The Roman Rascal Italian Sloppy Joe Subs with Savoury Veal Fennel Ragu

The Roman Rascal Italian Sloppy Joe Subs With Sa

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Preparation time:20 Mins

Cooking time:40 Mins

Servings:6 servings

Ingredients:

• lb Ground Beef (85/15 blend)
• /2 lb Mild Italian Sausage (casing removed)
• Tbsp Olive Oil (extra virgin)
• medium Yellow Onion, finely chopped
• small Fennel Bulb, finely chopped (core removed)
• cloves Garlic, minced
• Tbsp Tomato Paste
• /2 cup Dry Red Wine (e.g., Chianti or Merlot)
• (28-oz) can Crushed San Marzano Tomatoes
• cup Beef Broth (low sodium)
• Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• tsp Dried Oregano
• /2 tsp Dried Basil
• /4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (or to taste)
• Kosher Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste
• crusty Sub Rolls (about 8-10 inches)
• slices Provolone Cheese
• Tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

• Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and sausage. Break up the meat and cook until well-browned and no pink remains. Drain off excess fat thoroughly.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add the chopped onion and fennel to the pot. Sauté until softened and translucent, about 5–7 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Pour in the red wine. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Let the wine reduce by half.
• Add the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
• Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and let the ragù simmer for a minimum of 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is rich and thick. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Preheat the broiler or oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the sub rolls lengthwise, keeping the hinge intact. Spoon a generous amount of the hot ragù filling into the centre of each roll.
• Top the filling generously with two slices of Provolone cheese per sub. Place the open-faced subs on a baking sheet. Bake or broil for 3–5 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve the Italian Sloppy Joe Subs immediately while piping hot.

Nutrition Facts

Calories:600

Protein:35g

Fat:28g

Fiber:4g

Recipe Info

Category:Main Course, Sandwich

Cuisine:Italian

Digging into the Italian Sloppy Joe Sub

Right, listen up. I was having one of those rubbish evenings last week. Couldn’t be bothered to cook anything complex. I needed something proper comforting, you know? That smell hit me—a deep, savoury aroma that instantly transports you straight out of your kitchen and into a little trattoria. That’s the magic of a truly good Italian Sloppy Joe Sub .

This isn't your school dinner muck, folks. This is how you upgrade a classic comfort dish. We're taking that familiar messy joy and giving it a proper Italian bath.

Answering Your Main Mealtime Worries

I know what you’re thinking when you search for a new Sub Sa ndwich Recipe : Is this going to take all night? Will it taste watery? And seriously, can I make a Meatball Sub Recipe feel new again? Absolutely, you can.

This guide nails the texture, ensuring your filling is rich and thick, not soupy. We swap that sickly sweet ketchup base for a proper, quick-cooking Weekn
nd Meat Ragù Recipe . Trust me, this cooks faster than most slow-cooked sauces but tastes like it’s been bubbling all day. It's the ultimate Quick Italia
nComfort Food .

What Everyone Else Gets Wrong

Most recipes online lean too heavily on just oregano and beef. That’s fine, but it’s boring. They tend to forget the aromatic lift that takes these Sub Sa ndwich Recipes with Melted Cheese from 'okay' to 'bloody brilliant.'

What we’re doing differently here is introducing fennel and a splash of dry red wine. That fennel adds a layer of subtle sweetness that mimics the depth you get in a good Fend Sausage Filli
ng . I learned years ago, when trying to make an edible Homestyle Sloppy Joe Alter
no Tomato Sauce Sub , that acidity and depth are everything. We achieve that perfectly here without turning it into a full-blown Cheesy Baked Subs marathon.

Now, grab your apron. We’re making the base for this cracking Crusty Sub Roll Recipe !

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Right then, let's get cooking! I love this concept—taking that comforting, messy classic, the Sloppy Joe, and giving it a proper Italian passaggio (a little trip) into the world of robust, sun-drenched flavours. We’re ditching the ketchup and mustard base for something far more sophisticated, think slow-simmered ragù vibes, but quick enough for a Tuesday tea. This "Italian Sloppy Joe Sub" is going to be an absolute winner. Here is the blueprint for a recipe that even your nanna would be proud of.

The Roman Rascal: Italian Sloppy Joe Subs with Savoury Veal & Fennel Ragu

Forget your childhood sweet-and-sour dog; this is the grown-up, decidedly Italian cousin. We’re ditching the high-fructose corn syrup and swapping it for a rich, umami-packed ragù made with aromatic fennel, robust Italian sausage, San Marzano tomatoes, and a splash of red wine. Served piping hot on a crusty sub roll with melted provolone, it’s the perfect, satisfyingly messy weeknight dinner—proper comfort food, if you ask me. This is certainly one for the Sub Sandwich Recipes with Melted Cheese hall of fame.

