Italian Supper Sandwich
This baked sandwich is so good—and the bonus is you can make the meatballs and sauce ahead. Try it for a Super Bowl party or other get-together. —Patricia Cornell, Burlington, Kentucky6 ServingsPrep: 40 min. Bake: 20 min.
Ingredients
- 4 cups tomato juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
- 1/16 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 loaf (1 pound) Italian bread
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 package (12 ounces) frozen fully cooked Italian meatballs
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions
- In a Dutch oven, combine the first 10 ingredients. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes, stirring
- occasionally, or until slightly thickened.
- Cut top third off of bread but not all the way through; hollow out
- top and bottom, leaving a 1-in. shell. Spread with butter.
- Add meatballs to sauce; heat through. With a slotted spoon, transfer
- meatballs into the loaf. Sprinkle with cheese; replace bread top.
- Wrap loaves in foil. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes or until heated