Description
Italian Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes combine hearty ground beef simmered in a flavorful Italian-seasoned marinara sauce, piled high on garlic butter-spread hoagie rolls, and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This easy weeknight dinner offers a cheesy, savory twist on the classic sloppy joe with an Italian-American flair.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Bread and Toppings
- 4–6 hoagie rolls or Italian sandwich rolls
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for the final baking of the sandwiches.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 6–8 minutes until browned and fully cooked, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Season and Simmer: Mix in Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Stir well, then add the marinara sauce and tomato paste. Combine thoroughly and simmer for 5–7 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine softened unsalted butter with garlic powder and chopped fresh parsley. Mix until evenly blended.
- Assemble the Rolls: Slice the hoagie rolls horizontally without cutting all the way through. Spread the garlic butter mixture generously on the inside of each roll and place them on a baking sheet.
- Fill and Top the Sandwiches: Spoon the sloppy joe meat mixture evenly into each roll. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the bread is toasted to a golden crisp.
- Serve Warm: Remove from oven and serve the Italian Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes immediately while warm and gooey.
Notes
- For a spicier variation, substitute ground beef with or mix in ground Italian sausage.
- You can prepare the sloppy joe filling ahead of time to save time when assembling.
- Enhance flavor and texture by adding sautéed bell peppers or mushrooms into the meat sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
