballs. Over the meatballs. Spoon the marinara and equally sprinkle with mozzarella, followed by the Parmesan.

Step 7: Return to the oven and continue baking for an additional 6 to 8 minutes. If desired, you can broil the meatball boats.

Notes:

The perfect bread to use for this recipe is Italian or French sandwich rolls. They have a nice crusty exterior and they do not get soggy.

For a little color and additional flavor, you can garnish the meatball boats with some chopped fresh basil.

For a deep flavor meatball, you can use a half each of ground beef and Italian sausage.

If serving as a party platter, I suggest using smaller rolls and making the meatballs smaller.

Source /kitchmenow.com