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Meatball Marinara Appetizers

Warm Meatball Marinara Appetizers made with homemade beef meatballs, marinara sauce, Asiago cheese, and toasted hoagie rolls.
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian-American
Keyword: Meatball Marinara Appetizers

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/4 c shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 c breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

For Assembly

  • 2 c marinara sauce
  • 12 Asiago cheese slices
  • 8 small hoagie rolls
  • Additional shredded cheese for topping, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, egg, chopped parsley, and shredded Parmesan cheese.
  • Season the mixture with salt and black pepper.
  • Mix gently until all ingredients are evenly combined.
  • Shape the meat mixture into 24 small meatballs.
  • Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
  • Cook the meatballs in batches for approximately 5 minutes, or until they are seared on all sides.
  • Arrange the seared meatballs on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake for 12 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
  • Remove the meatballs from the oven and set aside.
  • Cut an oval shape from the top of each hoagie roll, leaving approximately 1/2 inch around the sides and ends.
  • Carefully hollow out the center of each roll, making sure not to cut through the bottom.
  • Arrange the hollowed rolls in a greased baking dish.
  • Place Asiago cheese slices inside the hollowed portion of each roll.
  • Bake the rolls for 8 minutes, or until the cheese begins to melt and the rolls are warmed.
  • Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce into each roll.
  • Place 3 meatballs on top of the sauce in each roll.
  • Spoon the remaining marinara sauce over the meatballs.
  • Sprinkle additional shredded cheese over the top, if desired.
  • Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the appetizers are hot, the sauce is warm, and the cheese is melted.
  • Serve warm.

Notes

To make these Meatball Marinara Appetizers gluten free, replace the breadcrumbs with certified gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Use gluten-free hoagie rolls or gluten-free slider rolls in place of regular hoagie rolls.
Confirm that the marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, Asiago cheese, ground beef, seasonings, and all packaged ingredients are labeled gluten free.
Use clean mixing bowls, knives, cutting boards, baking sheets, skillets, and serving utensils to prevent gluten cross-contact.
If using store-bought meatballs as a shortcut, make sure they are certified gluten free before using.