Core Shopping List

When you're hitting the supermarket, remember that quality really counts here, especially with the tomatoes. Grab a 28-ounce (794g) can of whole or crushed San Marzano tomatoes; they are non-negotiable for that deep, sweet flavour. For the meat, aim for 1 lb (450g) of 85/15 ground beef and 1/2 lb (225g) of good quality mild Italian sausage—get the sausage out of its casing if you can. That sausage is crucial; it brings that lovely fennel note that stops this from tasting like a basic Weeknight Meat Ragù Recipe . If you can’t find fennel, don’t panic, but know you’ll need to compensate with extra flavour elsewhere. For the cheese, slices of Provolone work wonders, but a good melting Mozzarella is a solid swap.

Flavour Architecture

This is where we build the soul of our Italian Sloppy Joe Sub. Spices here are about warmth, not heat (though we add a pinch for character). The garlic and onion are your mandatory aromatics; you can’t rush them. My top tip, learned the hard way after making a bland batch once, is to really fry that tomato paste for a minute after the onions soften—it deepens the colour and stops it tasting raw. Worcestershire sauce, bless its salty heart, acts as our hidden umami booster, making the meat taste richer, almost like it simmered for hours. If you run out of that 1/2 cup (120ml) of dry red wine for deglazing, you can use equal parts beef broth with a teaspoon of red wine vinegar—it mimics the acidity perfectly. Trust me, this substitution works a treat for a quick Quick Italian Comfort Food fix.

Equipment & Mise en Place

You don’t need a chef’s toolkit, just a good, heavy pan. A Dutch oven or a sturdy, deep skillet is essential for simmering down that sauce without scorching it. Get your Cutting Board ready! My biggest mise en place tip? Chop everything —onion, fennel, garlic—before you even turn the hob on. Once that meat hits the heat, things move fast, and you don't want to be frantically chopping garlic while your onions burn. Having all those ingredients measured out means you can focus purely on getting a beautiful, deep brown colour on the meat before adding the veg. Speaking of bread, make sure you have sturdy, Crusty Sub Roll Recipe worthy bread; weak rolls turn to mush, and nobody wants a soggy Sub Sandwich Recipe For A Crowd experience!

Right then, let's get cooking! I love this concept—taking that comforting, messy classic, the Sloppy Joe, and giving it a proper Italian passaggio (a little trip) into the world of robust, sun-drenched flavours. We're ditching the ketchup and mustard base for something far more sophisticated, think slow-simmered ragù vibes, but quick enough for a Tuesday tea. This "Italian Sloppy Joe Sub" is going to be an absolute winner. It’s basically a deconstructed Meatball Sub Recipe , but faster. Here is the blueprint for a recipe that even your nanna would be proud of.

Before You Cook

Listen up, getting this flavour right hinges on what you do before the heat goes on. If you want that deep, satisfying flavour profile, you need to respect the meat. My mates who write those fancy recipe books always bang on about resting times—and they’re not wrong! For this, the prep is minimal, but the flavour staging is key.

First off, make sure your ingredients are prepped and ready to go. That’s called mise en place , innit? Get your onions and fennel diced small. Now, the pitfall here? A watery ragù. If you don’t drain the fat properly after browning your mince, you end up with soup, not filling. Next,, if you use watery, cheap tinned tomatoes, you’ll end up with a bland flavour. Stick to San Marzanos if you can; they are worth the extra bob.

Guided Cooking Sequence

This is where the magic happens. We’re moving fast, but we need to listen for those sensory clues.

1. Brown the Meats & Drain Fat: Get your Dutch oven hot—medium-high. Add the beef and sausage. We want that proper sizzle. Cook until it’s all nicely browned. Once done, tip that whole lot into a sieve over a bowl to catch the fat. Don't skip this draining. I learned the hard way years ago trying to make a quick Weeknight Meat Ragù Recipe ; too much fat equals a sad, greasy finish.

2. Aromatics Awaken: Back into the same pot, medium heat. Add your onion and fennel. You want them soft, almost melting. When you add the garlic, you’ll get a glorious smell—that's your cue. Cook that for just 60 seconds . Don't burn the garlic, or the whole thing tastes bitter!

