The easiest to throw together and even served on hot dog buns. These are GOOD and even heat up well in the air fryer for leftovers.  Mozzarella pearls and sliced pepperoncini peppers set the bar high with this yummy sandwich!  

Ingredients:

• 1 package Italian sausage
• 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 tablespoon pesto
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• S&P to taste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese
• Mozzarella pearls
• Sliced pepperoncini peppers
• Hot dog buns

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook sausage in a large skillet, crumbling as you cook.  Drain.  Add back to skillet and add marinara, pesto, garlic, S&P, sugar, onion powder, and red pepper flakes.  Let simmer while you prepare the buns.

Brush melted butter on inside of buns.  Toast in oven for a few minutes.  Remove from oven and add shredded cheese to buns.  Fill with sausage mixture.  Add mozzarella pearls and peppers on top.  Sprinkle with more shredded cheese.  Bake 10-15 minutes.

(Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.)

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