Classic Italian Meatball Sandwich with Marinara and Mozzarella
Tender homemade beef and pork meatballs smothered in rich marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella on a toasted Italian roll. This Italian-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs ground beef, ground pork, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz ground beef
- 8 oz ground pork
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 large egg
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 4 Italian sandwich rolls
The sheet pan we’d roast this on → Best Sheet Pans in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 8 oz ground beef, 8 oz ground pork, 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup whole milk, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Step 2: Form the mixture into 16 evenly sized meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches each.
- Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs in batches and brown on all sides, about 6-8 minutes total, then transfer to a plate.
- Step 4: Pour 2 cups marinara sauce into the skillet and bring to a simmer. Return meatballs to the sauce and cook gently for 15 minutes until cooked through and sauce thickens.
- Step 5: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Slice 4 Italian sandwich rolls lengthwise and place on a baking sheet. Layer each roll with 4 meatballs and spoon over marinara sauce. Top with 2 oz sliced mozzarella cheese per sandwich.
- Step 6: Bake sandwiches for 8-10 minutes until the cheese melts and bread is toasted. Serve hot.








