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Meatball Boats

Meatball Boats
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Meatball Boats are a quick, comforting, and customizable weeknight meal featuring juicy, flavorful meatballs nestled inside warm bread boats, topped with rich tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. Perfect for families or friends, this recipe delivers hearty, satisfying flavors with minimal effort and cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatball Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground meat (beef, pork, turkey, or blend)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh Italian herbs (oregano, basil, parsley), chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (for browning)

Bread and Toppings

  • 4 soft hoagie rolls or sturdy baguettes (use gluten-free bread for gluten-free version)
  • 2 cups tomato sauce (marinara or homemade)
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground meat with breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, chopped onion, chopped herbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to keep meatballs tender.
  2. Shape and Brown Meatballs: Roll the mixture into evenly sized meatballs about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown meatballs on all sides without cooking through completely to seal in the juices.
  3. Hollow Out the Bread Boats: While meatballs brown, cut hoagie rolls lengthwise and scoop out some of the soft interior to create a boat shape that will hold the meatballs and sauce.
  4. Assemble and Bake: Place browned meatballs inside the hollowed bread boats. Pour warm tomato sauce over the meatballs, sprinkle generously with shredded mozzarella, and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  5. Serve Warm: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Serve your Meatball Boats hot and enjoy the comforting burst of flavors with every bite.

Notes

  • Use fresh herbs and quality meat for the best flavor.
  • Do not overmix the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender and juicy.
  • Pre-toast the bread boats briefly to prevent sogginess from the sauce.
  • Keep meatballs uniform in size to ensure even cooking.
  • Let Meatball Boats rest a few minutes before serving to settle the sauce and avoid burns.

Nutrition

Keywords: meatball boats, quick dinner, meatballs in bread, easy weeknight meal, family-friendly, customizable, baked meatballs, Italian-inspired

Find it online: https://dailydishez.com/meatball-boats/