Meatball and Mozzarella Paninis are full of tasty homemade meatballs, tomato sauce, and melty mozzarella cheese in a piece of buttery crispy flatbread. It’s the ultimate sandwich for lunch or gameday.
A little time goes into making this delicious sandwich, but it is so worth it! The meatballs and tomato sauce can be made ahead of time. They will only improve in flavor. And then the sandwich can be made very quickly.
The meatballs are made with lots of seasonings, including a packet of dry onion soup mix, and they really pack the flavor. They are baked in a 400 degree oven until crispy and cooked through.
The sauce ingredients just need to be simmered for 15 minutes. The sauce is flavored with onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Flatbread makes the perfect envelope to hold the meatballs and sauce, but you could use pita bread.
Serve with extra tomato sauce on the side and you have one of the most delicious sandwiches imaginable.
More Comfort Food Sandwiches
Meatball and Mozzarella Panini
Ingredients
Tomato Sauce
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Meatballs
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup dried Italian bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 (1-ounce) packet dry onion soup mix
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Panini
- 6 pieces flatbread, or you can use pita pockets
- 24 slices mozzarella cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. Add onion and cook 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 2 more minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes.
- To make meatballs, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mixing well.
- Shape into 24 meatballs and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cooked through. Let meatballs cool for 15 minutes before slicing. (Or you can refrigerate them at this point and use them in the next 48 hours.)
- The flatbread will be more pliable and less likely to tear if you microwave it. Stack them on a plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 30 to 40 seconds.
- Lay 2 slices of mozzarella on one end of flatbread.
- Cut meatballs in half and arrange them on top of cheese. Spoon desired amount of tomato sauce on top. Place 2 more slices on mozzarella over the sauce and fold the other half of the bread over.
- Using the butter to coat a nonstick pan or a panini press, cook each sandwich on both sides until golden and the cheese is melted.
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Recipe adapted from Simply Done, Well Done
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Amazing food and amazing recipe. I have tried it 2 hours ago. It was mouth watering.
So very much inviting ! Thank you !