Description
Creamy Meatball Boats are a delicious and comforting twist on classic meatball subs, featuring tender ground beef meatballs simmered in a creamy marinara sauce, nestled inside warm hoagie rolls and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This easy dinner recipe combines rich flavors and satisfying textures, perfect for a cozy meal any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Assembly
- 4 hoagie rolls or small sub rolls
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the meatball boats later.
- Make Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into small meatballs about 1 inch in diameter for even cooking and perfect bite-size portions.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides, approximately 5 to 7 minutes, creating a flavorful crust.
- Simmer in Sauce: Pour marinara sauce into the skillet with the browned meatballs. Reduce heat to low, stir in heavy cream and Italian seasoning, and let simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is creamy.
- Prepare Rolls: Slice hoagie rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through so meatballs stay nestled inside during baking.
- Assemble Meatball Boats: Arrange rolls on a baking sheet and fill each with the creamy meatballs and sauce mixture. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, signaling it’s ready to serve.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley for a fresh touch, then serve warm and enjoy your creamy meatball boats.
Notes
- You can substitute turkey or chicken for beef if preferred for a lighter option.
- For extra heat, add red pepper flakes into the sauce during simmering.
- Using fresh breadcrumbs can enhance the texture of the meatballs.
- Make sure not to overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender.
- Leftover meatball boats can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
