Meatball Parmesan Heroes (2024)

Meatballs simmered in a flavorful sauce are nestled in soft rolls and topped with melted cheese for a homemade meatball parm hero. Basil Provolone Meatball Heroes is an easy lunch or dinner recipe.

Meatball Parmesan Hero

Everyone loves a meatball parmesan sandwich so here’s a quick, easy and fabulously delicious weeknight dinner you can cook up in no time at all!

Basil Provolone Meatball Heroes is an easy recipe for a hot sandwich that’s hearty and so delicious.

Meatballs are an all-time favorite in my Italian family but you don’t have to be Italian to love meatballs!

And did you know that you don’t have to fry them or bake them before putting them in the sauce?

Yep, that’s right! Just drop the meatballs into yoursimmering sauce and let them cook away for about 25 minutes. It’s aseasy as that!

Add a salad and everyone will be satisfied!

I used jarred marinara sauce to make things oh so easy. Of course, I added a touch of balsamic vinegar to elevate the storebought sauce to a homemade level.

Parmesan cheese flavors the meatballs and provolone cheese is melted on top. Feel free to substitute mozzarella cheese for the provolone cheese!

And if your day is over the top busy, you can always make these sandwiches with frozen meatballs. Just simmer them in the sauce like you would for the homemade meatballs.

Just drop meatballs, either homemade or frozen, in simmering sauce seasoned with balsamic. Let them cook. Top with provolone and fresh basil and serve on rolls. Holy moly, it's as easy as that!

Any way you make them, you are going to love a Meatball Parm Hero for dinner tonight!

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How to make meatball sandwiches

Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below

• In a medium saucepot over medium-high heat combine marinara sauce, Balsamic and sugar. Cook until hot and bubbly.
• Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl combine ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, chopped basil, salt and pepper. Shape into 8 meatballs.
• Carefully stir uncooked meatballs into the sauce. Be sure that the meatballs are completely covered with the sauce.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through, stirring occasionally.
• If desired, toast hoagie rolls either in the oven or under the broiler until golden.

Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips

• You can prepare the meatballs and sauce ahead and refrigerate. Then reheat the sauce and meatballs and assemble the sandwiches.

Substitutions

• Substitute mozzarella cheese for the provolone cheese
• You can use ground turkey in place of the ground beef
• Substitute ground chicken for the ground beef
• When you’re short on time you can use frozen meatballs in place of the homemade meatballs
• Substitute 1 teaspoon dried basil for the 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Easy meatball recipes

• Chicken Meatballs
• Swedish Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs

Ingredients for meatball parm hero

• marinara sauce
• Balsamic vinegar
• Sugar
• ground beef
• egg
• Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• shredded Parmesan
• fresh basil
• kosher salt
• black pepper
• hoagie rolls
• provolone cheese

First Published: July 9, 2013... Last Updated: June 17, 2023, for better readability and user experience