Description
These Italian Sausage Sandwiches are a flavorful and hearty meal perfect for a quick dinner or casual gathering. Sausage crumbles are simmered in a rich marinara and pesto sauce with aromatic spices, then loaded into toasted buns with melty mozzarella and tangy pepperoncini peppers for a balanced bite of savory, spicy, and creamy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage Mixture
- 19 oz Italian sausage links, casings removed
- 1½ cups marinara sauce
- 1 Tbsp pesto
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Buns
- 8 hot dog buns
- 2 Tbsp melted butter
Cheese and Toppings
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- â…“ cup sliced jarred pepperoncini peppers
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage: Remove the sausage from the links and crumble it into a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until the sausage is fully browned and no longer pink inside. Drain any excess grease to keep the sandwich from becoming too oily.
- Prepare the Sauce: To the cooked sausage, add marinara sauce, pesto, minced garlic, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine and let the mixture simmer for 5 to 10 minutes to meld the flavors. Once done, remove the skillet from heat.
- Toast the Buns: Carefully pull some bread out from the inner sides of each bun to create space for filling. Brush the insides with melted butter and place the buns under a preheated oven broiler for a few minutes until lightly toasted but not burnt.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) to prepare for baking the assembled sandwiches.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: Start each bun by sprinkling shredded mozzarella cheese on the bottom. Then spoon in the sausage mixture. Top the sausage with fresh mozzarella pearls, sliced pepperoncini peppers, and finish with more shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake the Sandwiches: Place the assembled buns on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the buns are nicely toasted. If the buns start browning too quickly, cover with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
Notes
- Removing the inner bread of buns creates more room for fillings and prevents the sandwich from becoming too dense.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes and pepperoncini peppers for your preferred spice level.
- Use fresh mozzarella pearls for a creamy, melty texture that complements the shredded cheese.
- Be careful when broiling buns; they toast quickly so watch closely to avoid burning.
- Leftover sausage mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