3. Wine Time and Scrape: Pour in the red wine. This is the noisy bit! You’ll hear it hiss. Use your wooden spoon to scrape up all those lovely brown bits off the bottom—that’s pure flavour, mate. Let it bubble away until the harsh alcohol smell cooks off.

4. The Simmer: Now chuck in the tomatoes, broth, and spices. Bring it up to a bare simmer, then drop the heat right down. Cover it loosely. You need this to bubble gently for 30 minutes minimum . You’re aiming for a thick, rich Sub Sandwich Recipe With Melted Cheese experience, not soup.

Save-It Section

The brilliant thing about this Homestyle Sloppy Joe Alternative ? It tastes even better the next day.

Storage: Once cooled, pop the filling in an airtight container. It’ll keep grand in the fridge for four days. It freezes brilliantly too, perfect for a super-quick Quick Italian Comfort Food fix later in the month.

Emergency Fixes:

• Too Salty: Add a small, peeled raw potato to the simmering sauce for 10 minutes; it'll soak up some of the excess salt. Remove before serving.
• Too Dry: If it reduces too much while simmering, just stir in a splash more beef broth or water.
• Separated Sauce (rare here, but happens): If it looks watery, just take the lid off and boil rapidly for 5 minutes to evaporate some liquid until it clings nicely to the meat.

When you finally bake those cheesy subs on a Crusty Sub Roll Recipe , make sure the cheese is bubbling. That's what separates a good Cheesy Baked Subs experience from a brilliant one! You won’t regret making this Sub Sandwich Recipe For A Crowd !

Right then, let's get cooking! I love this concept—taking that comforting, messy classic, the Sloppy Joe, and giving it a proper Italian passaggio (a little trip) into the world of robust, sun-drenched flavours. We're ditching the ketchup and mustard base for something far more sophisticated, think slow-simmered ragù vibes, but quick enough for a Tuesday tea. This "Italian Sloppy Joe Sub" is going to be an absolute winner. Here is the blueprint for a recipe that even your nanna would be proud of.

Mastering Your Roman Rascal

Taste & Texture Upgrades

Look, most Sloppy Joes are just sweet sludge piled on a bun. We’ve sorted that out by building a proper Weeknight Meat Ragù Recipe here. For chef-level flair, forget just scattering dry herbs on top. Instead, finely chop those reserved fennel fronds and mix them with a tiny bit of lemon zest—scatter that over the melted cheese right before serving. It adds a pop of colour and brightness that cuts through the richness. Plating-wise, serve this beast open-faced first, let everyone admire that beautiful melted provolone, then get ready for the required use of multiple napkins. Compared to a standard, frankly bland Meatball Sub Recipe filling, our use of fennel and proper tomato paste gives this ragù a depth that lasts for days. That’s the improvement right there—flavour complexity without the hours of simmering.

Nutrition & Dietary Paths

For those of you watching the macros, this filling hits nicely. We’re aiming for roughly 35g of protein per serving, with the fats coming mostly from that quality beef/sausage mix. If you’re trying to lighten the load, skip the cheese and use leaner ground turkey instead of beef. You’ll trade a bit of that rich mouthfeel, mind you—that’s the flavour trade-off! For a quick, budget-friendly Quick Italian Comfort Food option, you can easily substitute the ground meat for a quality pre-made Italian sausage filling, but seriously, use a Crusty Sub Roll Recipe that can handle the moisture; cheap bread turns to mush, trust me.

Serving & Pairing Ideas

These Sub Sandwich Recipes with Melted Cheese are begging for something sharp alongside them. I always serve this with a big bowl of peppery arugula salad dressed simply with olive oil and white wine vinegar. It’s the perfect palate cleanser. For leftovers, this stuff keeps brilliantly for four days in the fridge. When reheating, I actually prefer scooping the ragù out, heating it gently on the stove, and then just melting the cheese quickly under the grill after heating the filling—it keeps the roll from getting soggy. If you are making this Sub Sandwich Recipe For A Crowd , remember to keep the filling warm in a slow cooker. Honestly, you need to get this Italian Sloppy Joe Sub on your menu next week. It’s proper hearty, messy, and absolutely delicious!

If you're craving more ideas, explore Recipe Polenta Florentine Sunny Italian Comfort on a Plate , Creamy Corn Basil Orzotto Recipe A Taste of Italian Summer and Trader Joes Dessert Magic 5 More Impossibly Easy 3Ingredient Treats .

For deeper guidance, visit Italian Meatball Sub Sandwich Recipe .