Minnesota Meatball Sub with Basil Sauce
Savory meatballs simmered in a basil-infused tomato sauce, nestled in crusty rolls with melted provolone cheese for a comforting meal. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs ground beef, Italian sausage, onion 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
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 4 sub rolls
- 4 slices provolone cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
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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 bowl, combine 1 lb ground beef, 1/2 lb Italian sausage, 1/2 cup finely chopped onion, and 2 minced garlic cloves; form into 12 meatballs.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; brown meatballs for 3-4 minutes per side until golden.
- Step 3: Add 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/2 cup diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper to the skillet; simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Step 4: Split 4 sub rolls, place 3 meatballs on each, top with 1 slice provolone cheese, and spoon 2 tbsp sauce over each.
