Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsThe Pasta FactoryOpen-faced Italian Recipe

Open-faced Italian Recipe

Inspired by The Pasta Factory
Time40m
Serves4

Choice of meatballs or grilled Italian sausage on French bread with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, served with a side dish of spaghetti

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Ingredients

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For the Open-Faced Italian

For the Spaghetti

Method

Preparing the Open-Faced Italian

  1. 1

    Preheat the Oven

    Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

  2. 2

    Prepare the French Bread

    Slice the French bread in half lengthwise and place on a baking sheet.

  3. 3

    Cook the Meatballs or Sausage

    Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add Italian meatballs or grilled sausage and cook until heated through (about 5-7 minutes).

  4. 4

    Add Tomato Sauce

    Pour the tomato sauce over the meatballs or sausage, stirring gently to coat. Allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes.

  5. 5

    Assemble the Open-Faced Italian

    Spoon the meatballs or sausage with sauce onto the cut sides of the French bread. Top with mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with fresh basil, salt, and pepper.

  6. 6

    Bake

    Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cooking the Spaghetti

  1. 7

    Boil Water

    In a large pot, bring 4 liters of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt.

  2. 8

    Cook the Spaghetti

    Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually about 8-10 minutes).

  3. 9

    Drain and Serve

    Once cooked, drain the spaghetti in a colander and serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

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