Description
Hearty bell pepper meatball subs deliver a mouthwatering Italian-American classic with robust flavors and satisfying textures. Warm crusty bread cradles juicy beef meatballs, melted cheese, and zesty marinara, promising a comforting meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 egg
- ⅓ c. bread crumbs
- ¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ c. chopped parsley
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 2 Tbsps. olive oil
- 1 (15 oz.) jar marinara sauce
- 4 bell peppers, cored and halved
- Additional Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Meat Mixture Preparation: Blend ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, egg, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl until thoroughly combined, ensuring even ingredient distribution.
- Meatball Formation: Shape the mixture into 16 uniform meatballs, maintaining consistent size for even cooking.
- Searing Process: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, then brown meatballs on all sides for 8-10 minutes, rotating periodically to achieve a golden exterior.
- Sauce Integration: Pour marinara over seared meatballs, gently coating them, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes until fully cooked.
- Bell Pepper Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F, arrange pepper halves cut-side up on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and top four halves with mozzarella cheese.
- Baking and Assembly: Bake peppers for 10 minutes until cheese melts, then transfer meatballs onto cheese-topped pepper halves, sprinkle with additional Parmesan, cover with remaining pepper halves, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Meat Mixing Technique: Blend ingredients thoroughly but avoid overmixing to prevent tough meatballs, using gentle folding motions to keep the mixture light and tender.
- Searing Secret: Ensure skillet is hot before adding meatballs to create a perfect golden-brown crust that locks in moisture and develops deep flavor.
- Pepper Preparation: Choose bell peppers with flat bottoms to create stable boats for meatballs, preventing tipping during baking and serving.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Use freshly grated mozzarella for optimal melting and allow a moment of resting after baking to let cheese settle and flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 479
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 897 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg